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.

No Excuse (I)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Sunday March 12, 2017

Topic: No Excuse (I)

Text: Revelation 2:1 – 7             

Today and in the next six days, we shall be looking at letters to the seven churches in Asia as we have in the book Revelation. This church at Ephesus had steadfastly refused to tolerate sin among its members. This was not easy in a city noted for immoral sexual practices associated with the worship of Artemis. God noted their patience, not bearing those who were evil and how they tested those who say they were apostles but were not. They were liars (Revelation 2:2).

He acknowledged them for their perseverance and not being wearied in their labours for Him (Revelation 2:3). Yet, He had something against them: They had left their first love for Him (Revelation 2:4). This was a church Paul once praised for their love for God and others (Ephesians 1:15). After the death of foundering members, the next-generation believers lost their zeal for God. They became a busy church to benefit themselves and the community, acting out of the wrong motives. The work for God motivated by love, last long.

We are also living in times of prevalent sin and sexual immorality. In our time, some people are open-minded to sin and calling them personal choices or alternative life-styles. Such societal influence should not be an excuse to join them. However, when the church begins to tolerate sin, it is lowering and compromising the standards set by Christ. Today, we have become too busy to attend church programmes and activities. This is evidence, that we, like the Ephesians, have lost our first love. The moral decadence in our society should not be an excuse to turn against God. That everybody is doing it doesn’t mean you should. Romans 2 verse 1 warns us.

Food for Thought: Have you lost your first love for God as a result of societal influence?

Memory verse: Revelation 2 verse 4

Prayer: Restore me to my first love for you, O God, and help me to reorder my motives in your service in Jesus name. Amen