Judge Between Me And My Vineyard

Devotion for Saturday May 26, 2018

Topic: Judge Between Me And My Vineyard

Text: Isaiah 5: 1 – 7

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. He used the imagery of a vineyard at a very good place, fertile enough to produce good fruits (Isaiah 5:1, 2). All that was needed to make the vineyard were provided (Isaiah 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 expected to bear fruit—to carry out His work and to uphold justice. It did bear fruit, but the fruit was bad. The hurt friend (God) now directs rhetorical questions to the people of Judah, asking them to judge whether He is guilty of neglecting them or not. God often condemns sinners “out of their own mouth” (Deuteronomy 32:6; 2 Samuel 12:1-6; Job 15:6; Luke 19:22; Romans 3:4). Jesus gave us insight on how to identify someone by his or her fruit in Matthew 7:20. Have you examined your own “fruits” lately? Is it good or bad, useful or wild? This examination is appropriate and should be on regular basis because being vulnerable; we can fall off at any given time. We should take heed.

Sing A&M 94, Abu 171

Food for Thought: What kind of fruit(s) do you bear? Compare your fruits with Galatians 5:22 and 23.

Memory verse: Isaiah 5:3

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

Judgement Awaits Us

Devotion for Sunday November 26, 2017

Topic: Judgement Awaits Us

Text: Ecclesiastics 12:13 – 14

What we do here on earth is going on record and we will account for them on the Judgement Day. This judgement will be on every work and secret thing we did. God shall bring every secret thing into judgement, not just outward and visible actions, but even inward and secret thoughts. We can do this (give account of our lives) with joy if we have done well. For us to give our account before God with joy, we must have these behind our minds that

1)  A day of judgement awaits us

2) Every soul of man shall stand before God

3) God the infinitely wise, heart-searching will be the judge.

4) He will bring to light every secret thing that has been done since the creation, by all men; whether forgotten or registered; whether done in the secret or in the public.

5) All the works of the godly and the wicked shall be judged. This Day of Judgement is very important because it will determine where we will spend our eternity. Jesus confirmed that to those who did well, theirs will be in the bliss of the kingdom of God while sinners and all who refused to repent will have their portion of everlasting punishment in the Lake of fire (Matthew 25:46). However, to those who repent and believe in Christ, His blood will be a covering and this covering is all we need. Do you have that covering on you for the judgement day?

Food for Thought: What type of account will you give to God about your life here on earth? Will it be enough to take you to heaven?

Memory verse: Romans 14:12

Prayer: God, grant that I will be conscious of the impending judgement and thus apply my heart unto righteousness in Jesus name.

Are You Prepared For Your Death?

Devotion for Friday August 11, 2017

Topic: Are You Prepared For Your Death?

Text: Hebrew 9:27 – 28

The issue of death was decreed by God when Man fell off His glory. So death coming to Man is not a strange thing. Death is a passage to eternity. The place where we will stay in eternity is determined by the way we live our lives on earth before we die. Jesus taught that there is eternity which comprises of eternal life or eternal condemnation (John 5L27 – 29).  At death, every man’s final state is determined. The fixed order for all men is to die once, and to be judged after death. When they die, finality is tamped on their work on earth. The death is the result of this appointment (Genesis 3:9). The cause of the appointment is sin (Romans 6:23) and the appointment with death is for all men whether godly or ungodly.

How are you preparing for your death? Robin Sharma said in his book, WHO WILL CRY WHEN YOU DIE that if someone desire to live well, he should often organize his funeral. Robin Sharma’s idea will certainly help us to number our days and live well as the Psalmist asserted. Do you live your life as if death and judgement will never come? Do you oppress people because you feel they are inconsequential?

The judgement awaiting us after death will be based on the way we live our lives here on earth (John 5:29). There is need to prepare yourself for death on daily basis because it can come at any time and any age. Start the preparation now because it will determine where you will spend your eternity.

Food for Thought: “Death to the Christian is the funeral of all his sorrows and evils and the resurrection of all his joys” – John H. Aughey

Memory verse: Hebrews 9:27

Prayer: Lord, may I daily prepare myself for my death and judgement so as to escape eternal condemnation in Jesus name.

A Reward For Our Actions

Devotion for Tuesday August 8, 2017

Topic: A Reward For Our Actions

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:9 – 11

This world is world of opposites; good or bad, man or woman, love or hatred, selfish or selfless, angry or happy, etc. God gave to man the will to makes choices at creation. “Man’s power of choice enables him to think like an angel or a devil, a king or a slave. Whatever he chooses, mind will create,” so Frederick Bailes. The power to make choices given to man will be his greatest undoing if we misused it.

