Where Am I Wrong?

Devotion for Saturday November 11, 2017

Topic: Where Am I Wrong?

Text: Jeremiah 2:5

God lamented His efforts to make Israel good and productive (Isaiah 5:1 – 7) which never materialized. Rather He got the opposite which brought His anger on them. He laments again in our text about unfaithfulness of the Israelites. He had called Abram out of Chaldea or a purpose (Genesis 12:1 – 3) as He wanted to make a nation of people who will faithfully and obediently walk with Him. He chased out the people of Canaan from their land because of their idolatry life and gave the land to the Israelites. He had bestowed upon them abundant labour and grace, and had expected from them an abundant harvest of righteousness. Thus He asked to know if they have ever discovered anything cruelty, unjust, oppressiveness, unkind laws or tyrannical in His government. Why then have they become idolaters?

In the same manner, God has bestowed so much grace on us and has done all that is needed for our salvation. We can’t charge God of neglecting us as the reason for our barrenness or sinning. He has done so much for us.

How do you reciprocate God’s love and grace upon you? Do not make God to regret the grace and mercies He shows you on daily basis. When we backslide, it dishonours God as it is a virtual declaration before the world that we have tried His service and found it unreasonable or hard. Are you in this group? God can only endure your faltering between two opinions for now (1 Kings 18:21) for His anger awaits sinner later.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 5:4

Memory verse: Jeremiah 2:5

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the grace never to make you regret the grace and mercies you have shown me in Jesus name. Amen. 

No Excuse (IV)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday March 15, 2017

Topic: No Excuse IV

Text: Revelation 2:18 – 29

Thyatira was a town where many people work for a living. Many trade and artisans were there with specialties in cloth making, dyeing, and pottery. Lydia, Paul’s first convert in Philippi, was a merchant from Thyatira (Acts 16:14). The city was mostly secular, with no particular religion known with them.

In this letter, God acknowledged their works (charity), love, service, faith, and patience. Despite all these, He had few things against them. He accused them of allowing that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce His servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. In the church in Thyatira, a woman taught that immorality was not a sin for believers. Her name may be Jezebel or maybe, John used that name Jezebel to symbolize the kind of evil she was promoting. God pronounced judgement on that woman (Revelation 2:22, 23) after He had given her the grace to repent but she did not (Revelation 2:21). God charged those who were not influenced by this woman’s teaching to hold fast what you have till He comes (Revelation 2:25).  

Beloved in Christ, immorality is a great sin before man and God. Some pastors teach that these things doesn’t matter, insisting that what matter before God is confession of Christ as Lord and Saviour. Sadly, many people believe such teaching because their pastor has said so. Here is an eye opener. God doesn’t compromise and we shouldn’t do so. There is no excuse if we accept teachings of what the bible condemns as sin. Beware because you don’t have excuse before God (Romans 2:1).

Food for Thought: Acts 15:20, 29

Memory verse: Revelation 2 verse 20 - But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.

Prayer: God, deliver me from contamination with things offered to idol and the teachings of Jezebel in Jesus name. Amen.

CONSEQUENCES OF IDOL WORSHIP: Devotion for Sunday June 5, 2016

CONSEQUENCES OF IDOL WORSHIP: Devotion for Sunday June 5, 2016

Text: Judges 6:6     Memory verse: v 6

The situation in the land of Israel at this time was embarrassing. It was the result of their disobedience and sin of Idol worship which God warned them earlier. Sin has it grievous consequences. When the Israelis went out to war against Ai, they were humiliated (Josh.7:1–5). We also know how the Israelis were humiliated in the days of Eli when the Ark of Covenant was seized by the Philistines and God had to fight for Himself (1 Sam. 4:1–11). Sin stays the hand of God from fighting our battles; it stays the hand of God protecting us, from providing for us and from answering our prayers. The land of Israel was impoverished because of the siege from their surrounding neighbours. I can imagine the level of kwashiorkor in that land then.

Beloved, don’t undermine the consequences of sin especially idol worship. God detests idol worship and has vowed to punish people who are involved in it even to the fourth generation. Many of us indulge in willful sin thinking we have time to repent. We should not forget Ananias and Sapphira. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31) because He is a consuming fire. He devours without mercy. It is now we can enjoy His mercy. Therefore, let us not abuse the privilege we have.

Food for Thought: Those that forsake the true God wander endlessly after false ones.

Prayer: God, may I not forsake you and start wandering after idols.

IDOLS IN THE HEART: Devotion for Saturday March 12, 2016

IDOLS IN THE HEART: Devotion for Saturday March 12, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 14:1 – 11         Memory verse: v 3  

God knows the intents of our hearts in whatever we do, which most of us are unaware of or undermine. That is why most things we think that matter are not so with God and vice versa. These elderly people who came to Ezekiel have not actually repented of their sins before coming to God. With one hand they held on to sin and were using the other hand to inquire of God. God cannot be mocked. Their offence is that they have made idols in their hearts which can never take the place of God. God says He is a jealous God. He doesn’t want to share our hearts with idols. Thus He instructed them to repent (14:6) so as to avoid the consequences that might follow (14:8–11).

Idols in the heart according to our bible reading are things that made them to stumble and fall into sin. Beloved, what are the idols that can occupy our hearts and make us stumble? Can you mention five of those idols in hearts of people? Admittedly, most Christians have set up idols of money/wealth, hatred, anger, pride, lust, etc, which easily lead them into sin. God doesn’t take pleasure in the outward form of worship when it is connected with a wicked heart and life. He cannot be deceived by those who come to inquire of Him, and He will not allow Himself to be mocked by people who claim to be serving God and idols at the same time. If they love iniquity and secretly practise it, He will answer them in wrath, and not in mercy. Therefore be warned and don’t be a victim.

Action: Write down things that can become idols in your heart.

Prayer: Deliver me, O Lord, my God, from every idol in my heart so that my worship will be acceptable to you in Jesus name.

          

BE SEPARATE: Devotion for Wednesday November 11, 2015

BE SEPARATE: Devotion for Wednesday November 11, 2015

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:11 – 18     Memory verse: v 17

What Paul teaches here is the need to avoid idol's temples and never to join idolaters in communion to avoid contamination and persecution. The reason for this is because Christians are holy people separated to the Lord and when we defile ourselves with any unclean thing we cannot be acceptable to God. However, when we separate ourselves from such things that defile, then God will accept us as His sons and daughters.

We shouldn’t join in friendship or associate with wicked men and unbelievers. Though we cannot wholly avoid seeing and hearing, and being with them, yet we should never choose them for friends. We must not defile ourselves by communicating with those who are already defiled with sin. We should hate sin they commit but love their souls which are of God. Some Christians’ understanding of this verse is to have nothing at all to do with them. If we go with this understanding how can we preach to them? This is food for thought for us.

Action: Think and act on the best way you can win the soul of that unbeliever in your neighbourhood, office or place of work.

Prayer: Lord, keep me separate from evil and sin that defiles in Jesus name.