Are You Known For Integrity? Devotion for Sunday May 17, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday May 17, 2020

Topic: Are You Known For Integrity?          

Text: Matthew 7: 15 – 20                           

One thing that prevents men from choosing the strait and narrow way that leads to heaven is false doctrine that guarantees them freedom to do whatever they like and to live the carnal life. We have so many of them today who believe that the teachings of Paul, Peter, John, etc, against homosexuals were wrong. Some of these false prophets brought the gay movement into the Church of God and even teach that masturbation, sex toy and pre-marital sex is not a sin.

This false teaching is the reason behind the warning Jesus gave in Matthew 7:15. You will know these false teachers by the way they drift from one position to another on doctrinal issues and the effects of their doctrines on growth in morality.

We cannot know the nature of a man, but his fruits (his deeds) will express and expose that nature quite clearly for us to understand. Therefore, the way to detect false prophets is by their deeds. The person’s speech will not always correspond to his true nature, as it is implied in Matthew 7:21.

Good teachers consistently exhibit good behaviour, integrity and high moral character as they attempt to live out the truths of Scripture. Every one of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we need for ourselves.

When Jesus spoke about bad trees, he meant teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers’ motives, the direction they are taking, and the results they are seeking. Those who should not be teaching will be recognizable by their fruit.

As Christians, we are teachers of the Bible by our words and action. Do we show integrity in all we do? That will give credence to our confession of faith. Let us be known for integrity and not falsehood and deceits.

Food for Thought: Matthew 3:10

Memory verse: Matthew 7:20

Prayer: My God and my Father, help me to develop virtue of integrity in my words and action before you and men in Jesus name.

The Example From Matthew

Devotion for Wednesday January 31, 2018

Topic: The Example From Matthew

Text: Matthew 9:9 – 13

Yesterday, we read about the terms and conditions Jesus Christ gave to those who would be His disciples. Today, we have an example from Matthew who became one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Matthew was in a tax office when Jesus met him. He requested that Matthew should follow Him and immediately he left everything and followed Jesus. He didn’t wait to write a resignation letter. He didn’t wait to hand over, he left everything immediately as Peter and his fishermen colleagues did and followed Jesus. 

In the previous chapter of this gospel, Matthew 8:18 - 22, we have the story of a man desiring to follow Jesus. When Jesus mentioned the terms and conditions, he withdrew. Jesus told the second one to follow him and he gave excuses of going to bury his father. The two men were opposite of what we saw in Matthew. His action shows his love for God is far greater than his love for his job, family or any other worldly possessions. This is what God expects from us. Our love for Him must be greater that our love for our jobs, families or any other worldly possessions. 

Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ the way Peter, Matthew and other Apostles followed Him? What are the things hindering your commitments to God? The example Matthew gave to us is a challenging one. Take up that challenge and prove your love for God. Sing A&M 331; Abu 109

Food for Thought: Have you left all to follow Jesus?

Memory verse: Matthew 9:9

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord my God, to follow the example of Matthew in forsaking all to follow you in Jesus name. Amen. 

SOURCE OF LIFE: Devotion for Sunday August 9, 2015

  

SOURCE OF LIFE       Sunday August 9, 2015

Text: Matthew 4:3 – 4    Memory verse: v 4

Devil can succeed as he tempts us when we have insatiable desire and are easily enticed. Here Jesus gave us a clue as to how best we can overcome temptation. He also made us to understand that most things we desire are not source of life rather the word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3). What should be our duty when we are in want of the necessities of life? We should learn to wait on divine supply, not doubting that at the right time they would arrive.

Beloved, word of God is what gives us life. Life does not consist of our wealth rather it consists of the level of the word of God in you. This is the reason some walk about thinking they are living when they are already dead because the word of God is not in them. Are you one of them? Depend of His word for life.

Food for Thought: Do you value the word of God?  

Prayer: Help me O Lord to depend on you and your word as my source of life.

