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.

Look Ahead And Be Optimistic

Devotion for Friday December 1, 2017

Topic: Look Ahead And Be Optimistic 

Text: Hebrew 6:11 – 15

People who lived godly lives faced temptations, persecutions and trials of different types and degrees. From Noah to the Apostles and disciples, all had terrible experiences. This is the reason for the exhortation in Hebrews 10:36. When we begin to consider the trials and temptations of this life, we cannot make progress in our endeavours. This led the author of Hebrews to challenge us in Hebrews 6:12. He cautioned us not to be sluggish or faint-hearted or timid or negligent. Rather, he advised that we should strongly and constantly imitate them in their manner of life; their faith and patience. The challenges for us in our text are;

1) Heaven is not ours by purchase but by promise

2) Heaven is a promised inheritance which saints by faith and patience, have possessed and will possess.

3) Being followers of imitators of their faith and patience, we may also joint them to inherit the promises.

Heaven is what lies ahead of us as Christians. Whatever we do here on earth is transitory. A day will come when we shall leave everything here on earth and go to either heaven as true Christians or hell as deceivers. Where you will go is determined here on earth. People have endured all manner of trials, confrontations and temptations for the sake of heaven. You can still endure and overcome (Philippians 4:13). Cheer up my beloved in Christ because better days and better things await us in heaven. That want, need, sickness, temptation, trial and persecution are temporal. You will leave them here on earth. Therefore do not let it determine your final destination after live on earth. Look ahead and be optimistic even as we enter into the new month.

Remember that he who endures to the end shall be saved (Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). With this in mind, I welcome you to the last month of the year 2018. Have a glorious month of December 2018.

Food for Thought: What lies ahead matters most more than the ones we have left behind us.

Memory Verse: Hebrew 6:12 – “That you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.”

Prayer: God, rekindle your spirit in me and remove any spirit of sluggishness or faint-heart from me as I live for you in Jesus name.

PEACEABLE FRUITS: Devotion for Wednesday January 13, 2016

PEACEABLE FRUITS       Wednesday January 13, 2016

Text: Hebrew 12:4 – 11        Memory verse: v 11

It is Robin Sharma’s opinion that, “All great work requires daily practice and endless patience.” Daily practices with patience are the things that can bring out the best in great men of exploits. The writer of this epistle exhorts us on the need for training and discipline in the life of Christians which will definitely lead to peaceable fruits of righteousness. The writer noted that from the gentle and moderate degree, and measure of their sufferings: they have not yet resisted unto shedding of blood in striving against sin (12:4). They were reminded that they have not suffered as much as some have suffered, noting that the essence of all these is to pass through the chastising of the Lord (12:5) which comes out of His (God’s) love for us (Hebrews 12:5–11).

Beloved, the chastisement of God yields, like a good tree, the good fruit of righteousness (Galatians 5:22, 23). It brings out the best in us just as passing of gold in fire makes it shine better. It’s never pleasant to be corrected and disciplined by God, but His discipline is a sign of His deep love for us. When God corrects us, see it as proof of His love, and ask Him what He is trying to teach you. What discipline are you going through at this moment? Therein are lessons that will lead you to righteousness. Do not resist it.

Food for Thought: Hebrew 12:6

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to yield to your chastisement for my own good

WILL YOU DIE IN FAITH? Devotion for Sunday September 20, 2015

WILL YOU DIE IN FAITH?   Sunday September 20, 2015

Text: Hebrews 11:13 – 16           Memory verse: v 13

These faithful ones so far described in this chapter died without receiving what God had promised them – the promise of the new, eternal city (see 11:10). But these heroes saw and welcomed the promise even though it was, as it were, from a distance. These people of faith died in their faith without receiving all that God had promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven (11:16). Their future hope was not for this earth.

These heroes and heroines of faith looked for a better place, a heavenly homeland, the country of their own that they saw in the distance (11:13). As they served God and walked with Him in this land, they knew that this world was not their home, and they looked forward to that better place because the world to come is better than this present world. Because of these people’s faith, God is not ashamed to be called their God (see also Exodus 3:6), and he has prepared a heavenly city for them (see John 14:2). 

Will you die in faith even though that promise of healing, spouse, child, etc did not come through? Know that what God holds for us in heaven is more than what is here.

Food for Thought: What will be said about you when you die?

Prayer: Lord, keep me faithful till my death in Jesus name. Amen  

LEARN FROM WHAT YOU SUFFER: Devotion for Thursday July 30, 2015

LEARN FROM WHAT YOU SUFFER     Thursday July 30, 2015

Text: Hebrew 5:1 – 9               Memory verse: v 8

In the kingdoms under traditional setting and even in any ancient regime, no prince suffers; the crown prince especially is pampered and prepared for kingship. However, it was not so for Jesus. Even though He was God’s Son, He learnt obedience from the things He suffered. The confusing lesson of v 8 is that God Himself, born of human parentage, actually learned something in the suffering He underwent.

