Let there be Light: Devotion for Tuesday 18th February, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 18, 2020

Topic: Let there be Light                                  

Text: Genesis 1:3

Let there be light as used here is what God willed, decreed and appointed. There was result when God said it! There was darkness everywhere and God decreed light and darkness went away. May the light of God shine upon you this season for darkness to go away in Jesus name! Darkness is example of evil; backwardness, failure, lack of progress in personal endeavours, etc. Today, many people are in darkness because of ignorance and sin. We also know that devil and his agents are carrier of darkness.

God causes light to shine out of darkness and He can cause light into the darkest part of our lives. Jesus said that He is the light of the world. When we allow Jesus to come into our lives through repentance He will dispel the light in our lives, families and work. Are you living in sin, know that you are surrounded with darkness and you need Jesus Christ in your life. Are you experiencing backwardness, failure, lack of progress, problems in life, marriage, studies and business? You need Jesus to dispel the darkness causing these problems. Allow the light of God in your life because “there is no darkness enough in the entire world to put out the light of one candle” – Epitaph in PowerBible Online. Note that the light of God is greater than the light of the candle. 

Food for Thought: Light makes the difference in our lives and the world.

Memory verse: Psalm 33:9               

Prayer: Lord, decree and shine your light into my life, family and endeavours in Jesus name.

Lay Aside Evil

Devotion for Thursday July 26, 2018

Sing A&M 304 (Abu 233) - Fight The Good Fight With All Thy Might

Topic: Lay Aside Evil

Text: James 1:21 – “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

Evil is everywhere as well as good, it is but a matter of choice to cling to any of them. One can choose to live a good life while another person could settle for evil and whichever a person chooses there is always an end result. One thing is sure you cannot carry evil and good at the same time. A Christian whose fruit still show that of wickedness should as a matter of urgency repent and make amend. James admonished Christians to lay aside every form of evil and all kind of wrong because it will be a barrier to maintaining a cordial relationship with Jesus Christ. Christians must walk like children of light living in the Spirit, it is not possible for a Christian to be living in the spirit of God and still live in sin. 1Thess.5: 22 say we should flee from all appearance of evil. How do we know appearances of evil? We know them through 1) Unfruitful work of darkness (Ephesians 5:11) 2) Works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21) and 3) Walking in the counsel of the ungodly (Psalm 1:1-2). Though as believers in Jesus Christ we have freedom to do various things as guided by the Holy Spirit yet not everything is good for us. We should be salt and light to non-Christians. We are enjoined to flee from sin and temptation (2 Timothy 2:22); this will help us to stay holy and focused; we should be living in a manner worthy of God not according to the pattern of the world. In a nutshell we should be a good example of a follower of Christ in our speeches and actions.

Food for Thought: Evil may look very attractive but its end result is destruction, therefore flee from evil.

Memory Verse: James 1:21  

Prayer: God, help me to discern evil and flee from it when I sight it.

Righteousness Has Rewards

Devotion for Monday June 4, 2018

Sing SS&S 791; Abu 61

Topic: Righteousness Has Rewards 

Text: Proverbs 11:18 – 19 

In our text, we have reward for wickedness and righteousness. Wicked people do deceitful works. The works of the wicked work is like building houses upon the sand, which will deceive them when the storm comes. When the wicked is engaged in various acts of wickedness, it will seem as if it will ever remain the same, but Proverbs 11:19 have it that such person pursues evil to his death. Remember the case of Pharaoh and the Israelites. At the end, that same wickedness will cut his throat when it smiles upon him. He will finally say that sin deceived me, and by it slew me. However, it is not so with the righteous. The rewards of the righteous are many. People who live in righteousness lay up the best securities for themselves. He who sows righteousness, which is good, and continues in it, looking forward to heavenly reward shall surely have them (Hosea 10:12; Galatians 6:8 – 9; James 3:18). “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death (Proverbs 11v19).” Righteousness can never disappoint us. Its rewards are numerous. Above all, it leads to life eternal which is the desire of every Christian. Psalm 1:1 – 6 gives us a clue into what the righteous man will gain here on earth and in the life to come. If you desire these rewards, then live righteously.

Action: Write down 10 rewards for righteousness in your notebook for future reference.

