He Gives Power to Our Dying Body: Devotion for Wednesday April 15, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday April 15, 2020

Topic: He Gives Power to Our Dying Body            

Text: Romans 8:10 – 17

When the Holy Spirit is in us, Christ is in us. He dwells in the heart by faith. Christ’s Spirit lives within our human spirits. The presence of Christ in us will automatically make our bodies to resist and reject sin (Romans 8:10). Any Christian who receives the grace and Spirit of Christ, and continues to live under its influence, a life of obedience to the Divine will, shall have a resurrection to eternal life (Romans 8:11).

The point Paul made here was that we are promised the physical resurrection of our bodies into eternal life. The Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead will also give life to us. So there is wonderful hope even for our prone-to-decay bodies which will eventually be transformed into immortality.

In another dimension, the presence of Holy Spirit resuscitates our physical bodies too. When the Spirit of God dwells in you, Satan and sickness will not have upper hand in your body except God permits it as in case of Job.

Are you sick in the body and desire healing from God? Then you need to invite the Spirit of God into your life. You can start with praises for God dwells in the praises of His people. His presence will bring life to that withered hand and crippled legs in Jesus name. You, who is sick, and reading this devotion, God is saying to you, give me chance to come in now and you will see the difference the presence of God will bring into your life. Will you do that?

Food for Thought: Life comes from the Spirit of God (Ezekiel 37:10)

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 6:14

Prayer: Release upon me O Lord, your Spirit to my dying body to revive it again in Jesus name.

Our Assurance of Salvation: Devotion for Sunday March 29, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday March 29, 2020

Topic: Our Assurance of Salvation                           

Text: 1 John 5: 1 – 5

Probably John had a challenge that some Christians sometimes doubt their salvation and some still express such doubt today. He had explains to his readers how to know if they are truly saved or not. That is the assurance/evidence of our salvation. Read this passage again and again to gain the needed assurance. John also reviewed Jesus’ mission to this earth and in dying from 1 John 5:6ff. He wrote to reassure Christians about their faith because some false teachers had given them cause to doubt the security of their salvation.

How can we know we have eternal life? John tells us: trust in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:13). Jesus is God’s own Son, the one who came as a human being, died to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again. His work alone gives Him the power and right to forgive all who confess their sins to Him (1 John 1:9). Anyone who believes in Christ has eternal life (see John 3:16).

Beloved, any time you feel insecure about your salvation and begin to doubt, reaffirm your trust in Christ. It is good to reaffirm our faith on daily basis by confessing our baptismal creed. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour? This is the opportunity for you to do so now.

Food for Thought: Do you still doubt your salvation? Then search yourself and go back to God in prayer.

Memory verse: 1 John 5:2

Prayer: God, help me not to doubt my salvation. Strengthen my faith in you.

Are You Prepared For Your Death? Devotion for Wednesday August 14, 2019

Devotion for Wednesday August 14, 2019

Topic: Are You Prepared For Your Death?

Text: Hebrew 9:27 – 28

The issue of death was decreed by God when Man fell off His glory. So death coming to Man is not a strange thing. Death is a passage to eternity.

Our place of eternity is determined by the way we live our lives on earth before we die. Jesus taught that there is eternity which comprises of eternal life or eternal condemnation (John 5:27 – 29).  At death, every man’s final state is determined.

The fixed order for all men is to die once, and to be judged after death. When they die, finality is tamped on their work on earth. The death is the result of this appointment (Genesis 3:9). The cause of the appointment is sin (Romans 6:23) and the appointment with death is for all men whether godly or ungodly.

How are you preparing for your death? Robin Sharma said in his book, WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU DIE that if someone desire to live well, he should often organize his funeral. Robin Sharma’s idea will certainly help us to number our days and live well as the Psalmist asserted in Psalm 90:12. Do you live your life as if death and judgement will never come? Do you oppress people because you feel they are inconsequential?

The judgement awaiting us after death will be based on the way we live our lives here on earth (John 5:29). There is need to prepare yourself for death on daily basis because it can come at any time and any age. Start the preparation now because it will determine where you will spend your eternity.