How can All-knowing God learn? What is it that He doesn’t know and what to know now? Of what purpose was the learning? “Was the All-knowing God in need of learning? Jesus learned about the human condition. That knowledge brought more empathy than intelligence, more personal identification than measurable data” so says Life Application Notes.

Just like Jesus did, we Christians often learn obedience through our suffering (see 12:2 – 11). Robin Sharma would always say that he doesn’t regret any mistake or misfortune. They only teach him lessons. This example from Christ should encourage us to remain firm and not drift away from the faith in times of suffering. Just as Christ was perfected through His suffering, so Christians will be, too. Will you remain firm in faith amidst suffering?

Food for Thought: Remaining firm and resolute in suffering will bring out the best in us.

Prayer: Lord, help me to learn righteousness through all I suffer in Jesus name.

THINK ABOUT HIS PATIENCE

THINK ABOUT HIS PATIENCE                        Tuesday June 16, 2015                     

Text: Hebrews 12:1 – 3                                 Memory verse: v 3

Jesus Christ was despised and rejected but He endured the cross and its shame in faithful obedience to the Father. He also experienced sorrow and suffering but persevered, anticipating the glorious joy awaiting Him (Hebrews 12:3; Philippians 2:5ff). The author of this epistle made the Hebrews to understand that as Christians when they are tempted to focus on their trials, even to the point of considering renouncing their faith, they should be encouraged to think about all Jesus endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him. Christ was ridiculed, whipped, beaten, spat upon, and crucified. In all these, he did not give in to fatigue, discouragement, or despair. He endured because he has a goal: salvation of mankind. This encouragement is for us too.  

As Christians, many of us sometimes become the innocent victim of calumny, pure in our heart and life, innocent and peaceful; we may have to endure suspicion of evil. At such fix, what should we do? In some cases vindication may be possible, and it may be our duty to seek it in the right way. However, at such instances when we cannot free ourselves, then we must be silent and bear our load. We are not likely to err in the direction of too great patience and silence under wrong. So let us beware lest, when others injure us or defame us, we sin against God in trying to prove ourselves right.

Food for Thought: Matthew 10:24, 25

Prayer: Lord, teach me to endure hostilities of sinners even as I live my life to conform to your image.

FOR GOD HAS SAID

FOR GOD HAS SAID             Sunday June 14, 2015

Text: Hebrews 13:5, 6              Memory verse: v 5

Covetousness is a major problem of present day Christians. Many are now competing with worldly people on wealth acquisition and accumulation. Many have ceased to trust God to provide for them. Now they do it themselves through dubious means. This was the case when this epistle was written. The author advised that their lives should be void of covetousness; inordinate regard for money or such things as money will procure. The reason for this counsel is our topic for the day, for God has said that He will not forsake nor leave us. This assurance is all over the scripture. 

The panacea for covetousness is contentment. William Burkett defines contentment as a “Gracious disposition of mind, whereby the Christian rests satisfied with that portion of the good things of this life which the wisdom of God assigns him, without complaining of the little which God gives to him, or envying the much which God bestows on others.” Is that true about your life?

The reason for the advice on contentment is because God has said and assured that he will not forsake nor leave us. He made this promise to men of God (Genesis 28:15; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicle 28:20) and He is still making same today. Beloved, God will not forsake you. You may be passing through tough time now but that does not mean He has turned His back against you. Be assured that He will not leave you in that project, study, work, business and endeavour.

Food for Thought: Deuteronomy 31:8

Prayer: God, as I look up to you, meet me at the point of my needs and grant me the grace to be contented with what you have given to me. 

NO REMISSION WITHOUT BLOOD

NO REMISSION WITHOUT BLOOD     Saturday May 23, 2015

Text: Hebrews 9:18 – 22                 Memory verse: v 22

It is universally true that sin never has been, and never will be forgiven, except in connection with and in virtue of the shedding of blood. Salvation by the atonement is based on blood by which God bestows pardon on men. Blood from a sacrifice symbolized cleansing and forgiveness, thus nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood v 22a. Why does forgiveness require the shedding of blood? Blood is symbol of life and it keeps us alive. Jesus shed his blood; gave His life for our sins so that we wouldn’t have to experience spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Jesus is the source of life, not death. He gave his own life to pay the penalty for us to live.

It follows, therefore, 1) that no sinner can hope for forgiveness except through the blood of Christ. 2) If men are ever saved they must be willing to rely on the merits of that blood. 3) All men are on a level in regard to salvation, since all are to be saved in the same way. The blood was to save us from sin and death. Have you received cleansing from that blood? Will you allow such sacrifice to be in vain? Remember that there is no other sacrifice required of us than that which Jesus made. You should not take the atonement for granted by continuing in sin.

Food for Thought: If Jesus didn’t shed his blood for us, what would have been our condition as miserable sinners?

Prayer: Lord God may I never to take the atonement by Jesus for granted by continuing in sin. Cleanse me with that blood in Jesus name.