Be Like Your Father: Be Like Your Father

 

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Be Like Your Father

Topic: Be Like Your Father   

Text: Ephesians 5:1 – 2                        

Here in our scriptural reading for the day, Paul reminds us that our perfect example is God. We haven’t see God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. It is God the Son that we have heard about Him in the Scriptures. When Paul said that we should imitate God, he was talking about Christ. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This is what our call as Christians demand.

In being like our father in heaven, we should imitate;

1) His acts of mercy (Luke 6:36).

2) His compassionate life (Mark 1:41; Luke 7:11 – 15). We should also show compassion to people especially those in need.

3) We should love as He loves us (John 3:16; 13:34; 15:12.)

4) We shouldn’t condemn people (John 3:17; 8:10, 11).

5) We should be like Him in obedience (Philippians 2:5 – 11).

6) We should be just and maintain justice too (Isaiah 30:18).   

Just as children imitate their parents, we should follow God’s example. His great love for us led Him to sacrifice Himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind; a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service. We have reason for everlasting gratitude to God that He has given us a perfect example; and it should be our great object perfectly to imitate it.   

Food for Thought: Matthew 5:48

Memory verse: Ephesians 5 v 1

Prayer: God, make me perfect as you are as I imitate you daily through godly living in Jesus name.

Utilize Your Talent/Gifts – The Example of Joseph

Devotion for Wednesday January 10, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talent/Gifts – The Example of Joseph

Text: Genesis 40:5 – 23

Joseph’s gift/talent was to dream and interpret the dreams. He was not stingy with that gift. He dreamt about his brothers bowing to him as a king and another time his parents bowing to him. His dreams elicited hatred from his brothers who sold him into slavery. But being a slave didn’t stop him from using his talents even while in prison, he interpreted the dream of Pharaoh’s servant. Some people would have ignored those servants but not Joseph. He showed concern towards their sadness and inability to understand their dreams. When they told him about their dreams, he gave the right interpretation. His appeal that chief butler should remember him was ignored but he continued his life until another opportunity came when Pharaoh dreamt and there was no interpreter. Then he was remembered. His gift sorted him out and he came out from prison to become a Prime Minister in a foreign land. The way you use your gift matters to God and humanity. God who gave you that gift expects you to use it to serve Him and humanity, and until you begin to use them it cannot manifest the more and bring you before men. If Joseph had shown indifference to the fellow prisoners, when the need arose for an interpreter, he wouldn’t have been remembered. Therefore put your gift into use and it will sort you out. Sing SS&S 1138, Abu 240

Food for Thought: Talent without tact is only half talent – Horace Greeley.

Memory verse: Genesis 41:13

Prayer: God, help me to utilize the gift you gave me just as Joseph did and let it bring me before great men in Jesus name. Amen.

Price of Godliness (Suffering)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday April 2, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Suffering)

Text: 1 Peter 2:18 – 25

As Christians, we may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sins; some happens because of our foolishness; and some are the result of living in a fallen world. Another reason for suffering may be as a result of our willingness to live godly lives. Peter wrote here about suffering that comes as a result of doing good.

Jesus Christ never sinned, and yet He suffered so that we could be set free. He suffered because He allowed the will of God to take precedence. Peter had learned about suffering from Jesus. He knew that Jesus’ suffering was part of God’s plan intended to save us (Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 24:25–27, 44–47). He also knew that all who follow Jesus must be prepared to suffer (Mark 8:34–35). He learnt these truths from Jesus and passed them on to us.

In 1992, Christian Education Movement organised a crusade in Issele Uku for towns Aniocha North. As we were going from the crusade ground inside a lorry, a teenager threw a big stone into the lorry. As the stone was coming to land on a 6 months old baby, a brother saw it, blocked it, and redirected it, and it landed on my face. I had a cut above my eye and on my nose. We went back to Ajulu Clinic where the cut was stitched. This is one way we suffer to preach the gospel.

Missionaries trekked long distances, suffered attacks and rejections before the gospel came to us. Following Christ’s example to live for others may lead to suffering. We shouldn’t avoid it rather we should with patience, calmness, and confidence pass through it knowing that God is in control of our future.

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 4:14 – 16

Memory verse: 1 Peter 2 verse 19

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the grace to endure suffering as I live for you.

Don’t Be Discouraged

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday February 9, 2017

Topic: Don’t Be Discouraged

Text: Deuteronomy 1:21

Discouragement comes to us on daily basis in the course of our desire to fulfil our life’s dream. When we don’t have discouragement or opposition it will seem as if we are on the wrong part towards realization of our set goals. You may ask, why do people usually discourage us? People discourage us because of the fear they have concerning the risks we undertake in attaining our goals. Some do it due to lack of understanding of your dream. Some do it just to threaten you. While some do it as a result of envy and jealousy.

As part of Moses’ farewell speech to the Israelites at Kadesh-barnea, he shows them how near they were to a happy settlement in Canaan and encouraged them to complete the journey. So many people have missed out in their blessings because they gave up at almost the end of their journey or race. If we have the vision of what will be the result of our set goals, nothing will discourage us. Jesus Christ our example endured all forms of abuse, rejection, suffering and even death on the Cross of Calvary because of the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:2). If Christ suffered because He was looking forward to the joy of heaven, why should we be discouraged because we are suffering for the sake of our salvation?

