Sanctification and Its Effect: Devotion for Friday September 4, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday September 4, 2020

Topic: Sanctification and Its Effect           

Text: Ezekiel 36: 25 - 38                           

God promised to restore Israel not only physically but spiritually. To accomplish this, He promised to give them a new heart for following Him and put His Spirit within them (Ezekiel 11:19 – 20; Psalms 51:7 – 11) aimed at transforming them and empowering them to do His will. This is the effect of sanctification of His people.

God said his people should be ashamed of their sins (Ezekiel 36:31). The people had become so callous that they had lost all sensitivity to sin. First they had to “remember” their sins; be ashamed of them, and finally repent of them (James 4:8 – 9). If we examine our lives, we may find that we, too, have lost our sensitivity to certain sins. To regain our sensitivity to sin we must recognize our sin for what it is, be sorry for displeasing God, and ask for His forgiveness.

You may have been living in sin and highly polluted. God offers you a fresh start today. You can have your sins washed away, receive a new heart for God, and have His Spirit within you, if you accept His promise. This will be the beginning of a life of righteousness; a life that hearkens to God's law, trembling at His threats, moulded to comply with His whole will. Why try to patch up your old life when you can have a new one?   

Food for Thought: Is your heart right with God?

Memory verse: Ezekiel 36 v 26

Prayer: God, grant me the heart that obeys your law and comply with your will in Jesus name. 

Extraordinary Love: Devotion for Tuesday August 25, 2020

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Devotion for Tuesday August 25, 2020

Topic: Extraordinary Love               

Text: Luke 15:11 – 32                    

The parable of the prodigal son shows what is expected of us in repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to Him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel of grace – the extraordinary love of God.

This young man took a decision to go back to the father and acted on it. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” – Luke 15:20b.

The father immediately restored this destitute and humbled young man as his son. “This represents the readiness with which God receives returning sinners. To be saved, men must not only resolve, but they must return to God; taking all the blame and shame of their departure to themselves, and ascribing righteousness to Him, they must surrender all their interests for time and eternity to his care, guidance, and disposal” as Family Bible Note opined. 

The sheep was lost because it may have foolishly wandered away (Luke 15:4); the coin was lost through no fault of its own (Luke 15:8); and the son left out of selfishness (Luke 15:12). God’s great love reaches out and finds sinners no matter why or how they got lost.

Beloved, have you ever wondered why God has showed so much love to you despite your weaknesses? What steps do you take or should you take to reciprocate this extraordinary love of God for you? It will be great injustice if we neglect and fail to appreciate the love of God for us.

Food for Thought: Job 7:17 and Psalm 8:4

Memory verse: Luke 15 v 24

Prayer: God, may I never fail to reciprocate your love for me. Help me to serve you out of love and gratitude for loving me despite my sins.  

The Key to Brotherly Relationship: Devotion for Saturday June 27, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday June 27, 2020

Topic: The Key to Brotherly Relationship    

Text: Luke 17:1 – 3                                             

Here in our Bible text for the day, Jesus teaches us that giving of offences is a great sin which we should avoid and carefully watch against. The expression “offences” is a translation of a Greek term which means “stumbling blocks.” The term originally referred to the trigger that springs a trap; then the word came to refer to anything that causes one to sin.

Jesus emphatically warns that these stumbling blocks are sure to occur. Nonetheless, He pronounced a woe upon those that place these offences which cause people to sin. He suggests that death by drowning would be preferable rather than to offend one of these little ones.

Do you place offences (stumbling blocks) on people’s way by the words of your mouth; by your dressing and appearance, by your reactions, by your quest for wealth, by your pride and arrogance, and by your immoral life? Repent today before God’s anger will visit you.

Nevertheless, God expects us to forgive one another for us to maintain and sustain brotherly love among us. Why did Jesus say so? Because we can be tempted to revenge against people who puts stumbling blocks on our ways. We should understand that vengeance is of the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30).

 Jesus stresses forgiveness which precedes rebuke and repentance. You shouldn’t expect people to forgive you when you are not willing to repent. We should note that to fall often into the same offence against our brother is a great aggravation of our offences. Therefore, beware because when it is repeated, it means it is deliberate.

