Be Like Your Father: Be Like Your Father

 

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Be Like Your Father

Topic: Be Like Your Father   

Text: Ephesians 5:1 – 2                        

Here in our scriptural reading for the day, Paul reminds us that our perfect example is God. We haven’t see God the Father or God the Holy Spirit. It is God the Son that we have heard about Him in the Scriptures. When Paul said that we should imitate God, he was talking about Christ. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus said, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” This is what our call as Christians demand.

In being like our father in heaven, we should imitate;

1) His acts of mercy (Luke 6:36).

2) His compassionate life (Mark 1:41; Luke 7:11 – 15). We should also show compassion to people especially those in need.

3) We should love as He loves us (John 3:16; 13:34; 15:12.)

4) We shouldn’t condemn people (John 3:17; 8:10, 11).

5) We should be like Him in obedience (Philippians 2:5 – 11).

6) We should be just and maintain justice too (Isaiah 30:18).   

Just as children imitate their parents, we should follow God’s example. His great love for us led Him to sacrifice Himself so that we might live. Our love for others should be of the same kind; a love that goes beyond affection to self-sacrificing service. We have reason for everlasting gratitude to God that He has given us a perfect example; and it should be our great object perfectly to imitate it.   

Food for Thought: Matthew 5:48

Memory verse: Ephesians 5 v 1

Prayer: God, make me perfect as you are as I imitate you daily through godly living in Jesus name.

Wearying God with Sin: Devotion for Sunday January 19, 2020

Devotion for Sunday January 19, 2020

Topic: Wearying God with Sin                            

Text: Isaiah 43:22 – 28

A sacrifice required both giving up a valuable animal (item) and pleading with God for forgiveness. But the people presented God with sins instead of sacrifices (Isaiah 43:24). Can you imagine bringing the best of your sins to God’s altar?

This ironic picture shows the depths at which Israel had sunk. What do you present to God; your sins or a plea for his forgiveness? Despite all these atrocities, God assures His people of forgiveness. For God, when He forgives our sins, He totally forgets them (Isaiah 43:25). We don’t have to fear that He will remind us of them later. Because God forgives our sins, we need to forgive others.

Can anyone justify himself before God? Yet, out of mercy He calls on us to dialogue with Him so we may be acquitted if found not guilty (Isaiah 43:26 compare 1:18). 

How do we weary God with sin? When we come before Him often and again but refuse to repent of our sins or when we know we are living in sin and instead of repenting, we glory in them. These are some of the ways we weary God with our sins. Wearying God with our sins will definitely attract some unbearable consequences (use verse 28 to compare Romans 6:23). God exposed them to contempt and destruction and ours will not be an exemption except we repent now. Are you wearying God with your sins?

Food for Thought: Beware! Sin has grievous consequences.

Memory verse: Isaiah 1:14

Prayer: God, grant me broken and contrite heart for my sins so I will repent of them and not to weary you with them in Jesus name.

God’s Special People

Devotion for Tuesday March 6, 2018

Topic: God’s Special People

Text: 1 Peter 2:7 – 10                             

Jesus Christ is indeed precious – highly valued or esteemed. Not only is Christ precious to the Father (1 Peter 2:4), He is also precious to Christians (1 Peter 2:7). Quoting from the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 8:14), Peter explained that not only were the builders who rejected the stone humiliated but it later became the cornerstone; they also had stumbled and fallen over it. Stumble means tripping and falling, or it can mean taking offense at or rejecting something or someone.

1 Peter 2:9 contrasts our privilege and destiny with that of unbelievers (described in 1 Peter 2:8). We are a chosen people, a distinct group from the rest of the world, unified by the Holy Spirit. We are also a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation (Exodus 19:6). Being part of ‘priesthood’ is a high honour for us. This honour has made us special people of God who were nobody before now. Think of it, if not for Christianity, what would have been your condition today? Before the coming of Christ, Gentiles were rejected by God without any hope of mercy, but today, they are people of God because He has chosen them (1 Peter 2:9) and they have received His mercy.

‘Mercy’ means God’s compassionate treatment of us even though we deserve the full measure of His justice. On the other hand, it is God that can turn our situations for. He did it in life of Abraham, Jabez, David and others; He will do it for you. You have worth because of what Christ did, not because of what you did. Live your life to glorify Him.

Sing A&M 295; Abu 206

Food for Thought: Do you actually know your worth as a Christian?

Memory verse: 1 Peter 2:9

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for making me somebody in your eyes no matter what the world thinks about me.

Giving Is Source Of Abundance

Devotion for Saturday January 27, 2018

Topic: Giving Is Source Of Abundance

Text: Luke 6:30 – 38

Generosity in giving of material goods as well as love, compassion, and forgiveness of others will result in returned generosity from God and men to us in the same measure. Jesus wants us to be merciful and loving, not selfish or spiteful. He is against retaliation and the concept of an eye-for-an-eye recompense for wrongdoing. The illustration here is of blessings being returned in a bushel basket, filled to the brim, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, then running over.