Food for Thought: “Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils and the resurrection of all his joys” – John H. Aughey

Memory verse: Psalm 90:12

Prayer: Lord, may I daily prepare myself for my death and judgement so as to escape eternal condemnation in Jesus name!

The Assurance Of Salvation

Devotion for Tuesday June 5, 2018

Sing SS&S 873

Topic: The Assurance Of Salvation

Text: 1 John 5: 1 – 5 

From our bible reading, we can understand that John had a challenge that some Christians sometimes doubt their salvation and he decided to address the problem in this epistle. This is very true among Christians. Some have opened up to confess it to me. Do you sometimes doubt your salvation? Then the explanations here are important to you. John teaches how to know if they are truly saved or not. That is the assurance/evidence of our salvation. Read this passage again and again to gain the needed assurance. John also reviewed Jesus’ mission to this earth and in dying for our sins from 1 John 5:6ff. He wrote this letter to reassure Christians of their faith, as some false teachers had given them cause to doubt the security of their salvation.  For us to know that we have eternal life, John tells us: trust in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:13). Jesus is God’s own Son, the one who came as a human being, died to pay the penalty for our sins, and rose again. His work alone gives Him the power and the right to forgive all who confess their sins to Him (1 John 1:9). Anyone who believes in Christ has eternal life (see John 3:16). The next time you feel insecure about your salvation, reaffirm your trust in Christ. It is good to reaffirm our faith on daily basis by confessing our baptismal creed. Then you can know you have eternal life.

Food for Thought: Do you still doubt your salvation? Then search yourself and go back to God in prayer.

Memory verse: 1 John 5:1

Prayer: God, strengthen my faith so that I will not doubt my salvation.

A Living Hope

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday April 22, 2017

Topic: A Living Hope 

Text: 1 Peter 1:3 – 5

The Christian's hope is a living principle, and sustains his spiritual life. Our hope is lived out. It is something that is live out for others to see. This hope gives life and looks for life as its object. We are now born again for a wonderful expectation of life to come but not of this world because we are pilgrims and foreigners here. This expectation we have is based on the assurance that God will keep His promise to raise us because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Christ has made necessary power available for our resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:22). His resurrection makes us certain that we too will be raised from the dead.

This assurance is what makes our hope lively. It keeps us going, striving against all odds so as to gain that which God has promised us. What the resurrection of Christ has done for us is that it has inspired hope and grace in us. It has brought the conviction that we are going to be resurrected. The onus on us now is to live our lives with that inspired hope from the resurrection of Christ. It should make us to be heavenly conscious as we read yesterday. It should inspire a more strong faith in us that God is ever faithful to His promises. Our hope for eternal life promised us shouldn’t die.

We may be experiencing some negative things that are currently challenging our faiths. That notwithstanding, if we know our God, our hope will be renewed every day. We can achieve this by daily searching out God’s promises and laying hold of them as we pray. Don’t allow uncertainties of life deem your hope rather rekindle it daily basis. 

Food for Thought: Our hope for eternal life promised us shouldn’t die. Rekindle it on daily basis as we await the return of our Saviour.

Memory verse: 1 Peter 1 verse 3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to keep the hope of eternal life lively in me in Jesus name.

NO LOSS IN REPENTANCE: Devotion for Sunday February 21, 2016

NO LOSS IN REPENTANCE            Sunday February 21, 2016

Text: Luke 18:28 – 30                     Memory verse: v 30

Most times, people assume that those who surrender their lives to Christ are at a loss because they will no longer ‘enjoin’ the things of the world. This is a wrong notion. There is no loss in repentance. It was this notion that led Peter to ask Jesus what becomes their fate as His followers (18:28). The response of Jesus is in 18:29 and 30. Jesus noted that those who had left all and followed Him, should be no losers; that is, in this world they shall receive manifold blessings;  says  an hundred-fold (Mk 10:30). Job lost all in order to prove his faithfulness in serving God unto Satan and at the end, God restored all he lost while he was still alive (Job 42:10) and I know that his faith will certainly take him to heaven. Is there any lesson for us here in this story of Job?

