Marriage Is Honourable: Devotion for Saturday March 7, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday March 7, 2020

Topic: Marriage Is Honourable                                

Text: Hebrew 13:1 - 4

In verses 1 – 3 of this chapter, the author gave commands for the social life and responsibilities of Christians. It went further to give command on private lives too (v4). Couples that are believers have a responsibility to give honour to their marriage, and remain faithful to each other no matter the circumstances that may follow after they have been joined. This would include promises to continually love each other mutually, to remain faithful in thought, attitude, and action, and to support and provide for each other. This book shows how best to do this – we should stay away from immoral behaviour and adultery which splits marriages.

God’s commands against immorality (given for people’s own good) have been in place for a very long time now (see Ex. 20:14, 17; Job 24:15-24; Prov. 5:15-23). Christians are to maintain high standards (Matthew 5:27-28). Marriage being honourable means being right, proper, and for ministers of the gospel as well as others.

As marriage is God's institution for the happiness of man and the prevention of fornication and other abominable vices, he who forbids or discourages it increases the temptations to fornication, and exposes himself to the just indignation of God. The writer of Hebrews makes the point that even if no consequences are seen right away, promiscuous people will incur God’s wrath and He will surely judge them.

Food for Thought: How honourable is your marriage (For those married)?

Memory verse: Colossians 3:5

Prayer: Ask God to help you remain faithful in your marriage. Pray also for those whose marriages are having problems.

FAITHFUL STEWARDS: Devotion for Sunday May 1, 2016

FAITHFUL STEWARDS: Devotion for Sunday May 1, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 6    Memory verse: v 2

Happy workers day to all workers of different categories! Our text came as a response to the revaluation of humans by the Corinthians. Although the term ‘servants’ (4:1) denotes subordination, “stewards” (4:2) emphasizes privilege and responsibility. Leadership is a call to a pure and trustworthy character (4:2). The Corinthians acted as if they were the judges at the last day, but that was too early (4:5, “before the Lord returns”). Their judgments of Christians were not for edification, but to put a final tag of good or bad, in or out, on the ones they judged. It was a non-ministry judgment that had its source in pride. This is very common even among us Christians of today. According to Family Bible Notes, “Fidelity to God and to the souls of men, in rightly dispensing the truths of the gospel, and in enforcing them by a uniformly holy and consistent example, is required of all ministers of Christ.” This is the emphasis of Paul in 4:2.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare, poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well” so says Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr. As we celebrate workers day today, it is appropriate to evaluate our calls as servants of whatever category we may be. How faithful are you in your job? Do you do it so well, as Martin Luther King Jnr. suggested? We should remember that our call is to be faithful first to God and then to our employer. May God, grant us that grace in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: The supreme quality required in a steward is fidelity to his trust.

Prayer: Lord God, help me never to betray the trust you have reposed on me.