WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:8 – 11                       

Memory verse: Colossians 3:8 - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

There is one striking point to note in the ways to redirect our focus on Christ in our bible reading of yesterday and today. It is the point that you are the one to put them to death/put off and not any other person. In our bible reading of the day, Apostle Paul was emphatic about this. He said, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these …” These things are part of our old nature which sure raises their heads in us. That is why our text called them our members.

Though these sins mentioned in Colossians 3:8 are of less infamy (minoris infamia) and reproach before men, yet they are of greater guilt (majoris reatus) in the sight of God. Thus any sincere Christian who desire to please God will not hesitate in putting off these sins so as to have a clear focus on Christ. As long as they are part of us, they will keep on pulling us down.  

The five sins of speech/action here are anger, wrath (rage), malicious behaviour, slander (blasphemy) and dirty language. When these are manifest in our lives, they offend the spirit of God in us. Paul concluded by calling on us to put on the new man after putting off the five sins mentioned above. Putting on new man means that our conduct should match our faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like it. To be a Christian means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions.

Food for Thought: Have you put off anger, wrath, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language from your life?

Prayer: God, help me to put off old nature and to put on the new man that reveals Christ in me.

HAVE YOU TASTED HIS GRACE? Devotion for Tuesday July 19, 2016

HAVE YOU TASTED HIS GRACE? Devotion for Tuesday July 19, 2016

Text: 1 Peter 2:1 – 3             

Memory verse: 1 Peter 2:3 - If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The worst thing a man can do to himself is to taste the grace, mercies and goodness of God, and still go back into sin or keep on living a compromising life. This is the basis of Peter’s admonition here. He urges us to lay aside (put away, get rid) of any attitude or hindrance that could threaten our love for one another in Christ. He listed several types of sin to be removed from our lives. The sins Peter listed here fight against love and cause dissension among believers.

1. Malicious behavior means doing evil despite the good that has been received; the desire to harm other people. We should note that malice may be hidden behind good actions. The case of Judas Iscariot betraying his master, Jesus Christ easily comes to mind. We should avoid such behaviours as Christians.

2. Deceit means deliberately tricking or misleading by lying (1 Pet. 3:10).

3. Hypocrisy means that people say one thing but do another; playacting; presenting good motives that mask selfish desire. This is one problem facing the church today. If only all who confesses Christ live well, the effect of our Christianity will be seen in our political, social and economic lives.

4. Jealousy means desiring something possessed by someone else especially in spiritual gifts. This causes discontent and resentment as believers make unhealthy comparisons to one another. It also makes them unable to be thankful for the good that comes to others.

5. Backstabbing means destroying another’s good reputation by lies, gossip, rumor-spreading, etc. Malice often manifests itself through back- stabbing (slander). Unfortunately, this is very endemic in our present day Christianity. Otherwise how can there be infighting in churches as we have witnessed in recent time?

These should not be part of our Christian lives as people who have come to know God and are now enjoying His grace. We should get rid of them if indeed we are a Christian and they are found in us. We shouldn’t be seen as Christian while our lives do not correspond with ethics of Christianity. Let that God we have tasted manifest in our lives.

Food for Thought: Are you still living a compromising Christian life?

Prayer: Almighty God, help me to get rid of any attitude or hindrance that could threaten my love for fellow Christians and non Christians.