Beloved, our God is faithful. 1Thess. 5:24 says, “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” For this reason, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23). People may have been taunting you concerning your faith in Christ Jesus and calling you names. Don’t mind them. There is a reward for you. The greatest reward we look forward to is the eternal life in heavenly bliss. Are you looking forward to that city? Don’t allow the distractions of the world to keep you out of it.

Food for Thought: There is no loss for the sake of the gospel that is greater than the love God has for us.

Prayer: Lord God, as I have left all to follow you, may I not lose my reward in Jesus name.             

 

YOUR SALVATION IS POSSIBLE: Devotion for Saturday February 20, 2016

YOUR SALVATION IS POSSIBLE        Saturday February 20, 2016

Text: Luke 18:18 – 27      Memory verse: v 27

This rich young man mentioned in our bible reading came to Jesus seeking eternal life. Jesus pointed out the significance of his use of the word “good” (18:19). He sought for reassurance from Jesus, a way to ascertain that he had eternal life. He wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or to give him some task he could do to assure his own immortality. So Jesus gave him a task, the one thing the rich man knew he could not do. The rich man’s problem was that he would not obey Jesus’ final command (18:22). His riches were only the surface problem; the real problem lay in the love he had for his wealth. This shows that riches are not bad but love for it instead of God, the giver.

A bystander asked, “Then who in the world can be saved?” No one can be saved, by his or her own achievements, was Jesus’ answer. “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.” Salvation cannot be earned; it is God’s gift (Eph 2:8-10). Have you doubted your salvation? Are you deep into sin and now you think your salvation is no more possible? God who offers us salvation is ever ready to save you. All you need do is to pertinently come to Him and He will forgive you. Are you ready to do that today?

Food for Thought: Salvation cannot be earned; it is God’s gift.

Prayer: Father, help me to sustain my salvation and not to lose it at last in Jesus name.

FOUNTAIN OF WATER: Devotion for Thursday November 26, 2015

FOUNTAIN OF WATER     Thursday November 26, 2015

Text: John 4:10 – 15             Memory verse: v 14

The woman was ignorant of the gift God had for her – the gift of life, represented by living water and she did not know the giver, Jesus the Messiah. Jesus makes an extraordinary offer to this woman with living water that would quench her thirst forever. The offer Jesus made raised some questions in the mind of this woman just as Nicodemus was confused when he came to Jesus in the previous chapter (John 3:1 – 10).  

The water Jesus offers takes away thirst altogether. Jesus’ water continually satisfies the desire for God’s presence because it becomes a perpetual spring within believers, giving them eternal life. This gift that Jesus gives, the perpetual spring, suggests the availability, accessibility, and abundance of the divine life for believers. Do you have that fountain of eternal life in you? It is available and accessible. Go for it if you don’t have it.

Food for Thought: John 7:38

Prayer: Lord, give me the living water so I will not thirst again. 

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE

 

I GIVE THEM ETERNAL LIFE      Saturday April 25, 2015

Text: John 10:22 – 30                    Memory verse: v 28

At Solomon’s porch (10:23) in the Temple, some of the Jews came to Jesus demanding that he should plainly tell them if He is Christ having kept them in doubt for some time now (10: 24). Responding, Jesus to made it clear that He has told them but they did not believe, even when the works He did in the name of His father bore witness for Him (10:25). He went further to say that it is so because they are not His sheep (10:26). A real sheep of Christ hears His voice and follows Him (10:27) and He gives them eternal life (John 5:24). In John 10:25 – 28, Jesus recapped the blessings of those who truly listen to and believe the gospel. Can you mention them?

All these are the privileges of believers in Christ Jesus. If you are not yet his sheep, you are not a beneficiary of these rights and privileges. You should better repent now to be part of it. Just as a shepherd protects his sheep, Jesus protects his people from eternal harm. While believers can expect to suffer on earth, Satan cannot harm their souls or take away their eternal life with God. May, this be your portion in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: John 6:37

Prayer: God, grant unto me that eternal life and security, and help me to faithfully follow you as I hear your voice in Jesus name.