Don’t Shut Your Hands

Devotion for Sunday January 14, 2018

Topic: Don’t Shut Your Hands

Text: Deuteronomy 15:7 – 8

This passage is similar to Leviticus 25:35 – 37. Due to the foregoing laws in the previous verses, Moses admonished the Israelites not to shut their hands against the poor. He exhorts them not to be mean and selfish but to develop a liberal spirit of charity and kindness which will secure for them the divine blessings (Romans 12:8 & 2 Corinthians 9:7). Also in Leviticus 25:35 – 37, Moses charged them to relieve the poor; by not taking interest or increase, for what was needful for the poor man's support (Leviticus 25:36–37). This is what Christianity demands from us. The Psalmist added his voice on this matter and stated that there are promises attached to the command of taking care of the poor in Psalm 41:1 and 112: 9. Just as stated earlier, if we desire to secure divine blessings from God, we should be ready and ever willing to open our hands to the poor and the needy. If God has blessed you enough, you should make a regular provision for some of the poor people in your neighbourhood. Securing all the worldly goods for yourself and your children alone while people around you are living in abject poverty is the highest level of wickedness. Plan and put someone poor you know into your budget and God will bless you the more. Sing A&M 361; Abu 128        

Food for Thought: Leviticus 25:35 – 37          

Memory verse: 1 John 3:17

Prayer: O Lord, may I not shut my hands against the needy when I have what they need from me in Jesus name. Amen.'

But Come And Lay Your Hands

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Tuesday March 7, 2017             

Topic: But Come And Lay Your Hands

Text: Matthew 9:18 – 19       

This man came to Jesus with a need. Mark and Luke called him Jairus (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41), a leader of a synagogue. A leader of a synagogue was responsible for supervising worship services, caring for the scrolls, running the daily school, keeping the congregation faithful to the law, distributing alms, administering the care of the building, and finding rabbis to teach on the Sabbath. They exerted great influence in their communities, yet Jairus knelt before Jesus, indicating homage and courtesy as he came with his urgent request.

According to Matthew he told Jesus that her daughter had just died but He should come and lay His hand on her and she will live. This was a clear demonstration of faith in what Jesus can do. His faith was rewarded with the restoration of his daughter back to life. We can’t say the motive behind the action of Jairus in coming and bowing before Jesus. It may be the urgent need but needs should not be the reason for our coming to Jesus. The death of a loved one would have weakened the faith of some people but not Jairus at that time. He trusted Jesus for an intervention and he got it.

This is the kind of faith God wants to see in us and He honours such faith no wonder He left immediately with him. If you were in the position of Jairus, would you have trusted Jesus? Would you have bordered that He goes with you? Some would have gone home disheartened. No matter how hopeless your situation is, don’t despair. If Jesus is invited into the matter, the situation will change. Invite Him today.

Food for Thought: If you were in the position of Jairus, would you have still bordered Jesus to go with you?

Memory verse: Matthew 9 verse 18 - While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

Prayer: Lord God, strength my faith as I trust in you so that hopeless situations will not despair me.