A Traitorous Kiss: Devotion for Wednesday in Holy Week April 8, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday in Holy Week April 8, 2020

Topic: A Traitorous Kiss                                 

Text: Matthew 26:47 – 68

Naturally, kiss is an expression of love (affection) or greeting. One would easily think that the kiss Judas gave to Jesus was expression of affection or greeting judging from the definition of kiss but this one is a kiss with different purpose. Such a traitorous kiss was the depth of depravity - enmity under the guise of friendship. That was pretence at the highest level where Judas called Jesus Rabbi while he had already betrayed Him. This is similar to what happened between Joab and Amasa in 2 Samuel 10:9, 10. Read it.

Treachery is sin and has its punishment either immediately or later. Though Judas aided the fulfillment of the scripture by betraying his Master, he had his reward (Matthew 26:24).

There are many ways we betray Jesus. Judas did his with a kiss. Some of us do ours with lies, denial, negligence, abuse of Christian faith, etc. We should note that betraying our Master is sin. Some of us betray Jesus as a result of pressures of peer group, friends, colleagues, etc., who lure us into sin.

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As Christians, we must be very careful in choosing our friends because it is easier for a friend to betray you than an enemy. Judas was a ready tool in the hands of the Chief Priest and his cohorts because he was an insider in the ministry of Jesus. It is my prayer that God will not allow you to have friends that will betray you in Jesus name.   

Action: Write down some of the ways people betray one another.

Memory verse: Matthew 26:49

Prayer: Ask God to forgive you in any way you have betrayed Him. 

She Gave Out Her Best: Devotion for Monday in Holy Week April 6, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday in Holy Week April 6, 2020

Topic: She Gave Out Her Best                               

Text: Mark 14:1 – 9

It takes someone who knows the value of the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the Cross of Calvary to give freely and willingly. Jesus first poured out Himself for mankind. He did that without reservations. He did it voluntarily and no one pressured Him into doing it. It was a willingly offering of Himself (John 10:15, 17; 15:13 & Romans 5:7, 8). Most people who are faithful in their tithe and offering are people who have received the touch of God.

Jesus Christ commended this woman's pious attention to the notice of believers in all ages. Those who honour Christ He will honour (1 Samuel 2:30). Jesus reprimanded the disciples, but comforted Mary. The expensive ointment poured on Jesus was a good thing to do for Him; a beautiful, acceptable, appealing act of love and sacrifice and Jesus declared it to be so. Her act was a public declaration of her faith in Him as Messiah.

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Christ poured out His soul unto death for us, and is there anything too precious to give Him? Do we give Him the precious ointment of our best affections? We should love Him with all our hearts. At times, it is common for zeal and affection to be misunderstood and blamed but we should remember that charity to the poor will not excuse us from particular acts of piety to the Lord Jesus. Jesus’ words were valuable lessons to Judas and the disciples that devotion to Christ is worth more than money. How devoted are you to God?

Food for Thought: What can you offer to God that is equal to salvation He gave you?

Memory verse: Mark 14:8

Prayer: Lord, help me to love you to the extent of offering you the best thing I have in Jesus name.

A Betraying Kiss – Wednesday in Holy Week

Devotion for Wednesday In Holy Week March 28, 2018

Topic: A Betraying Kiss – Wednesday in Holy Week

Text: Matthew 26:47 – 68

Naturally, kiss is an expression of love (affection) or greeting. One would easily think that the kiss Judas gave to Jesus was expression of affection or greeting judging from the definition of kiss but his was a different type of kiss – a betraying kiss. Such a traitorous kiss shows the level of deceit by Judas under the guise of friendship. That was pretence at the highest level where Judas called Jesus Rabbi while he had already betrayed Him. This is similar to what happened between Joab and Amasa in 2 Samuel 10:9, 10. 

Treachery is sin and has its punishment. Though Judas aided the fulfillment of the scripture by betraying his Master, he had his reward (Matthew 26:24) for making himself a tool in the hands of Satan. There are many ways we betray Jesus too. Judas did his with a kiss. Some of us do ours with lies, denial, negligence, abuse of Christian faith and many more of such shameful acts. Some of us betray Jesus due to pressures from peer group, friends, colleagues and needs. Betraying our Master is sin. 

As Christians, we must be careful in choosing our friends because it is easier for a friend to betray you than an enemy. Judas was a ready tool in the hands of the Chief Priest because he was an insider in the ministry of Jesus. It is my prayer that God will not allow you to have friends that will betray you in Jesus name. 