Food for Thought: Forgiving multiplication of offences is demonstration of God’s like temper in us.

Memory verse: Luke 17:3

Prayer: Lord, grant me the heart to forgive those who offend me no matter the number of times they do it in Jesus name.

Pray also for me as I celebrate 21 years of my ordination into the Holy Order today.

Accept God’s Pardon Now: Devotion for Monday March 2, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday March 2, 2020

Topic: Accept God’s Pardon Now                             

Text: Isaiah 43:22 – 28

Amnesty is pardon or prosecution free period. The period we are alive here on earth is the period of Amnesty; it is a period God will not prosecute us for our sins.

In our text, God showed the real condition between Him and Israel; they have not cared to call upon him (v22), neither did they offer sacrifices to him (v23, 24). Despite all these, God out of His abundant mercies opted to grant them amnesty and forgive them (v25). This is an encouragement for us to repent, because there is forgiveness with God now. When God forgives, He forgets.          

God’s amnesty is still there for us till death. Have you accepted the offer or you have rejected it? Now is the time you have to decide because the moment you give up ghost, there will be no more amnesty for you. God’s pardon for us ends at death. Once you die without accepting it, you will face persecution and judgement of God.

As we don’t hold our future neither do we know when we shall die, it is expedient that we decide now on what to do for your good and that is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. Accept Him now before it will be too late.

Food for Thought: “He that promised pardon on our repentance has not promised life till we repent” – Francis Quarles.

Memory verse: Isaiah 43:25

Prayer: God, help me to accept your amnesty now before it will be too late.

Wearying God with Sin: Devotion for Sunday January 19, 2020

Devotion for Sunday January 19, 2020

Topic: Wearying God with Sin                            

Text: Isaiah 43:22 – 28

A sacrifice required both giving up a valuable animal (item) and pleading with God for forgiveness. But the people presented God with sins instead of sacrifices (Isaiah 43:24). Can you imagine bringing the best of your sins to God’s altar?

This ironic picture shows the depths at which Israel had sunk. What do you present to God; your sins or a plea for his forgiveness? Despite all these atrocities, God assures His people of forgiveness. For God, when He forgives our sins, He totally forgets them (Isaiah 43:25). We don’t have to fear that He will remind us of them later. Because God forgives our sins, we need to forgive others.

Can anyone justify himself before God? Yet, out of mercy He calls on us to dialogue with Him so we may be acquitted if found not guilty (Isaiah 43:26 compare 1:18). 

How do we weary God with sin? When we come before Him often and again but refuse to repent of our sins or when we know we are living in sin and instead of repenting, we glory in them. These are some of the ways we weary God with our sins. Wearying God with our sins will definitely attract some unbearable consequences (use verse 28 to compare Romans 6:23). God exposed them to contempt and destruction and ours will not be an exemption except we repent now. Are you wearying God with your sins?

Food for Thought: Beware! Sin has grievous consequences.

Memory verse: Isaiah 1:14

Prayer: God, grant me broken and contrite heart for my sins so I will repent of them and not to weary you with them in Jesus name.

At Calvary, They Crucified Jesus

Devotion for Good Friday March 30, 2018

Topic: At Calvary, They Crucified Jesus

Text: Luke 23:32 – 49  

Luke called the place where Jesus was crucified, Calvary while the other three evangelists called it, Place of Skull or Golgotha in Hebrew (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22 & John 19:17). Calvary is a hill just outside the city walls of Jerusalem where the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place. The choice of Calvary was for a purpose. The Chief Priest and Romans soldiers choose the place which was conspicuous so as to make mockery of Jesus but they never knew it was symbolic. See Hebrews 13:11, 12 and compare it with these passages Exodus 29:14; Leviticus 4:11 – 12, 21; 6:30; 9:11; 16:27; Numbers 19:3. He was crucified there because bearing the sins of the world just like the lamb in the Old Testament bearing sin is burnt outside the camp. To show what He came to do at Calvary, the first thing was to plea for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. He died to purchase our forgiveness. He also pardoned one of the criminals right there at Calvary. This shows that true repentance is never late. But we should not procrastinate about it because we may not have the grace this criminal enjoyed. As the soldiers taunted Him, He was humble and didn’t retaliate (1 Pet 2:21 – 24). His death was recorded in Luke 23:46 while the reaction of the Centurion to His death is in Luke 23:47. Having died for us, we should seek to glorify God with true repentance and conversion; by a sober, righteous, and godly life; and by employing our talents in the service of Him who died for us and rose again.

