Find Joy In One Another

Devotion for Thursday May 31, 2018

Topic: Find Joy In One Another

Text: John 3:22 – 36

Here in our text, John teaches us not to envy or resent one another’s gifts or blessings. Rather we should find joy in what others are blessed with or doing. There was a dispute between the Jews and John the Baptist’s disciples which may have centred on the relative worth of John’s baptism and that of Jesus Christ. However, John, being mindful of his office, not only puts a stop to their endeavours, but also takes occasion by that means to give testimony about Christ, that in him alone the Father has set forth everlasting life. He summed up his testimony saying, “Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled” – John 3:29b He was filled with joy that he has done his job as a forerunner of Jesus Christ and was very happy that Jesus had taken over. This act of John is a great challenge for present day Christians who are creating gulf instead of building bridges with interdenominational barriers between them. Today, there is so much competition among Christians. We envy and resent people’s gifts and hardly acknowledge the working of God in other people’s lives. This is one ploy of the devil to plant disunity and disharmony among Christians and many of us are undermining this plot of the devil. We should find joy in one another. We preach about heaven; a place for all believers yet we don’t see anything good in fellow Christians. One thing I know for sure is that, God is not making heaven for one denomination alone and again, many of us will be disappointed on the last day as the people that will make heaven are people who find joy in other people’s gifts and ministries. God help your church to understand this.

Sing The Church’s One Foundation A&M 225; Abu 81

Food for Thought: True brotherly love appreciates and supports gifts and ministry of other believers.

Memory verse: John 3:29b

Prayer: Almighty God, may I find joy in other people’s gifts and ministry in Jesus name.

Please pray for the production of My Daily Covenant with God and also pray for Tabugbo Morgan Uzoma as he celebrates his birthday today.

Do As It Pleases You But ...

Devotion for Monday November 20, 2017

Topic: Do As It Pleases You But …

Text: Ecclesiastics 11:7 – 10

Youths are usually vigorous, energetic, lively, enthusiastic and adventurous. These make them restive because they love to pursue their heart desires. They do not accept a ‘no’ for anything they have made up their minds on. When they desire something, they are purposeful about it and they will vigorously pursue it till they acquire or attain that height.

It is on this premise that Solomon admonished youths to use their youthful exuberance with the mind that a day of reckoning will come. This should make them have a deep sense of God’s presence, reverencing His authority as that will be a great security against pursuit of sinful desires. Because God will bring youthful activities into judgement, they should let their pursuit of happiness and all their youthful enjoyments be in the fear of God.

This warning is not for the youths only. It is a warning for whosoever will not be found wanting on the day of Judgement. Those who fear God, and make Him their portion, will enjoy all that this world is capable of giving, and be prepared for the higher enjoyments of eternity because they will always apply discretion and fear of God in pursuit of enjoyment and happiness. This should be our guide in our walk with God.

Food for Thought: Aspiration after God is the only aspiration with the assurance that it will never meet with disappointment.

Memory verse: Ecclesiastics 11:9

Prayer: God, grant that I will always be mindful of what I do with the mind that there is Judgement waiting for me. 

We are Accountable

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday July 23, 2017

Topic: We are Accountable

Text: Romans 14:12

Many a time, I wonder if Christians know that they will account for all they do and say. How can a Christian act without consideration? Paul tells us in our bible reading for the day that we will certainly give account of our actions and words to God on the last day. The account Christian will give is of our character and conduct, our word and actions, our plans and purposes.

On the day of accountability, all the words, works and purposes shall be brought forth, and tried by the unerring standard of God’s justice. Albert Barnes admonished that “as we shall be called to so fearful account with God, we should not be engaged in condemning our brethren, but should examine whether we are prepared to give our account with joy and not with grief.” How will you give your account – with joy or with grief and regrets? Think about it.

Beloved, Christ will be our final judge and we will give our account to Him. We will either be accepted or condemned according to His decision. As He will be the judge, we should live under His inspection and guidance so He will say to us on that day, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord (Matthew 25:21).

Food for Thought: On the day of accountability, we shall not be examined on what we have read in the bible but what we have done, not how well we have spoken, but how religiously we have lived.  

Memory verse: 1 Peter 4:5

Prayer: Lord, help me to live with consciousness that judgment and accountability await me in Jesus name.

BE MERCIFUL

DEVOTION FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 2016

Topic: BE MERCIFUL              

Text: Matthew 5:7         

The blessed state for the merciful as Jesus used it here, does not promise outright laughter, pleasure or earthly prosperity rather the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. Romans 9:15 tells us that God shows mercy. Mercy means capacity for holding oneself back from punishing or causing suffering to someone whom one has the right to punish. Just like Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13); forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, so we should be merciful in others so as to obtain mercy. Do you show mercy to people who have truly offended you, that you may also obtain mercy? Are you of the group that believes in an eye for an eye (Exodus 21:24)? God expects us to be merciful, because He is merciful to us (Exodus 34:6 & 7). If God counts all our shortcomings, who will stand before Him?