Memory verse: Proverbs 10:6 

Prayer: Lord, may I live my life in righteousness that I might receive its reward now and in eternity in Jesus name. Amen

Our Righteousness Guards Us

Devotion for Friday November 24, 2017

Topic: Our Righteousness Guards Us

Text: Proverbs 13:6

There is no virtue without reward and there is no vice without punishment. Anything we do has its recompense whether good or bad. Righteousness is a sure guide as it helped Joseph in times of trials. It leads the soul unto blessedness but sin flatters men only to reward them with disappointment and ruin. There are two facts to note in our bible passage for the day.

1) God secures people who are righteous from ruin. Those who are righteous in their ways, honest in all their actions, adhering faithfully to the sacred rules of equity, and deal sincerely both with God and man, will be kept from the temptations of Satan by their integrity. Temptations shall not prevail over them neither will the reproaches of evil men, come upon them, to do them any real mischief (Psalm 25:21). Are you in this group who are living righteous and blameless life before God and man?

2) Sinners secure for themselves ruin. Those that are wicked, even their wickedness will overthrow them at last, as they are held in the cords of their wickedness in the meantime. They will be corrected and destroyed by their own wickedness. They shall bear the consequences of their wickedness (Proverbs 11:3, 5 – 6).

Piety benefits while sin injures. Are you living the life of evil and wickedness, dubious in your character? Repent now! There are consequences ahead of such life. It may seem good to you now but the end is what counts. It is better to avoid evil now than suffer the consequences later.

Food for Thought: Will the life you are living now secure you against evil?

Memory verse: Proverbs 13:6

Prayer: Help me O Lord my God, to live a righteous and blameless life that will secure me against ruin and evil in Jesus name.

Don’t Labour For The Wind

Devotion for Sunday October 29, 2017

Topic: Don’t Labour For The Wind

Text: Ecclesiastics 5:13 – 17

Solomon posted in a pertinent question for us in Ecclesiastics 1:3 saying, “What profit has a man from all his labour in which he toils under the sun?” Any man that labours looks forward to receiving a reward and a good reward at that. No one wants to work without getting something out of his labour. However, not all the people that labour reap rewards that will last. Some labour for the wind, some for sickness; for thieves and many other things. This is what Solomon called severe evil.

What are the things that lead to laboring for the wind? This could be as a result of robbing God. Another way we labour for the wind is when we refuse to use our wealth the way God, who gave them to us wanted us to use them. The case in Haggai 1:2ff is another way to labour for the wind because it can cause God to withdraw His favours and we earn wages only to put them into bags with holes (Haggai 1:6). These are some of the ways we can labour for the wind.

“He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind” (Proverbs 11:29a). Someone troubles his own house when he is greedy (Proverbs 15:27). Riches are unsatisfying, uncertain and transitory. No one can hold or stay in its course because they are all properties of the wind. Do you labour for the wind by being greedy, not recognizing the source of your wealth or by robbing God? Repent now to avert evil of labouring for the wind.

Food for Thought: Labouring for the wind is a curse. What can you do to avert it in your life?

Memory verse: Ecclesiastics 5:16

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord my God, never to labour for the wind any more but rather that I will labour and eat the fruits of my labour in Jesus name. Amen

Hate Evil

Devotion for Friday August 4, 2017

Topic: Hate Evil

Text: Amos 5:12 – 15

Paul gave an admonition that all Christians should take to heart in his letter to the Romans which says, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). This is similar to the admonition Amos gave to the Israelites in our bible reading for the day. There are people who love to do evil and they are never at peace till they have done one. They abuse privileges and rights of not only themselves but of others around them. We know the story of Ahab and the wife Jezebel (1 Kings 16:30 -33). They did all manner of evil just because they were in leadership position. Do you behave like them? Repent today!

Amos charged the Israelites to hate evil and an evidence to prove their repentance. By that Amos said they should avoid what ruins them, and cleave to what helps them. As a proof they had taken the advice of Amos, he encouraged them to purity the seats of justice; and then expect God to be gracious to them. This was the crux of Prophet Amos’ message here. This message is very important to our present generation where people have Bible on one hand and gun to kill, steal and kidnap on the other hand. What are the evidences of your repentance? Do you have the name that you are alive but in reality you are dead? Christians should hate sin and not to take pleasure in it. Read Micah 3:11; 7:2 – 4 and Isaiah 1:23. Do you belong to any of these groups mentioned in these passages? It is time to repent and return to the Lord before it will be too late.