Sing SS&S 621; Abu 35

Food for Thought: Christ became accursed for us upon the cross. What have you done to reciprocate this sacrifice?

Memory verse: Luke 23:33

Prayer: God, grant that this ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for me will not be in vain.

The Implications Of Our Baptism

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday April 19, 2017

Topic: The Implications Of Our Baptism

Text: Romans 6:1 – 7

Misconception and misunderstanding of our basics of faith can affect our relationship with God badly and make the foundation of our faith shaky. Paul realized that his teaching in the previous chapter about God’s kindness to sinners could be interpreted to suggest that people ought to keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness. Hence the question Paul asked in Romans 6:1. He also answered by emphatically saying, “Certainly not!” Paul’s idea here is that the gospel of grace was not aimed at finding an excuse for sin, but to give freedom from sin. He clarified this with the following illustration that the believer has died to sin.

Using the burial of Christ as a reference point, Paul stated that our baptism implies we have died with Christ. Our baptism connotes death to sin and exchange of our sinful life for Christ’s resurrection life. Paul speaks of this death to sin as a fact and concludes, therefore, that believers cannot continue to live in it. This is what is expected of us in our baptism.

From this teaching of Paul, the usefulness of our baptism does not lie on the place or means by which we were baptised as some lay credence to immersion. What matters is the repentance from sin and resurrection to a new life in Christ Jesus. This was the point Peter raised in 1 Pet. 3:21. It is not just enough to be baptised, we should strive to live out the life required of us who have been baptised. It should be lives that are dead to sin and alive unto righteousness. Do you manifest a life that is dead to sin and alive unto righteousness?

Food for Thought: Are you living the life required of someone who has been baptised?

Memory verse: Colossians 2:12

Prayer: Lord God, cause me to die to sin and live unto righteousness as required of me in Jesus name. Amen.

Christ Is Our Message

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday April 18, 2017

Topic: Christ Is Our Message

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12 – 20

In our bible for the day, Paul asserts that the resurrection of Christ is the centre of the gospel message we preach. In simple terms, Jesus died for our sins and resurrected that we may have life. To buttress his point, Paul noted that if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our preaching is vain. It would be vain and useless to preach. Without the solid fact of the resurrection, the whole gospel becomes empty and unreal. If Christ had remained dead, we would have no reason to be sure our sins have been forgiven, for it is the same power of God which raised Jesus Christ that forgives our sins. Our faith then would be empty and worthless. If that were not true, the whole system was false, and Christianity was an imposition.

The word vain here seems to include the idea of useless, idle, false. Whether there are people who still believe that Jesus Christ did not resurrect of not, we Christians believe He did. That is the sole reason why we still have the boldness to preach the gospel and that is all we preach. I don’t know what your message is but my message is that Christ died for my sins and for the sins of the whole world that whosoever believes in Him shall be saved.

Beloved, what is your message as a Christian? If it is not centred on death and resurrection of Christ, then your message is not true. You are only an impostor. What we believe is not in vain because they were written before now and they have manifested. We should not be deceived by what other believe and preach.

Food for Thought: Which group do you belong: those who believe that Jesus resurrected or those who believe that He is still in the tomb?

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 15 verse 14

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me utterance to preach Christ and His resurrection as the gospel message in Jesus name. 

HE’LL RESTORE YOUR LOST FORTUNE

DEVOTION FOR SATURDAY DECEMBER 10, 2016

Topic: HE’LL RESTORE YOUR LOST FORTUNE

Text: Deuteronomy 30:1 – 10

God’s love and mercies are unbelievable and far beyond our understanding. If not so, some of us wouldn’t have been Christians much more being a priest in His service. This love God has for sinners made Paul to assert that he was not worthy to be an Apostle if not for the grace God he received.

