A Day of Reckoning: Devotion for Thursday September 3, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday September 3, 2020

Topic: A Day of Reckoning                    

Text: Malachi 3: 13 – 18                          

Few days before I wrote this devotion, I read a story of a transgender who said that God is daft and senseless. My comment was that she/he was digging her grave. If in this present age of knowledge, she doesn’t know that there is a day of reckoning then she is a serious mistake to the society. The act of this transgender turned lady now is similar to what we have in Malachi 3:13 and 14.

In 2014, there was a couple that publicly burnt their Bible in Bonsac area of Asaba because God didn’t give them a child. Their action was reciting the words in Malachi 3:14 that it is useless to serve God. There is a challenge for us in Malachi 3:16 about encouraging one another especially in a society as bad as ours today. Family Bible Notes puts it thus: “When infidelity and wickedness most abound in the community, then is the time for those who fear God to be most diligent in speaking often one to another, and encouraging each other in his service.”  

These people saw no need of serving God because He does not notice and reward their empty and heartless forms of religion. God cannot be mocked. You can only reap what you sow as seed. For now, it may seem as if God put no difference between the righteous and the wicked. However, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. This is the day of reckoning. Where do you think you belong in this two – hell or heaven?

Food for Thought: How prepared are you towards the day of reckoning?

Memory verse: Malachi 3 v 18

Prayer: Make me your jewel O Lord, as I prepare for the day of reckoning so that my name will be in the book of remembrance in Jesus name.

The Unchangeable God

Devotion for Sunday July 30, 2017

Topic: The Unchangeable God

Text: Malachi 3:1 – 6

What led God to say He us unchanging (Malachi 3:6)? It was the impending judgement which He had vowed to bring upon the Israel (Malachi 3:5). Malachi proved that God is just. He discussed the fact that the people of Israel were unjust in the way they robbed God of what rightly belong to Him. That was the reason for these social abuses in Malachi 3:5.

The people who committed them had no fear of the Lord. They thought that God was like themselves, that He would close His eyes to their sins and wouldn’t judge them for breaking His laws (see Psalm 50:21). God was not happy the way His people, Israel had cynically twisted His truth. He would punish those who insisted that because God was silent, He approved of their actions or at least would never punish them. God would also punish those who professed a counterfeit faith while acting sinfully (Malachi 3:5). When God says a thing, He performs it to the letter. He told His people that He will not change His decision to punish them for their crimes.

There are some ways we undermine the basic truth about our Christian faith and commit all manner of sins. Some of us feel that God understands and would forgive if they repent after committing those sins. It doesn’t work like that. The grace of God may not be sufficient for you. On the other hand, because our God is unchangeable, He can still meet you at the point of your need no matter how long it has persisted. Trust Him to do it for you as you wholehearted trust and believe Him.

Food for thought: Lamentation 3:22

Memory Verse: Malachi 3:6

Prayer: May I not undermine you, O Lord my God because what you have determined to do, no one can stop you.

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday July 13, 2017

Topic: A Delightful Land

Text: Malachi 3:9 -12

In our text is one of the blessings God has promised us when we honour Him with our tithes and offering (Malachi 3:9 – 12). Read through the passage and find out other blessings that go with tithing and offering. He assured that when Israel obey His word and honour Him with their tithes and offering, He would do great things amongst them which people would see and call their land delightsome.

What God promised was a peculiar blessing upon His people which would make their land a resemblance of Paradise, the garden of the Lord, Eden. When people begin to do what is expected, they will become delightsome. The period Malachi wrote this prophecy was a period of decay in the life of the Jews. They were actually waiting for the coming of the Messiah but not ready to comply with God’s demands hence, Malachi 3:1 – 3, 5 stated so. Is it similar to what we have today? Do a comparison of Malachi’s period and our present day society (Christianity).  

Beloved, has God made you a delight for people around you? Are there evidences of God’s delight in your affairs? Probably, you have not cared to obey God and live out His commandments.  That could be the reason why there are no evidences that God delights in you.

These are some of the things that will make God and people to delight in you: having the fear of God, wisdom from God, blessings of God, when you love peace, righteousness and charity. God can make you a delight only when you delight in Him also (Psalm 1:2, 37:4 and 119:92). When we honour God, He reciprocates. Begin to do that today.

Food for Thought: Total obedience to God brings blessings and makes us a delight

Memory verse: Malachi 3:12

Prayer: Lord, may I delight in you always so that you will bless me and make me a delight in the eyes of the world.

They Will Be A Separation

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday June 14, 2017

Topic: They Will Be A Separation

Text: Malachi 3:13 – 18                       

When God avenges for us, the world will certainly echo Ps. 58:11. We know what happened to Peter when he was imprisoned and also Paul and Silas. Many people today are disillusioned concerning the fate of the righteous by concluding that there is no hope for them as it was in the days of Malachi. They see the life of the righteous as filled with hardship and want. However, it is not so.

Here, Malachi assures that a time is coming when God will make the difference between the righteous and the wicked which the world will see. The use of return means coming back from their delusion, and to see in reality that God does make a difference between the righteous and the wicked. For now it may seem as if God has not put any difference between the righteous and the wicked, as the wicked seem to have their way now. Certainly, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. The reason for this is in Matt. 13:24 – 30. Then the unrighteous will clearly see the happiness of the righteous, and their own misery, how they will perish in their wickedness.  Where will you belong? The way you live now will determine where you will be after the separation.