If you desire the blessedness of God in this life, joy; the deepest form of happiness and peace of God which passes all understanding, then you must be ready to show mercy to people you meet on regular basis.  You must follow the example of Jesus to the woman caught in the very act (John 8:1–11). Always show mercy and you will also receive it.

Food for Thought: Mercy imitates God, and disappoints Satan - St Chrysostom.

Memory verse: Matthew 5:7

Prayer: God, sow in me the spirit of mercy and grant me the grace not to retaliate when people offend or hurt me.

THERE IS ALWAYS JOY AFTER WEEPING: Devotion for Sunday September 18, 2016

THERE IS ALWAYS JOY AFTER WEEPING: Devotion for Sunday September 18, 2016

Text: Psalm 30:1 – 5           Memory verse: v 5

When a doctor gives you a shot (injection) in the hospital during treatment, it is always painful but thereafter, those shots will be a great source of relief. Likewise a woman who is in labour, she will almost cry out her eyes and writhe in pain as if that is the end of life for her (John 16:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 12:2). But when that child comes out, she will become happy on seeing her baby. These are some of the ways to explain Psalm 30:5.

God is always gracious to us. His providence is seen in our daily lives. For this reason, these graces and providences we enjoy on daily basis should endear us to Him to always show our gratitude (Psalm 30:1–4) for all we receive. David alludes in this Psalm 30:5 that dispensations of God's chastisement ordered against his children are but short judgments. They don’t last forever or for a long time as God removed them when we show real repentance and ask for pardon.

We saw in that past few days how Job was afflicted. His case was not chastisement but a trial and test of faithfulness towards God. With the ways those serial attacks came upon him, no one expected him to last longer than he did. We know what became of him at the end. This is a great lesson for us. David used this Psalm as he dedicates his house to testify and encourage us to realise that there is no problem that lasts forever, and that when we call upon God, He will answer us.

Beloved brothers and sisters, I don’t know what you maybe going through at this moment. Maybe you are passing through problems like sickness, no job, problem in your marriage, chastisement, loss as a result of current economic crises, problem in your office, imprisonment, etc; I want you to know that there is no problem without an end or a solution. There is always a change when we allow God to come in and when He does, it ends with joy. As you invite him to come into your problem, that problem plaguing you for some time now will lead to joy in Jesus name. Keep believing in Him for your breakthrough, healing, favour, promotion, etc.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 54:7 and 8

Prayer: Use 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18 to pray

THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST: Devotion for Tuesday June 14, 2016

     

Text: Galatians 5:24 – 26             Memory verse: v 24

The fruit of the Holy Spirit exemplifies us as Christians. Any professing Christian who doesn’t possess these virtues is mere compromiser and should not be taken seriously. How can a Christian lack love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control? If any of these is lacking in your life, then you have either backslidden or you have been compromising. Those who have these are those who actually and really belong to Christ (5:24). Those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh when they became Christians (Rom 6:3, 4), and it is done continuously (Rom 6:6) so that the Holy Spirit will be able to produce in them the fruits just listed (5:22, 23). It is by faith in Christ that a man becomes dead to a sinful life and rises to a new life of fellowship with Christ (Col. 3:3).

Brethren, if our inner life be in the Spirit; that is, received from the Spirit, sustained by Him, and conformed to Him in character then we should also walk in that Spirit (5:25). Our outward life also should be in the Spirit; in other words, let it be conformed to Christ in character, so that our inward principles and outward conduct shall be in harmony with each other. This, in Paul’s opinion is what it means to belong to Christ. Is your inward and outward life in harmony with that of Christ? Think about it.

Food for Thought: Do you truly belong to Christ in your character?

Prayer: Lord, help me to conform to the image of Christ in my inward and outward character in Jesus name.

BEAUTIFICATION: Devotion for Wednesday September 16, 2015

BEAUTIFICATION       Wednesday September 16, 2015

Text: Psalm 149:1 – 5      Memory verse: v 4

This Psalm speaks about joy for all the people of God. As God shows us mercies we should praise Him for them. Being accepted by God is a source of great joy for us. God adorns the humble with salvation from their enemies. The Lord takes pleasure in His people; they should rejoice in Him. Salvation is here compared to a beauteous robe (Isaiah 61:10).

The meek, who are conscious of their own weakness and unworthiness, and quietly commit their cause to God, always find that salvation of which the proud and self-sufficient that rely on themselves are sure to fail. Have God beautified your life with His salvation? If not for the salvation of God, what do you think your life will look like now? Allow God into your life today.

Food for Thought: Psalm 61:3

Prayer: Lord, turn my mourning into joy and beautify me to glorify you.