In our bible reading for the day, Moses told the Israelites that if they go astray, realizes their wrong and are willing to go back to the Lord, He would welcome them back. Even when they walk out on God deliberately, He will still take them back. God’s kind of mercy is what Jesus proved through the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11–24). He deliberately walked out on the Father like the lost sheep. Moses told them about God’s love and mercies for them.  

There are lessons for us to learn from this statement of Moses.

a) God is love and merciful (Exodus 34:6 &7)

b) God is always ready to forgive us (Jeremiah 31:34)

c) He will gather us as His people (Jeremiah 32:37; Ezekiel 34:13)

d) He restores our fortunes (Luke 15:22–24; Jeremiah 29:14)

Have you deliberately walked out on God? Is it that you walked out on God as a result of ignorance and now you are finding it difficult to forgive yourself and come back to Him? Why will you continue to carry about your burden of sins when God is ever willing and ready to forgive you when you come back to Him? The place you are now may be the result of the acts of your own mistake just like the Prodigal Son and you have lost so many things. Turn back to God and He will freely welcome you unconditionally (Luke 15:17 & 18). Arise, He is waiting for you to restore unto you all those years you have lost (Joel 2:25) in ignorance and sin because of His love for you. Don’t hesitate or procrastinate.

Food for Thought: All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are Yes and Amen!

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 30 verse 3

Prayer: God, I repent of all sins I have committed. Please restore my lost fortunes in Jesus name. Amen.

AT PEACE WITH GOD: Devotion for Wednesday September 28, 2016

AT PEACE WITH GOD: Devotion for Wednesday September 28, 2016    

Text: Romans 5:1 – 5     Memory verse: Romans 5 verse 1

The word “therefore” is always a significant term in interpretation. It is usually used as a conjunction to link a previous thought or expression with the one following it. As Paul used it here, it indicates that what he is about to write is based upon that which he has previously written. With the word therefore, Paul indicates a conclusion based on his previous argument he posited in chapter four. In chapter four, Paul showed how sinners, both Jews and Gentiles, are justified by faith.

Here in chapter five, he begins to describe how having been made right in God’s sight by faith affects our relationship with Him. First, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Having peace with God means there is no more hostility between us and God, no sin blocking our relationship with him. More than that, a new relationship has been established, so we no longer dread the outcome of judgment but live under the protection established by God. Having peace is very essential in our walk with God as it will give us a clear conscience to approach God always and to live with hope of eternal life.

This explanation is very important because we need full assurance of forgiveness of sin in order to relate well with God. No wonder as a way of reassurance, he stated that there is no more condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). Peace is what we receive first as mark of change in our relationship with God. It is also a direct consequence which will lead to a change in our relationship toward Him. God, on the one hand, has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ as Paul posited in 2 Corinthians 5:18. On the other hand, we, accepting His offer of reconciliation are now reconciled to Him (2 Corinthians 5:20). Have you found peace that comes from knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour? If not, use this opportunity to renounce Satan, repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Saviour.

Food for Thought: Have you found peace that comes from knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour?

Prayer: Lord, grant me that inner peace that comes with salvation in Jesus name.

SO HE DID REGULARLY: Devotion for Tuesday September 13, 2016

SO HE DID REGULARLY: Devotion for Tuesday September 13, 2016

Text: Job 1:4 – 5         Memory verse: Job v 5b

As God blessed Job in various ways, he allowed his children to benefit from that blessing. He did not withdraw the blessing from them. He allowed them to benefit from them. On their birthdays, they will host birthday parties. They usually invite their friends to the parties so as to share in their joy. Because Job had deep concern for the spiritual welfare of his children, he usually make sacrifice after the parties to appease God on their behalf. As he was always fearful that they might have sinned unknowingly, he offered these sacrifices for them and this he did regularly.