Food for Thought: Do you look down on God and His religion? Return from your delusion before it will be too late.

Memory verse: Malachi 3 verse 18

Prayer: Lord, when you make the difference, grant that I will not be among the wicked. Help me to live righteously in Jesus name.

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

Text: Malachi 3: 13 – 18              

Memory verse: Malachi 3:18 – Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him

Few days before I wrote this devotion, I read a story of a transgender who said that God is daft and senseless. My comment was that she/he was digging her grave. If in this present age of knowledge, she doesn’t know that there is a day of reckoning then she is a serious mistake to the society. The act of this transgender turned lady now is similar to what we have in Malachi 3:13, 14. How can a creature call the Creator senseless and daft? This shows how depraved some people are in our present day society.

In 2014, there was a couple who publicly burnt their Bible in Bonsac area of Asaba, Nigeria in protest against God for not giving them a child after they had gone to many prayer houses, held weeks of fasting and did many other things to gain God’s favour. Their action was reciting the words in Malachi 3:14 that it is useless to serve God. There is a challenge for us in Malachi 3:16 about encouraging one another especially in a society as bad as ours today where economic stress, unemployment, kidnapping, etc are confronting us daily. Family Bible Notes puts it thus: “When infidelity and wickedness most abound in the community, then is the time for those who fear God to be most diligent in speaking often one to another, and encouraging each other in His service.” How often do we do this?   

These people saw no need of serving God because He does not notice and reward their empty and heartless forms of religion. God cannot be mocked. You can only reap what you sow as seed. For now, it may seem as if God put no difference between the righteous and the wicked. However, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. This is the day of reckoning. Where do you think you belong in this two – hell or heaven?

Food for Thought: How prepared are you towards the day of reckoning?

Prayer: Make me your jewel, O Lord, as I prepare for the day of reckoning so that my name will be in the book of remembrance in Jesus name.

TITHING (PROVIDING FOR THE CHURCH): Devotion for Thursday August 4, 2016

TITHING (PROVIDING FOR THE CHURCH): Devotion for Thursday August 4, 2016

Text: Malachi 3: 10a              

Memory verse: Malachi 3:10a - Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house.

God has concern for His church. He didn’t choose us to abandon us. He wants to bless us always but we must prove our obedience to His commandment. One of the ways to receive the blessings God has packaged for us here on earth is to bring in our tithes to the storehouse (One tenth of what He has blessed us with). This implies providing for the church to meet her needs and to care for as many as work in the church.

The “storehouse” was a place in the Temple for storing grain and other food given as tithes. The priests lived off these gifts. If the temple storehouses were empty, it was the people’s fault and it means that the priest will be deprived of food to eat. God had already blessed them with enough to give a little back to Him. On the other hand, some of us are no longer farmer who could tithe food items. Rather we tithe money which means that it will go into church account.

The problem Malachi mentioned in 3:7–12 was the people’s departure from God as reflected by their neglect of tithes and offerings. They were so concerned about acquiring person wealth. Two annual tithes were required according to Israelite law; one for the Levites (Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21), and one to be used in worship at the annual feasts in Jerusalem (Deut 14:22). We need to give from the plenty that God has given us in order to support those who serve God by ministering to the spiritual needs of others. When you starve your priest of physical food, God will also starve you of spiritual food and blessings. Make provision for your priest and see what God will do for you. Bring in your tithe to the house of God as He demanded and there will be food in His house. One thing very certain is that we do not lose our reward when we faithfully pay our tithes. I am a witness. Try it from today.  

Food for Thought: Do you actually understand what tithing means?

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to be faithful in paying my tithe as required by law in Jesus name.

GOD’S MESSENGER: Devotion for Wednesday August 3, 2016

GOD’S MESSENGER: Devotion for Wednesday August 3, 2016

Text: Malachi 3:1 - 6              Memory verse: v 3

The first words of this chapter seem an answer to the scoffers of those days. It may not be unconnected with the last verse of chapter two. Here is a prophecy of the appearing of John the Baptist. He is Christ's harbinger or forerunner. He shall prepare the way before Him, by calling men to repentance. The “messenger” (Malachi 3:1) was identified by Jesus as John the Baptist (Matt 11:10, 14), who served as Christ’s forerunner, inviting people to repent and believe in Him. The work of the messenger here was to preach the gospel. John fulfilled his calling with simply message: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matt 3:2)!" His diligence and commitment to his call won him many disciples and moved the most hardened set of people then; the Pharisees and Sadducees to come for his baptism (Matt 3:7).

Today, we are God’s messengers and forerunners of second coming of Christ. We have been mandated to go into the world and preach the gospel (Mk 16:15–18). Christ has also empowered us to do this. How are you preaching the gospel? Do you fear faces? John the Baptist didn’t fear faces. He rebuked the Pharisees and Sadducees. He rebuked Herod. He was fearless. What is your excuse for not preaching the gospel? Remember, we will give account of how we used our gifts and talent God has bestowed on us.

Action: Write down 3 ways you can disseminate the gospel to people.  

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to be a committed messenger of the gospel in Jesus name.