TOTAL SUBMISSION

TOTAL SUBMISSION         Wednesday July 22, 2015

Text: Matthew 26:36 – 41      Memory verse: v 39

Jesus submitted Himself in Garden of Gethsemane (Suffering), to the will of God, from which man had revolted in a Garden of Eden (Pleasure). Christ took with him into that part of the garden where He suffered His agony, only those who had witnessed his glory in his transfiguration (v 37). They were best prepared to suffer with Christ, because they have beheld His glory. Jesus told them what He was passing through and had expected them to pray with Him (v 38, 39). Unfortunately they slept off maybe out of tiredness, spiritual weakness or laxity. When God wakes you up to pray or lays it in your heart to pray, do you pray or you sleep off?

Jesus humbly submitted to the Father’s will. He went ahead with the mission for which he had come. Jesus expressed his true feelings as a human being, but he was not denying or rebelling against God’s will. He reaffirmed his desire to do what God wanted. How submissive are you to God’s will for your life? Remember there is no short cut to heaven. It is total submission or not.

Food for Thought: How submissive are you to God’s will for your life?

Prayer: Your will is the best for me. Let your will be done in my life, O Lord.

LORD, SAVE ME

LORD SAVE ME               Saturday May 30, 2015

Text: Matthew 14:22 – 33         Memory verse: v 30

Ability to know where our help lies matters so much if we actually want to succeed in life. This is the reason behind Psalm 121:2. Sometimes in life, we start out with good intentions but our faith falters. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have failed.

When Peter’s faith faltered, he reached out to Christ, the only one who could help. He shouted, “Lord save me.” So long as Peter’s attention was fixed upon the Lord's command he succeeded in his venture; but so soon as he let the power of the tempest distract his thoughts, his faith failed and he began to sink. He became afraid, but he still looked to Christ. When you are apprehensive about the troubles around you and doubt Christ’s presence or ability to help, remember that he is the only one who can help.

Beloved, are you currently apprehensive about troubles, temptations, trials and persecutions around, that your faith in Christ has started faltering? Note that our fears weaken our faith. However, Matthew 28:20b should be a consolation for us. He has also promised to hear us when we call. Don’t sink into the sea of troubles and problems of life. Jesus is ready to deliver you from sinking just as He did for Peter. He is ever willing to help (Mark 1:41).       

Food for Thought: “It is when our thoughts are turned away from Christ to the dangers around us, that we lose our courage” – Family Bile Notes.

Prayer: Lord, save me and don’t allow me to sink into the sea of troubles and problems of this life. Heal my faltering faith in Jesus name.

TO DECEIVE PEOPLE

             

TO DECEIVE PEOPLE           Thursday April 30, 2015

Text: Matthew 24:11 – 14       Memory verse: v 11

False prophets have existed before Jesus Christ came to this earth (Isaiah 30:10; Jeremiah 5:31; 14:14; Ezekiel 13:17). False prophets portend danger for the body of Christ. This is one of the reasons why Christ warned us about them. When the disciples asked Jesus when the destruction would come (Matthew 24:3), he warned them to be on their guard against religious deception and against false prophets with false interpretations of natural or human catastrophes as signaling the end of the age.

Today they are many, found everywhere in churches, prayer houses, miracle centers and streets. In the Bible, false prophets fell into three general categories: (1) those that worshipped false gods and served Idols; (2) those who falsely claimed to receive messages from the Lord; and (3) those that wondered from the truth and ceased to be true prophets.

A reoccurring characteristic of the false prophets is that they often are in the employment of the powerful men/women and that they are careful to speak pleasing, positive and flattering words. Remember what Jesus said in (Matthew 24:11, 24). Watch out and be not deceived by false prophets, they are around and living among us. Beware!  

Food for Thought: Matthew 7:15

Prayer: My God and my Father, grant me the discretionary spirit so that I will not be deceived by false prophets in Jesus name.