Why are you discouraged on going ahead with that project, etc? Is it because of fear, threats, envy, jealousy or abandonment by loved ones? Beloved, you can make it. A little effort more is all you need to be there. Give it a trial.

Food for thought: Discouragement had denied many people their blessings when they were almost at the line to embrace the tape.

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 1 verse 21

Prayer: God, remove discouragement from my heart and grant me the spirit of faith, boldness and sound mind.

Be An Observable Model (In Reactions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday February 4, 2017

Topic: Be An Observable Model (In Reactions)              

Text: Romans 12:17 – 21

The way we react to words we hear or to people’s actions speaks volume of the depths of our Christianity. In online bible quotation, Epictetus said, “Deliberate much before you say or do anything, for it will not be in your power to recall what is said or done.” Most of us do not think before we talk. We only think after we had talked. This shouldn’t be the standard of true Christian.

Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Again, Proverbs 15:8 says, “A wrathful man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger allays contention.” Our reactions will either avert contention or stirs up anger. If we actually hope to live as true Christians, we should learn how to govern our spirit. Paul confirms this when he said, “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” – 1 Corinthians 14:32. When we shout at one another, it shows that we don’t love one another.

We should show our maturity in Christ by the way we react to the words we hear especially those that are provocative. Jesus Christ gave us an example according to 1 Peter 2:21 – 23. We should be a model for others by the way we control the anger, slander, abuse, hatred, injustice, etc. against us. There is no gain in trying to flex muscles with people over words you could easily ignore, after all the words said against you are not written on your forehead. The author of the book Hebrew also said that Jesus gave us an example (Heb. 12:3). We should follow that example. Don’t think you can gain anything by vengeance, expression of anger and unnecessary and sudden outburst on people.

Food for Thought: He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so He opened not his mouth (Isaiah 53:7).

Memory verse: Proverbs 16:32 - Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Prayer: Grant unto me, O Lord, the grace to control myself in times of and provocation in Jesus name.

THE BLESSINGS IN PERSECUTION

Devotion for Thursday December 22, 2016

Topic: THE BLESSINGS IN PERSECUTION      

Text: Matthew 5:10 – 12                  

As we conclude the study on the Beatitudes, we should note these four ways to understand and imbibe its lessons.

(1) They are codes of ethics for us and a standard of conduct for all Christians. What it means is that we are not to choose the one we want and discard the others rather we are bound to have them and live by them.

(2) They contrast Kingdom values (what is eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). Most Christians of today are much more interested in the worldly things and their values. We should be careful to understand the things that are needful for us so as not to be carried away by worldly value and we miss heaven at last.

(3) They contrast the superficial faith of the Pharisees with the real faith that Christ demands. What Christ demands from us is what matters even when people do not consider it as normal or they see them as outdated.

(4) They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the new Kingdom.

These Beatitudes are not multiple choices to pick from; rather, it must be taken as a whole. They describe what we should be like, as Christ’s followers and how we should relate with God and Man.

In this last of the Beatitudes, Jesus stresses what will mark us out as matured Christians. It takes a high level of maturity to endure temptations and trials without losing your faith. Jesus said we should rejoice when we’re persecuted for our faith for the following reasons.

(1) It takes our eyes off earthly rewards.

(2) It strips away superficial belief,

(3) It strengthens our faith when we endure, and

(4) Our attitude going through it serves as an example to others who follow.

We should be comforted knowing that God’s greatest prophets were persecuted (Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, etc). The fact that we are being persecuted proves that we have been faithful. Remain faithful because God will reward those faithful by receiving them into His eternal Kingdom, where there will be no more persecution.  Will you be there?

Food for Thought: Persecution strengthens our faith when we endure it.

Memory verse: Matthew 5 verse 10: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (KJV).

Prayer: God, I need your grace to endure persecution, trial and temptations that may come my way in Jesus name. Amen.

AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU: Devotion for Maundy Thursday March 24, 2016

AN EXAMPLE FOR YOU: Devotion for Maundy Thursday March 24, 2016

Text: John 13:1 – 17        Memory verse: v 15

Feet were usually washed before the meal. But Jesus waited until during the supper (13:2) to make the act stand out as noteworthy. Jesus knew that He could take a servant’s role without losing anything (13:3). The purpose of this action was to fix in their minds the nature of true greatness. This could be traced to the event in Lk. 22:24–30 when the disciples were in dispute over who was going to be the greatest in the kingdom. Jesus had taught them that greatness in the kingdom comes through serving others (Matt 20:26-27), but they had not learned the lesson. Thus, He gave them this unforgettable illustration. According to Brunner, “When a man turns to God desiring to serve Him, God directs his attention to the world and its need.” Have you realised this truth?

At first Peter rejected Jesus’ foot washing (13:6-11), which pointed toward Jesus’ cleansing work on the cross. But when Peter saw that this foot washing was symbolic of cleansing from sin, he requested to be washed from head to foot. He misunderstood Jesus the Messiah’s servant role and therefore his own role as disciple. In 13:10 Jesus came back to the literal point. The spiritual point had already been understood. They were already clean. Jesus was also showing His disciples what it meant to serve; what it meant to be great in the kingdom of God. His challenge in 13:15 is for us today. Are you serving God in others?

Food for Thought: “When a man turns to God desiring to serve Him, God directs his attention to the world and its need” – Brunner.

Prayer: God teach me humility and service for humanity in Jesus name.