Food for Thought: Psalm 97:10

Memory verse: Amos 5:3

Prayer: God make me hate evil with all my heart and help me to cling to righteousness in everything I do in Jesus name.

Do You Desire Favour?

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday June 12, 2017

Topic: Do You Desire Favour?

Text: Proverbs 11:27

Many people don’t know how to court God’s favour. Living Bible translated this verse thus: “If you search for good you find God’s favour; if you search for evil, you find His curse.” Searching for good is one of the ways to court God’s favour. Doing good to people especially the down trodden and less privileged ones are ways to procure God’s favour. Matthew Henry Commentary puts it thus: “Those that are industrious to do good in the world get themselves beloved both with God and man: He that rises early to that which is good, that seeks opportunities of serving his friends and relieving the poor, and lays out himself therein, procures favour.”

This is challenging for us in this era of greed and selfishness; where people are so concerned about self than for anything else. People who do good to others always have God's loving kindness surrounding them. The opposite of these is for men that seek evil. They are preparing ruin for themselves, who specialize in doing evil. It shall come upon them; when they will be paid in their own coin (see Esther 7:9 and 10).

Do you earnestly seek to do evil or good? They are many who do evil indirectly like Balak who called Balaam to assist him. Cain did his own openly by killing Abel and judgment came upon him. Evil hunts even after many years (Gen. 50:15). It pays to be kind and to be good to others.

Food for Thought: Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, help to make earth happy like the heaven above – Carney

Memory verse: Psalm 7:16

Prayer: God, remove evil from my heart and life. Grant me the spirit of kindness and grace to be kind to people in Jesus name, Amen.

Price Of Godliness (Loss Of Possessions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday April 4, 2017

Topic: Price Of Godliness (Loss Of Possessions)

Text: Job 1:13 – 22       

Job 1:1 gives us a description of Job. He was a godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. For this reason, God made a hedge round him and all he had. This didn’t go down well with Satan who appeared in the presence of God to accuse Him for blessing Job. This conversation between God and Satan teaches us an important fact about God. He is aware of every attempt by Satan to bring suffering and difficulty upon us.

God knew Job and what Job can do. God vouched for him and when Satan was not satisfied, He permitted Satan to tempt Job but not to take his soul. The first series of attack was loss of his possessions including his children simply because God had blessed him and he was godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

While God may allow us to suffer for a reason beyond our understanding, He is always compassionate with us. Job had lost his possessions and family in this first of Satan’s tests, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God’s sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Satan lost this first round. Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who He is, not for what He gives to them.

Have you taken time to analyze that problem you are going through; that loss of job, loss of your benefactor, loss of car, etc? It may be a test of your faith and commitment towards God. It may be that Satan wants to use it to distract you. Never give up. Loss of possessions shouldn’t distract our focus on God.

Food for Thought: Love and passion for possession can make us deny God if they are destroyed as a trial of our faith.

Memory verse: Job 1 verse 21

Prayer: Lord God, may I not love possessions more than you in Jesus name. 

Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of God

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday February 17, 2017

Topic: Noah Found Grace In The Eyes Of God

Text: Genesis 6:6 – 9

In Noah’s time, the earth was filled with violence and corruption just as it is now in our days. Hardly will a day pass we don’t hear or read about violence especially in my country, Nigeria. These include kidnapping, communal clashes, herdsmen attack on farmers and their farms, assassination, insurgency, militancy, etc.

Then in the days of Noah, people blatantly manifested sin in two primary ways: sexual lust (Genesis 6:2) and violence (Genesis 6:11). It was so rampant that God decided to destroy the world, yet Noah did not allow these evils to rob him of his fellowship with God. He stood out as the only one who “walked with God” (Genesis 6:9), as was true of his great – grandfather Enoch (Genesis 5:22).