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Action: Write down some of the ways people betray one another so as to guide you from becoming a victim.

Memory verse: Matthew 26:49

Prayer: Ask God to forgive you in any way you have betrayed Him.

Beware Of Covetousness

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday April 23, 2017

Topic: Beware Of Covetousness

Text: Luke 12:15 - 21

People are of the opinion that life consist of what one possess. They forget that the length, usefulness, happiness of neither a man's life in this world nor his eternal life hereafter, depend not upon the amount of his earthly possessions. It is man’s foolishness to think so. The tenth commandment says, “You shall not covet.” Jesus warns us here about the dangers of covetousness with the story in Luke 12:16–21. God took this man’s life because he failed to acknowledge Him as the source of all he had. Though sometimes it is necessary to have some of the world’s good things of life for our comfort and happiness, yet abundance is not necessarily essential. When we accumulate them in abundance for selfish reasons it amounts to covetousness. There are many dangers that go with covetousness. Covetousness killed Judas Iscariot. It turns people’s heart from following God. It makes people to kill, tell lies and it a result of greed. A covetous man will continue to acquire without getting satisfied. It can lead to the person losing the ones he already had. Covetousness can lead us into problem. Avoid it and learn to be contented with what you have. Those that will not be contented with what God has given to them will not be comfortable and satisfied with whatever they achieve. Therefore, beware! 

Food for Thought: Ecclesiastics 5:10

Memory verse: 1 Timothy 6:7

Prayer: 1. God, uproot any form of covetousness in my life. 2. Grant me the grace to be content with your allotment for me in Jesus name.

A DIFFERENT KISS: Devotion for Wednesday in Holy Week March 23, 2016

A DIFFERENT KISS: Devotion for Wednesday in Holy Week March 23, 2016

Text: Matthew 26:47 – 68       Memory verse: v 49

Naturally, kiss is an expression of love (affection) or greeting. One would easily think that the kiss Judas gave to Jesus was expression of affection or greeting judging from the definition of kiss but this one is a kiss with difference. Such a traitorous kiss was the depth of depravity; enmity under the guise of friendship. That was pretence at the highest level where Judas called Jesus Rabbi while he had already betrayed Him. This is similar to what happened between Joab and Amasa in 2 Sam. 10:9, 10. Read it. Treachery is sin and has its punishment. Though Judas aided the fulfillment of the scripture by betraying his Master, he had his reward (Matt 26:24).

There are many ways we betray Jesus. Judas did his with a kiss. Some of us do ours with lies, denial, negligence, abuse of Christian faith, etc. We should note that betraying our Master is sin. Some of us betray Jesus as a result of pressures of peer group, friends, colleagues, etc, who lure us into sin. As Christians, we must be careful in choosing our friends because it is easier for a friend to betray you than an enemy. Judas was a ready tool in the hands of the Chief Priest because he was an insider in the ministry of Jesus. It is my prayer that God will not allow you to have friends that will betray you in Jesus name.    

Action: Write down some of the ways people betray one another.

Prayer: Ask God to forgive you in any way you have betrayed Him.     

                   

He recalled and wept

HE RECALLED AND WEPT                         Wednesday March 25, 2015

Text: Mark 14:66 – 72                                      Memory verse: v 72

There are many kinds of sorrow but not all that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). We saw this in the case of Judas Iscariot. He had sorrow indeed but its result was not repentance as he went and took his life (Matthew 27:3 – 5). Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny him thrice (Mark 14:30). This warning was aimed at steering Peter into prayer. Unfortunately, he made light of the assertion, thinking his strength would carry him. He thought that by his understanding of and relationship with Christ, it will be absurd to think that he will deny his master. This is how most of us treat God’s warning with contempt. Peter recalled and wept. It shows the power in the word of God. Once it has been spoken, it remains a seed in the soil that will definitely germinate at the right time.

Someone who has true repentance is always pricked when he sins against God. The word Peter heard before led him to godly sorrow. He cannot bear the effect of the word of God in sin. When David sinned, words of God from Nathan humbled him. Do you harden your heart when the word of God reproves you of your sin or you recall that word and weep for your sins?

Food for Thought: God’s word we hear turns our heart back to him. Do you take God’s word to heart to recall them if the need arises?

Prayer: My God and Saviour do not let me harden my heart when I sin or deny you rather help me to always recall your word and repent.