Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Mary

Devotion for Saturday January 13, 2018

Topic: Utilize Your Talents/Gifts – The Example of Mary

Text: Matthew 26:6 – 13

Matthew and Mark didn’t mention the name of this woman that anointed Jesus. It was John that mentioned her name as Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus of Bethany (John 11:1 – 2). She had a precious oil of great value at home and decided to anoint Jesus with it before His crucifixion and death. Many people who witnessed it including his disciples were indignant about it. They queried the rationale behind such a ‘waste.’ Even if the oil was sold and money given to the poor, what would have the buyer used the oil for? However, Jesus Christ was quick to rebuke them saying that what Mary did was good for the reasons he advanced in Matthew 26:10 – 12. He also quickly added that Mary’s act will become a memorial of her and her name will be mentioned wherever the gospel would be preached. 

Beloved in Christ, what would have made Mary to become a household name if not for utilizing her gift to serve God? Your story and destiny can still change if you can use what you have to serve God this year. Yours may be your time, strength/power, money, wealth or any other thing with which God has blessed you. As you use any of your gifts or talents in the service of God and humanity, you will certainly be making a memorial for yourself. It will change your destiny and bring you before men. Sing A&M 357; Abu 193

Food for Thought: Using our gifts/talents for the service of God and humanity is the best way to appreciate the giver of the gifts/talents.

Memory verse: Matthew 26:7

Prayer: Lord God, help me to appreciate you, the source of my gifts through serving you and humanity in Jesus name. Amen.

The Rich Man And Lazarus

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday May 24, 2017

Topic: The Rich Man And Lazarus

Text: Luke 16:19 – 31

There are so many inspiring lessons for us in this story. One mistake people make in life is to think that money is everything. It is not so. Again, wealth is not a perimeter to judge God’s blessings and favour. The Pharisees considered wealth to be a proof of a person’s righteousness but Jesus shocked them with this story in which a diseased beggar was rewarded and a rich man was punished. The rich man did not go to hell because of his wealth but because he was selfish, refusing to feed Lazarus, take him in, or care for him. The rich man was hard-hearted in spite of his great blessings.

The amount of money we have is not as important as the way we use it. What is your attitude toward your money and possessions? Do you hoard them selfishly, or do you use them to help others? There is something worth noting in Luke 16:22. Lazarus died and was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom while the rich man was buried. This shows that no amount of burial changes the final destination of man.

What determines our final destination is the way we live when we are alive. Therefore beware of the way you live and use your wealth. The rich man thought that his five brothers would surely believe a messenger who had been raised from the dead. But Abraham asserted that if they did not believe Moses and the prophets, who spoke constantly of caring for the poor, not even a resurrection would convince them. Are you like this rich man? Don’t wait for the messenger from the dead. Repent now and accept Jesus as your Saviour. 

Food for Thought: What is your attitude towards your money and possessions?

Memory verse: Luke 16 verse 22

Prayer: Lord God, help me to accept your message of salvation now and not to wait for a message or messenger from the dead in Jesus name.

GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED: Devotion for Wednesday October 21, 2015

GOD CANNOT BE MOCKED       Wednesday October 21, 2015

Text: Galatians 6:1 – 10                            Memory verse: v 7

In Luke 16:19 – 31, is the story of an unnamed rich man and Lazarus who had sores all over his body. Lazarus wanted only crumbs from the rich man’s table but the rich man mocked Lazarus as his dog also came and licked his sores till he died. Both received their rewards. The rich man by his action against Lazarus mocked God his creator (Proverbs 14:31; 17:5). Paul warns us in this epistle that we cannot mock God. Mock is to treat something or somebody with scorn or to mimic somebody. He compares charity and Christian bounty to seed sown, and assures us, that the crop we reap shall be answerable, both in quality and kind, and also in measure and degree, to the seed we sow.

We sow seeds through our words and deeds. In this seed-time, we should be mindful of where we sow our seeds. If you sow in the flesh – beauty, sexual satisfaction, worldly affairs, etc, which are ways of mocking God; we will reap same at the end (Galatians 6:8). Beloved, do not mock God by taking his words lightly. Many who tried it are regretting now. Remember Herod, Goliath, Belshazzar, etc. The worst undoing of your life would be to mock God by compromising his word. Beware

Food for Thought: Job 13:9.

Prayer: God, grant that I may sow in the spirit so I can reap eternal life.'