Anointed For Excellence

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday February 23, 2017           

Topic: Anointed For Excellence

Text: Romans 12:6 – 13            

Paul listed in Romans 12: 6 – 8, some gifts and how best to use them. How many did he mention there? When you look at the list, is it possible for only one person to possess all these gifts? No! A prophet is often bold and articulate while servers (those in ministry) are faithful and loyal.

A teacher is a clear thinker and encouragers know how to motivate others to do well in their chosen career and in the worship of God. Those who are known givers are generous and trusting. Leaders are good organizers and managers of people and their talents. People with kind heart are caring people who are happy to give their time to others. Now you see that it is not possible for one to have all these gifts.

What matters most is the ability to identify your own gifts and ask how you can use them to build up God’s family. Note that this list is incomplete. No matter your gift, you cannot do the work of the church alone. However, you should understand that God who gave you just one or more of these gifts have anointed you to excel therein.

We should try as much as possible to be thankful for people whose gifts are completely different from yours. Let your strengths balance their weaknesses, and be grateful that their abilities make up for your deficiencies. God requires us to build the His church together.

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 4:10 – 11

Memory verse: 1 Peter 4:10

Prayer: God, help me to use my gifts well to excel and glorify you. Grant that I will be thankful for other people’s gifts and to complement them. Amen.

Be An Observable Model (In Actions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday February 3, 2017

Topic: Be An Observable Model (In Actions)         

Text: 2 Thessalonians 3:6 – 10    

Here, Paul warned about laziness. He made it clear that they were models when he and his companions were in Thessalonica, saying that they worked hard, buying what they needed rather than becoming a burden to any of the believers. Their rule was, “Whoever does not work should not eat.” This should be the standard of every Christian. Is it pleasing that as a Christian, you should be a burden to people? It is absolutely wrong for us to fold our hand and continue to wait for supply from other people. This is the reason behind Paul’s warning in 3:6. See his example in 2 Cor. 11:9, Acts 18:3 and 1 Thessalonians. 2:9.

Most Christians confuse leisure and laziness but there are differences between them. Relaxation and recreation provide a necessary and much needed balance to our life; but when it is time to work, Christians should jump right in. We should make the most of our talent and time, doing all we can to provide for ourselves and our dependents. Rest when you should be resting and work when you should be working.

Be a model for others the way you work to provide for your family and other dependants. Don’t bring shame to God and His church by lazing about in pretence that you are going for prayers, going for evangelism while your family is dying of hunger. Don’t be a burden to others and the church. That is how you can be a model.

Action: Start doing something from today if you don’t have any job. It may not be what you wanted but from there God will take you to where you will be.   

Memory verse: Acts 20:34 - You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me (ESV).

Prayer: Bless the works of my hands O Lord and give job to those in need so we can’t become burden to people.