Noah was a just or righteous man (Genesis 6:9). For this reason, God singled him out among all his contemporaries and chose him to accomplish a great work of salvation of humanity and other creatures. He found grace in the eyes of the Lord because he followed the footsteps of his grandfather in obeying and fearing God.

Today, sexual sins of all kinds and violence are prevalent in the society. We need the grace of God more than ever because human depravity has not changed; it is still through lust and violence that evil finds unrestrained expression in the society. If you set your face against popular public opinion and conduct, you will find grace like Noah did. Amidst the widespread wickedness, compromise and evil of today, are still in communion with God? Noah got the revelation of impeding deluge as a result of grace. When grace is at work in your life, you are sure of safety from evil and danger. The grace of God is always free and undeserved; it must not be taken for granted. Grace is humbly sought through the prayer of faith (Malachi 1:9) and knowledge of God (2 Peter 1:2). Seek for it always in obedience and humility.

Food for Thought: God accepts us on the ground of Christ's righteousness and not our own works. That is grace we need in a time like this.

Memory verse: Genesis 6 verse 8 - But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

Prayer: Almighty God and my Father, may I find grace in your eyes and be distinct in this generation. Amen.

CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD

DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

Topic: CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD     

Text: Romans 12:19 – 21                     

Rom. 12:6–21 states how we can live well as Christians. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of retaliating, Paul says you should befriend him. Reasons why we should forgive someone who hurts us are (1) forgiveness can break a cycle of reprisal and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It can make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. You should understand that even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness. Family Bible Notes says, “Kindness towards enemies is a most likely means of making them friends; and if it does not have this effect, but they continue obstinately and wickedly to be enemies to their benefactors, they will ripen for aggravated ruin.”

We shouldn’t allow evil to rule over us (Gen. 4:6). According to Life Application Notes, “Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her, a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.” These words are hard to perform for an enemy but that is what will mark you out as a Christian. Anything short puts question mark on your Christianity.

Action: Write down five ways you can conquer evil

Memory verse: Romans 12 verse 21

Prayer: God, I need the grace to develop self-control and conquer evil with good.

EFFECTS OF WISDOM: Devotion for Monday October 17, 2016

EFFECTS OF WISDOM: Devotion for Monday October 17, 2016                 

Text: Proverbs 2:10 – 22    Memory verse: Proverbs 2 verses 10 and 11

Yesterday we read gains from heavenly wisdom. We saw that wisdom is divine and God gives it to those who consistently and concertedly seek for it. Because of its great value, not everyone is ready to pay the price to acquire wisdom. Today’s bible reading highlights more of what we stand to the gain from heavenly wisdom.

Heavenly wisdom will deliver one from the ways of evil men (Proverbs 2:10–15). This implies that with wisdom, someone can know the best way to approach or handle evil men. Such person cannot be enticed into doing evil with them. Wisdom will enable him to know when to flee from their cunning and deceitful ways. Wisdom is very important in a time like this when people are so much evil minded and wicked.

Any Christian, who is truly wise, should be very careful to avoid all evil company and evil practices which can lure us out of our Christian faith. When wisdom has control over our lives, then, it not only fills our heads, but enters into our hearts, and will protect, and preserve, both against corruptions within us and temptations without.

Secondly, it will deliver men from adulterous women (2:16–19). The adulteress is referred to as a wayward woman in that she is outside the circle of a man’s proper relationships (Proverbs 2:16). When we have wisdom in our hearts, it will guard us against improper relationship.

Two of the most difficult sins man finds exceedingly hard to resist are pride and sexual immorality. Both are seductive. In combination, their appeal is deadly and can destroy someone overnight. We need heavenly wisdom to overcome them. In fact, Solomon’s opinion is that only by relying on God’s strength can we overcome them. Pride appeals to the empty head; sexual enticement to the empty heart. We should be extremely careful about what we take to heart. It is only by looking up to God, that we can fill our heads with His wisdom and our hearts with His love. Remember that you have a destination and a reward waiting for you. Therefore always ask God for wisdom and strength to resist these temptations.

Food for Thought: “The only effectual safeguard from the ways of sin and ruin is the knowledge and fear of God” – Family Bible Notes

Prayer: Heavenly Father, sow and nurture your knowledge and fear in my heart in Jesus name.

