Showing posts with label John the beloved. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John the beloved. Show all posts

Sunday, 21 August 2016

WEEP NOT: Devotion for Monday August 22, 2016

WEEP NOT: Devotion for Monday August 22, 2016
Text: Revelation 5 verses 1 – 5         
Memory verse: Revelation 5 verse 5
John the beloved saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a scroll sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed which no one could know except God, and those to whom He should reveal them. John wept because he knew that the unopened scroll would mean that the closing scene of history could not begin; thus, evil would continue unabated on the earth, and there would be no future for God’s people. However, one of the elders (Revelation 4 verses 4 and 10) told John not to weep any longer, because someone was worthy to open the scroll; the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.
The Messiah, Jesus Christ, has proved Himself worthy by living a perfect life of obedience and total submission to the will of God by dying on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of the world. Rising from the dead, He demonstrated His power and authority over evil and death. Only Christ conquered sin, death, hell, and Satan. So He is the only one that can open the scroll and break its seven seals, setting in motion the forces that will bring about the final destruction of all evil. Until the seals are broken and content of the scroll revealed, evil and death would not be destroyed. This means that evil and death will continue to dominate over man. This was the reason why Apostle John the beloved wept.
This story should be a source of consolation for us when we are faced with challenges and we weep because we feel there is no way out. We should remember that Jesus Christ has conquered and He alone is the one who can save us from all problems of life. Beloved, weep no more because of that problem, sickness, etc. There is hope because Christ has prevailed.
Food for Thought: Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning. No matter the circumstances you pass through, have the hope and consolation that it is not forever. Deliverance, rescue, healing, favour and salvation will certainly come your way.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for conquering sin, death, Satan and hell, and you are able to solve my problems. Remember me at the point of my needs.


Sunday, 10 January 2016

WALK IN HIS FOOTSTEPS: Devotion for Monday January 11, 2016

WALK IN HIS FOOTSTEPS           Monday January 11, 2016

Text: 1 John 2:3 – 6                           Memory verse: v 6

Our profession as Christians is proved true by obedience and proved false by disobedience. John the beloved asserts that true fellowship with God should be evidenced in the life of a Christian by his or her obedience to God’s word (2:3–6) and love for the brothers (2:7–11). Obedience is linked not merely with knowing God but with loving Him. To be perfect in the love of God (2:5), we should appreciate God’s act of love and walk as Christ walked. Our behaviour is one of the observable models for knowing if a person is in or out of God’s light. In 2:6, John used the words ‘live in’ (‘to remain,’ or ‘continue in’) as the equivalent to confessing Jesus to be the Son of God (4:15) and believing in Him (2:24; 3:23–24).

Walking in His footsteps doesn’t mean we can as well do all the miracles He did and die on the cross. No! Rather we are to follow His example of complete obedience to God and loving service to people. Other examples Jesus gave us are; His humility, passion for souls, empathy for the plights and needs of people, zeal for God’s work, etc. How much of these examples are you following today? John expects us to walk just as He walked (2:6).

1 John 2:6 was the basis J. E. Bode wrote the hymn titled, O Jesus I have promised to serve the till the end (Ancient & Modern 331). Stanza 5 says;
O let me see thy footstep and in them plant my own;
My hopes to follow duly, is in thy strength alone.
O guide me call me, draw me, uphold me till the end;
And then in heaven receive me, my Saviour and my friend

The idea of J. E. Bode is that following the footsteps of Jesus demands that we should depend on Him for grace to run this Christian race. We can do this effectively by yielding our lives to Christ and allowing Him to take preeminence over our lives. It is the life of Christ in you that qualifies you to answer a Christian and not the bible in your hand (Acts 11:26).    
Food for Thought: John 13:15.
Prayer: Help me O God, to walk as Christ walked in obedience, service, humility and passion for souls.



Awake From Sleep: Devotion for Friday October 9, 2020

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