Paul charges us here to walk well in our Christian life so as to please God because we shall account of ourselves before the judgement seat of Christ, where He, whose religion we profess will judge us according to its precepts and the grace bestowed on us. We need a conviction that we will stand at the judgement seat of Christ, and receive rewards according to the deeds done in the body, prudent and lead lives that will make us acceptable to Him and this is only possible with Christ-like life we are living here.

We note these facts from our scriptural reading.

1) The necessity of the judgement – We must, willing or unwilling

2) The universality of the judgement – We must all be judged

3) We will be judged by Christ – Whose image we ought to conform

4) It will be based on our person actions and inactions – The things done in the body

5) The reason for the judgement – To be punished or rewarded according to our actions.

Beloved, how prepared are you for this soon coming judgement to reward or punish us?

Food for Thought: The rewards you will receive depend on the way you have lived now. Therefore make good use of your time, talent and treasure to the glory of God

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 5: 10

Prayer: Help me O Lord, to be conscious of the coming judgement so I will live well so as to receive a good reward in Jesus name.

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.

Outward Appearance Deceives

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 14, 2017       

Topic: Outward Appearance Deceives

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:7

Outward appearance can be deceptive. Most times it doesn’t show the real person inside. A pastor sent to a very big church disguised himself as homeless beggar on the first day he went there to be introduced to the congregation. He came very early and he was begging. Over 95% despised him. When he entered the church, he was driven from the front seats and kept at the main entrance to the church. When it was time to introduce him, the chief warden of the church called his name. All eyes were looking out to see their pastor, gorgeously dressed but it turned out to be the man they turned back and looked down on. He was the pastor they were waiting for. He took the microphone and rebuked their hypocrisy, calling them to repentance. O, how often we do this too!

Our perspective of others matters because outward appearance deceives. Based on this, Paul urged the Corinthians to adjust their perspective. They had been making their decisions on the basis of appearance. They were listening intently to the false teachers who were boasting of their own authority (2 Corinthians 10:12-13), their perfect Hebrew heritage (2 Corinthians 11:21-22), and their visionary experiences (2 Corinthians 12:11-12). All of their loud boasts and extravagant displays of power had dazzled the Corinthians so much that they had become blind to the simplicity of the gospel message that Paul had preached to them in the first place (1 Corinthians 2:1-3). We should be very careful not to be deceived by appearances, display of powers, confessions and testimonies. All may not be real. Ask God to grant you discerning spirit.

Food for Thought: “Do not judge from mere appearance; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy” – Chapin.  

Memory verse: John 7:24 - Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (ESV).

Prayer: Almighty God, help me never to judge people on their appearance only.

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.

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF: Devotion for Monday November 2. 2015

HE HUMBLED HIMSELF                 Monday November 2. 2015

Text: Philippians 2:5 – 8                Memory verse: v 8

Some characters of Jesus are mentioned in our text. 1) Christ has always existed with God; (2) Christ is equal to God because He is God (John 1:1ff; Colossians 1:15 – 19); (3) though Christ is God, He became a man in order to fulfill God’s plan of salvation for all people; (4) Christ actually became human to identify with our sins; (5) Christ voluntarily laid aside His divine rights and privileges out of love for His Father; (6) Christ died on the cross for our sins so we wouldn’t have to face eternal death; (7) God glorified Christ because of His obedience; (8) God raised Christ to His original position at the Father’s right hand, where He will reign forever as our Lord and Judge.

How can we do anything less than praise Christ as our Lord and dedicate ourselves to his service! We should also imbibe His humility. We should humble ourselves so that He will exalt us at the end. Let heed the advice of James and Peter (James 4:6, 10, 1 Peter 5:5, 6).

Food for Thought: Hebrews 12:2

Prayer: Lord God, teach me humility and remove pride in me in Jesus name.  

IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE: Devotion for Tuesday September 15, 2015

IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE     Tuesday September 15, 2015

Text: Jeremiah 17:12 – 18          Memory verse: v 17

Jeremiah acknowledged the favour of God in setting up His sanctuary. There is fullness of comfort in God, overflowing, ever-flowing fullness, like a fountain as he asserts (17:13). It is always fresh and clear, like spring-water, while the pleasures of sin are puddle-waters. He prays to God for healing, saving mercy (17:14). He appeals to God concerning his faithful discharge of the office to which he was called (17:16). He humbly begs that God would own and protect him in the work to which he had plainly called him.

Jeremiah pleads with God to be his refuge since he has no human source of protection. God is our Saviour and Judge. He is the one that can destroy or save us. Jeremiah prayed that God should protect him in the day of trouble. This should be our prayer because our help is only in God.

Food for Thought: Jeremiah 16:19a

Prayer: Lord, you are my hope in the day of trouble. Don’t allow any terror on me in Jesus name.