WEEP NOT: Devotion for Monday August 22, 2016

WEEP NOT: Devotion for Monday August 22, 2016

Text: Revelation 5 verses 1 – 5         

Memory verse: Revelation 5 verse 5

John the beloved saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a scroll sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed which no one could know except God, and those to whom He should reveal them. John wept because he knew that the unopened scroll would mean that the closing scene of history could not begin; thus, evil would continue unabated on the earth, and there would be no future for God’s people. However, one of the elders (Revelation 4 verses 4 and 10) told John not to weep any longer, because someone was worthy to open the scroll; the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.

The Messiah, Jesus Christ, has proved Himself worthy by living a perfect life of obedience and total submission to the will of God by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Rising from the dead, He demonstrated His power and authority over evil and death. Only Christ conquered sin, death, hell, and Satan. So He is the only one that can open the scroll and break its seven seals, setting in motion the forces that will bring about the final destruction of all evil. Until the seals are broken and content of the scroll revealed, evil and death would not be destroyed. This means that evil and death will continue to dominate over man. This was the reason why Apostle John the beloved wept.

This story should be a source of consolation for us when we are faced with challenges and we weep because we feel there is no way out. We should remember that Jesus Christ has conquered and He alone is the one who can save us from all problems of life. Beloved, weep no more because of that problem, sickness, etc. There is hope because Christ has prevailed.

Food for Thought: Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. No matter the circumstances you pass through, have the hope and consolation that it is not forever. Deliverance, rescue, healing, favour and salvation will certainly come your way.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for conquering sin, death, Satan and hell, and you are able to solve my problems. Remember me at the point of my needs.

MANIFESTING IN THE FLESH: Devotion for Sunday June 12, 2016

MANIFESTING IN THE FLESH: Devotion for Sunday June 12, 2016

Text: Galatians 5:19 – 21    Memory verse: v 19, 20

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. Pretences can’t help. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively by crucifying them (5:24). These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities. They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. Are you one of the people that ignore these sins when they manifest in your life?  

Our fallen human nature (called flesh) betrays itself by the works which a man does. These demonstrate that he is not living under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Paul enumerated seventeen sins, while he listed only nine fruits of the Spirit. Neither list is exhaustive, but both are representative. The Galatia Christians had come out of a pagan background where sensual sins were not only tolerated but encouraged by the pagan priests and rituals. Thus Paul had to deal with this issue in this way so that they will understand the requirements of true Christianity. A life in the flesh will betray and disgrace you. Therefore, beware! Mortify that flesh now.

Food for Thought: Living in the flesh is a way of betraying your Christian faith. 

Prayer: Help me, my Lord and my God, to crucify flesh so that your Spirit will take full control of my life in Jesus name.

WAYS TEMPTATIONS COME d: Devotion for Tuesday April 19, 2016

WAYS TEMPTATIONS COME: Devotion for Tuesday April 19, 2016

Text: James 1:13 – 15     Memory verse: v 14

According to Matthew Henry, “Those who lay the blame of sin, either upon their constitution, or upon their condition in the world, or pretend they cannot keep from sinning, wrong God as if He were the author of sin.” Whenever God brings trials on our way, His aim is always to draw out the graces He has bestowed on us. James shows us here that the origin of evil and temptation is in our own hearts. Thus we can stop sin from onset by resisting the things that lead to sin (1:14) or we will be charged with all the evils that follow. If the bible says that the consequences of sin is death (Rom 6:23a) and God is not pleased with the death of sinners (Lam 3:33; Ezek 18:23; 33:11), how can He tempt us into sinning which will lead to our death?

Most times we easily blame the devil for every sin we commit but Jas 1:14 underscores the opposite of our usual claim that devil is author of our sins. We are therefore to look for the cause of every sin, inside us, not out of ourselves. Even the enticements of the devil cannot hurt except we yield to them. Everyone has desires arising from his own constitution, tempers, habits, and ways of life. Do your ways of life entice you into sin? Remember any Christian without self control is not a true child of God.   

Food for Thought: Proverbs 4:23

Prayer: My God and my Father, grant me the grace to moderate my desires never to be enticed by things that will lead me into sin in Jesus name.