In the time of Job and even as it stands today, the father of the house is seen as the chief priest of that family whose responsibilities include making sacrifice on behalf of his family. He is often seen as the family’s religious leader. Because there were no priests to instruct Job in God’s laws, Job acted as the priest and offered sacrifices to God to ask for forgiveness for sins he and his family had committed. This demonstrated that Job did not consider himself sinless. Job did this out of conviction and love for God, not just because it was his role as head of the house.

The period of feasting and celebrations are often seasons of peculiar danger. As we joyfully enjoy during festive periods, we are at times tempted to forget the source of our wealth or dishonour God, the giver of the blessings we are enjoying and thus we need to be forgiving, Can parents today can show the same concern by praying for their children, leading them to Bible studies, Prayer meetings, etc. This means “sacrificing” some time each day to ask God to forgive them, to help them grow, to protect them, and to help them please God. Do you carry out your spiritual duties because they are expected or spontaneously from a heart of devotion to God?

Food for Thought: Do you have spiritual concern for your children? How often do you care to teach them the word of God and pray for, and with them?

Prayer: God, help me to make time each day to pray for forgiveness of my children and grant me grace to help them grow to please you in Jesus name.

KEY TO BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIP: Devotion for Friday June 17, 2016

KEY TO BROTHERLY RELATIONSHIP: Devotion for Friday June 17, 2016

Text: Luke 17:1 – 3      Memory verse: v 3

Here Jesus teaches us that giving of offences is a great sin which we should avoid and carefully watch against. The expression ‘offences’ is a translation of a Greek term which means ‘stumbling blocks.’ The term originally referred to the trigger that springs a trap; then the word came to refer to anything that causes one to sin. Jesus emphatically warns that these stumbling blocks are sure to occur. Nonetheless, He pronounced a woe upon those that place these offences which cause people to sin. He suggests that death by drowning would be preferable rather than to offend one of these little ones. Do you place offences on people’s way by the words of your mouth; by your dressing and appearance, by your reactions, by your quest for wealth, by your pride and arrogance, and by your immoral life? Repent today before God’s anger will visit you.

Nevertheless, God expects us to forgive one another for us to maintain and sustain brotherly love among us. Why did Jesus say so? Because we can be tempted to revenge against people who puts stumbling blocks on our ways. We should understand that vengeance is of the Lord (Deut. 32:35; Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30). Jesus stresses forgiveness which precedes rebuke and repentance. You shouldn’t expect people to forgive you when you are not willing to repent. We should note that to fall often into the same offence against our brother is a great aggravation of our offences. Therefore, beware because when it is repeated, it means it is deliberate.

Food for Thought: Forgiving multiplication of offences is demonstration of God’s like temper in us.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the heart to forgive those who offend me no matter the number of times they do it in Jesus name.

WEARYING GOD WITH SIN: Devotion for Tuesday January 19, 2016

WEARYING GOD WITH SIN           Tuesday January 19, 2016

Text: Isaiah 43:22 – 28                  Memory verse: v 24

A sacrifice required both giving up a valuable animal and pleading with God for forgiveness. But the people presented God with sins instead of sacrifices (43:24). This ironic picture shows the depths to which Israel had sunk that they commit their sin in the presence of God. What do you present to God; your sins or a plea for His forgiveness? Despite all these atrocities, God assures His people of forgiveness. For God, when He forgives our sins, He totally forgets them (43:25). We never have to fear that He will remind us of them later. Because God forgives our sins, we need to forgive others. Can anyone justify himself before God? Yet, out of mercy He calls on us to dialogue with Him so we may be acquitted if found not guilty (43:26 compare 1:18). 

How do we weary God with sin? When we come before Him often and refuse to repent of our sins or when we know we are living in sin and instead of repenting, we glory in them. These are some of the ways we weary God with our sins. Can you mention some other ways we weary God with our sins? Wearying God with our sins will definitely attract some unbearable consequences (43:28 compare Rom. 6:23). God exposed them to contempt and destruction and ours won’t be an exemption except we repent. Do you weary God with your sins?

Food for Thought: Malachi 2:17

Prayer: God, grant me a broken and contrite heart for my sins so I will repent of them and not to weary you with them any longer in Jesus name.