Inescapable Choice: Devotion for Thursday August 20, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday August 20, 2020

Topic: Inescapable Choice                             

Text: Matthew 6:24                                 

According to Catechism in Book of Common Prayer 2007:478, being created in the image of God “Means that we are free to make choices; to love, to create, to reason and to live in harmony with creation and with God.” One of the inescapable choices we make is that of whom to serve. We can choose to serve God the Creator or any of His creatures.

In our text, Jesus says we can have only one master and that it is not possible to have two masters at the same time because there is the tendency to love one more than the other.

Our world of today is a materialistic society where many people serve money and can do anything to get it including killing human being in the process. People’s desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about.

Here in the text, Jesus contrasted heavenly values with earthly values when He explained that our first loyalty should be to those things that do not fade, cannot be stolen or used up, and never wear out. We should not be fascinated with our possessions, lest they possess us. This means we may have to do some cutting back if our possessions are becoming too important to us.

Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen what is eternal and lasting. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap, because “the love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10).

Food for Thought: Can you honestly say that God, and not money or wealth is your master?

Memory verse: Matthew 6 v 24

Prayer: God, I have chosen you as my Lord and Saviour. Help me never to fall into materialistic trap that will take my heart away from you in Jesus name.

Be A True Servant

Devotion for Friday March 9, 2018                 

Topic: Be A True Servant

Text: 1 Peter 2:18 – 25                          

Servants in the period Peter wrote this epistle were generally slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet he directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God; not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to those that were severe, and those angry without cause. This may seem a hard teaching but that is what God requires of us. It is said that two wrongs cannot make a right. The sinful misconduct of someone in a relationship, does not justify sinful behaviour of the other person. For this reason, a servant is bound to his duty, though the master may be sinfully froward and perverse. Virtually all Christians are servants to God and in some other places, servants to men. We owe it a duty to serve God diligently whether it is convenient for us or not. Again, we have masters where we work. They may be froward (difficult to deal with) and at times make life miserable for us. However, no matter how difficult they may be to us we owe it a duty to serve well because our service is not only to our earthly masters but also to our God in heaven. Paul also gave similar advice in Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:9. How faithfully and effectively are you serving as a civil servant, public servants, apprentice, a maid, nanny or house help and shopkeeper or in your profession? God demands absolute obedience and nothing less.

Sing A&M 308; Abu 226

Food for Thought: Loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment singles us out as true Christians.

Memory verse: 1 Peter 2:18 

Prayer: Lord God, make me a faithful and obedient servant in the place I work in Jesus name.