A Great Understanding

Devotion for Thursday November 23, 2017

Topic: A Great Understanding

Text: Proverbs 14:29

The greatest gift to ask from God is discretion or wisdom. With wisdom, one can achieve so many things in life; it can make you rich, save you from danger; it gives you understanding, protects you against the enemies, guide you in path of righteousness, etc. There are principally two things we should note in this text.

1) Meekness is part of wisdom. Someone who is meek rightly understands and controls himself; his duties and interests, the infirmities of human nature, and the society. Someone who is patient is really to be counted as intelligent; one that learns of Christ in everything, who is Himself (Christ) wisdom.

2) Unbridled passion is proclamation of foolishness. He that has hasty of spirit, whose heart is tinder to every spark of provocation, always thinks to magnify himself and make those around stand in awe of him, whereas really he exalts his own folly. He makes his folly known to all through his foolish and hasty acts and words. Such person lacks understanding.

This exhortation of James in James 1:19 should be our yardstick for measuring one who is wise and truly a child of God. How wise are you? How do you control your anger? An understanding fellow shows wisdom and one who lacks wisdom acts foolishly.

Food for Thought: James 1:19 – 20

Memory verse: James 1:19

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to moderate what I see with my eyes and how I react to them.

Signs Of True Christianity

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday May 23, 2017

Topic: Signs Of True Christianity                                   

Text: Colossians 3:12 – 17                                                                             

When the early followers of Christ exhibited some characters in Antioch, they were easily called Christians – Christ-like (Acts 11:26). Christian should be known by their character. No wonder Jesus challenged us to shine as light and live as salt (Matt. 5:13 – 16). He also urged us to love one another (Jn. 14:34 & 35).

Here, Paul urged us to put on virtues that will single us out as God’s elect; virtues that speak for us as true believers. How many virtues did he mention in this text? God’s elect here means chosen, set apart, sanctified or consecrated. Christians are requested to put on these virtues; tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, etc, as the regalia with which we should be known. As God’s elect we should manifest spirit of kindness, gentleness, and love towards Christians and non-Christians.

Sadly, this is not so among us. We love only those we know; contrary to what the Bible says. What do you exhibit as mark of your Christianity? Do you show tender mercies as a Christian? Are you kind, humble, meek, showing longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another even as Christ forgave you? Are you among the people who wear long garment, carry the biggest bible or attend all church programmes to be noticed when you are a wolf in your neighbourhood? How do you treat people when they offend you? Do you show longsuffering when offended? Search yourself and repent before it will be late. Show your Christianity by exhibiting true virtues everywhere you go.

Food for Thought: Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal or eloquence.

Memory verse: Colossians 3 verse 12

Prayer: God, grant me the grace to develop true character of a Christian.

Meekness: A Divine Virtue

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday May 9, 2017

Topic: Meekness: A Divine Virtue

Text: 2 Samuel 16:11

It takes a man who knows God to be meek and gentle. Such a man does not become angry easily and he is never proud. The meek enjoys the goodness of God and is always shielded from evil. Matt 5:5 says “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” If you desire to enjoy the goodness of this earth and unparalleled favour from God, you should imbibe into your life meekness and gentleness, and avoid anger (Prov. 19:11). David was running away from his son Absalom after a mutiny. At Bahurim, Shimei one of Saul’s kindred started cursing him (2 Sam 16:5 – 8). This angered Abishai who sought for permission to kill him for openly confronting and cursing King David. However, David being a meek man made the statement in our text. He saw what he was passing through as something God might have ordered because he sees himself as a sinner.

This act of David is a challenge for every one of us who wants to live righteously and make heaven especially in this age when prayer of some Christians is the death of their enemies. He was not offended rather he surrendered everything to God. This should be our standard as Christians. Do we not react harshly against people? What a world we will have if all the Christians should emulate David’s reaction here? Even Jesus challenged us in Matt 11:29. God lives in midst of meek and humble (Zeph. 3:12). Let all your actions and works be guided by what James said in Jas 3:13. As you show meekness and humility, God will fight for you as He did for David.     

Food for Thought: Proverbs 16:32

Memory verse: 2 Samuel 16 verse 11

Prayer: O God, grant me the spirit of meekness and humility, and help me to put off anger totally from my life.

BLESSEDNESS IN MEEKNESS

Devotion for Saturday December 17, 2016

Topic: BLESSEDNESS IN MEEKNESS       

Text: Matthew 5 verse 5                    

The meek are those people who are gentle and forgiving, submissive and teachable, patient under injuries, disposed not to render evil for evil, but to overcome evil with good. Meek symbolized gentle demeanour. Demeanour means somebody’s outward behaviour, manner or appearance especially as it reflects character. Jesus was gentle as He attested in Matthew 11:29. Meekness is the opposite of a quarrelsome and revengeful attitude but shouldn’t be misunderstood as meanness, or a surrender of our rights, or cowardice. Meekness produces peace. It is proof of true greatness of soul and it comes from a heart too great to be moved by little insults. Do you have such heart? Are you easily moved by insults?

To inherit the earth means to receive and enjoy every earthly and spiritual blessing that is for our best good here, and reign with Christ for ever hereafter. Our text, quoted from Psalm 37:11 is the passage Jehovah Witness hold on to as their claim that there is no heaven. Don’t be deceived by their lopsided view of the scriptures. In Psalm 37 from where these words were taken, the promise to the meek is not held forth as an arbitrary recompense but as having a kind of natural fulfillment. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts. When we commit our ways to Him, He brings it to pass; bringing forth our righteousness as the light.

Food for Thought: The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in human heart; in human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility – Vaclav Havel

Memory verse: Matthew 5 verse 5

Prayer: God grant me the spirit of meekness which is a panacea for receiving my blessings in Jesus name.