No Second Affliction: Devotion for Wednesday February 19, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday February 19, 2020

Topic: No Second Affliction                              

Text: Nahum 1:9 – 13

We serve a jealous God who avenges for us and delivers us from bondage. Though our God is slow to anger but when He is angry, heaven and earth trembles. In spite of that, our God is good (Nahum 1:7). This chapter of Nahum expresses God’s anger against Assyrians (Nineveh).

Here in our text, God asserted that He knows all the plans of the people of Nineveh (Nahum 1:9). He searches and knows the intents of our hearts too (1 Chronicles 29:8). Nahum told the Assyrians that any attempt at resisting the All Powerful God is insane because He is not like other opponents they have conquered. God protects His people (Isaiah 37:23 – 29).

Affliction shall not arise the second time has Judah as the object of God’s blow (Nahum 1:12) and it refers to an end to their punishment. This shows that our God is merciful and gracious. Have you been under God’s punishment because of sin and disobedience, He is telling you today that He has remembered mercy and will no longer allow that affliction again. He says that you will not experience misfortune and failure again. That is God’s assurance for you today. Trust Him to do it.

Food for Thought: “As sure as God puts His children in the furnace, He will be in the furnace with them” – Charles Spurgeon

Memory verse: Nahum 1:9

Prayer: Pray against spirit of failure, affliction and misfortune in your life and family in Jesus name.

BE THE JUDGE: Devotion for Thursday May 12, 2016

BE THE JUDGE: Devotion for Thursday May 12, 2016

Text: Isaiah 5: 1 – 7      Memory verse: v 3

Our bible passage for today is an imagery used by God to teach the nation of Israel and by extension we the present readers about our unfaithfulness despite the enormous grace and mercies we have received from Him. God used the imagery of a vineyard at a very good place, fertile enough to produce good fruits (5:1, 2). All that was needed to make the vineyard productive were provided (5:2). Unfortunately and regrettably too, the vineyard produce the opposite of what God expected. Instead of good grapes, it produced wild grapes that are not useful.   

The lesson of the song of the vineyard shows that God’s chosen nation was to bear fruit—to carry out His work, to uphold justice. It did bear fruit, but the fruit was bad. This passage uses plays on words: the Hebrew words for justice and bloodshed sound very much alike, as do those for righteousness and oppression. The hurt friend (God) now directs rhetorical questions to the people of Judah, asking them to judge whether He is guilty of neglecting them. God often condemns sinners “out of their own mouth” (Deut 32:6; 2 Sam. 12:1-6; Job 15:6; Lk. 19:22; Rom. 3:4). Jesus gave us insight on how to identify someone by his or her fruit in Matt 7:20. Have you examined your own ‘fruit’ lately? Is it good or bad, useful or wild?

Food for Thought: Are the fruits mentioned in Galatians 5:22 and 23 the kind you bear as a Christian?

Prayer: Almighty God, as you have invested so much on me, help me to make returns equal to what you have invested in me in Jesus name.

POSSES YOUR POSSESSION: Devotion for Monday August 17, 2015

POSSES YOUR POSSESSION     Monday August 17, 2015

Text: Obadiah 1:17 - 21            Memory verse: v 17

Any wickedness and persecution against the people of God will definitely be judged and punished by God. Our text is a recompense for Edom. God’s word concerning Edom actually came to pass. The Edomites were routed by Judas Maccabeus in 164 B.C. The nation no longer existed by the first century A.D. At the time of Obadiah’s prophecy, Edom may have seemed more likely to survive than Judah. Yet Edom has vanished, and Judah still exists. This demonstrates the absolute certainty of God’s word and of the punishment awaiting all who have mistreated God’s people. Do you doubt God’s promises concerning you? Let this text encourage you.

When God afflicts His covenant people, it is always for their purification and salvation; in due time He grants them, through Christ, a glorious deliverance from their troubles, and makes them victorious over all that hated and persecuted them. God (Zion) is source of our possession. Let us rely on Him.

Food for Thought: God does honour His word.

Prayer: God, grant that I will posses all my possession and none will elude me. 

OMNIPRESENT GOD

OMNIPRESENT GOD        Tuesday June 30, 2014 

Text: Ezekiel 35:10 – 15       Memory verse: v 10

Idumeans (Edomites) were planning how to overrun Judah and Israel but the Lord God Almighty was there. This verse 10 is an encouragement never to worry about the plans of the enemies against us because for every plan the enemies make, the Lord is always there. He will either thwart the plan or wait for the appropriate time to act. This reminds us about Elisha and the king of Syria, whose war plans and strategies God reveals to Elisha (2 Kings 6:8 – 17). 

We have here the record of the sins of the Edomites and their bad conduct towards the people of God. They thought of conquering and possessing Judah and Israel; and they would have succeeded, but only the Lord was there; and this spoiled their plans, and blasted their hopes. Every plan your enemies are making will attract God who will spoil their plans and blast their hopes in Jesus name. Let us note that, no plan your enemies have made or will make that God is not aware of.

Are you apprehensive of what the enemies have planned? Are you now panicking that they are about to consume you? You shouldn’t worry yourself because your Father was there when they were planning. You don’t even know what He has said about the matter; maybe what He said is in Isaiah 41:11 – 16 and 54:15. When we hear anything the enemies have planned, we should ask God because He was there when they planned and will never keep quite to allow their plans prevail.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 54:15

Prayer: God, when enemies gather against me, frustrate them in Jesus name.

YOU ARE GOD'S OWN

YOU ARE HIS OWN                                                Friday April 3, 2015

Text: Isaiah 43:1 – 7                                           Memory verse: v 1

When God says something, He takes it seriously and performs it to the letter. When God calls you, He will take you as His and your concerns become His too. I wonder at times if I would be alive by now if not that God called me by my name and made me His own. It is not only I but many others. What about you?

God told the Israelites through Isaiah that they are His. In previous chapter, God rebuked Judah and Israel for not walking with Him. This chapter started with ‘but’. This means that despite their weaknesses, they are still His people because of the covenant He had with them. Though many among them were stubborn and incorrigible, yet He would continue His love and care for them.

Beloved in Christ, as long as you are alive you are a child of God. For those who are still living in sin, they are prospective children of God. Therefore, do not think God has given up on you. You may be bad and struggling to live right; you may be trying to overcome sin but all to no avail or you may be trying to stop a habit but you find yourself going even deeper into it. God has not given up on you because His mercies are there. Just keep following.       

Food for Thought: God's favour and good-will to His people, Israel speak abundant comfort to all believers.

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to overcome my weakness because of the mercies you have for your people.