Jesus wants our measure of mercy and kindness to overflow. Those who give easily will find goodness coming back to them. Those who are stingy and reluctant givers will receive in the same way. Jesus assures that the recompense will be in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over to accommodate more. Being liberal is the way to riches; giving is the best and surest way of thriving.

The woman of Zarephath gave her last and that opened doors of abundance for her. Beloved, if you want to live in abundance this year, plan and give; give to genuine needy people, widows, destitute, the Levites and others who will not return or recompense your good deeds. Surely, your reward will be great. Start today by giving what you have to that person that will ask for it.

Sing A&M 361; Abu 128

Food for Thought: God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. – Billy Graham

Memory verse: Luke 6:38

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to give because it is a way to make me look like you, the giver of all things in Jesus name. Amen. 

The God Of All Flesh

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday June 15, 2017

Topic: The God Of All Flesh

Text: Jeremiah 32:26 – 27         

There is nothing impossible with God (Genesis 18:14; 2 Kings 19:15; & Luke 1:37). God is the Almighty (Genesis 17:1). What God actually meant was that He is able to do all things if and only Abraham will believe and trust Him. God has ways of dealing with His people when they sin against Him.

The Israelites felt that they were God’s special people and therefore God could not do as Jeremiah had prophesied. However, God categorically said that they should know that He is God of all flesh; He governs and guides them as it pleases Him. He reiterated that as the God of all flesh, He is the author of their captivity for their sins and will also out of His mercies be their Redeemer to restore them again to liberty. Our God is full of love and mercy.

Today, many of us undermine warnings from God about sin and its consequences. We feel that it is impossible for God to destroy the population of the world that throng to churches these days. If God spared only Lot’s family when He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, He can still do it (Genesis 19:1ff. See Genesis 7:1ff). On the other hand, there is nothing too hard for God to do in terms of protecting, providing, guiding and saving us. He can command all flesh and other creatures to work in your favour. What are the things you believe God to provide for you? Just know that he is the God of all flesh and can cause someone to arise on your behalf. Just keep trusting and obeying God.

Food for thought: Is there anything God cannot do for us?

Memory verse: Jeremiah 32 verse 27

Prayer: God, work out your will in my life to glorify your name in Jesus name.

Rejoice With Me

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday May 31, 2017

Topic: Rejoice With Me

Text: Psalm 118:1 – 24

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. On such days our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. On such day, we will wish death to come and take us but not so on a day like this for me and my family.

This psalm is the last of ‘Hallel’ or Praise psalms (Ps 113 – 118). It is caption Praise for Deliverance. There are things God does for us that we cannot keep quiet about. Here, the Psalmist called on us to give thanks to God (118:1) for his mercies (118:1 – 4). He recounted how he called on the Lord and He answered (118:5). This boosted his confidence in God to assert that he will not fear man. This made him to call on us to put our confidence in God and not man. For what God did for him, he called on those who love God, to rejoice with him.

In the same way, I am calling on those who love God to rejoice with me because of what God had done in my life. Today, I am celebrating my 50th Birthday. I never knew I would be alive due to the waters, rivers and fires of life I had passed through. Nobody who saw me in the year 2003 would believe that I would be alive to see this day but my prayer then had been Ps 118:17.

Today, I have every reason to rejoice and I say to God, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. I will praise you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Join me on Saturday 3rd June, 2017 in a Birthday Thanksgiving Service at Cathedral Church of St. Peter Asaba by 10:00am. God bless you.

Food for Thought: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Memory verse: Psalm 118 verse 24

Prayer: Join me to thank God for my life and pray for more mercies and grace upon my life and family on this my birthday.

God’s Mercy Is Indispensable

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday April 7, 2017

Topic: God’s Mercy Is Indispensable  

Text: Psalm 6:1 – 2

When Moses demanded for God’s glory, He responded with the words in Exodus 33:19 which Paul quoted in Romans 9:15. Mercy in this context is compassion, kindness or forgiveness shown someone you have power over. It doesn’t come out of our strength or goodness rather it is a free gift that comes from God.

If there is anything we need as Christians, it is goodness and mercies of God. Those who know its importance say it as prayers every day. Mercy blots away our sins, protects, provides, guides and guards us. It is important we learn how to ask for God’s mercy any time we come into His presence. It is the best way to approach God. Think of it, when we are in transit, in prison, in exams, in office, at home, in hopeless situations, in need, in plenty, even in the church, etc, we need mercies of God.

If we hope to succeed we should understand the place of mercies of God in our lives. As a student, civil/public servant, business man/woman, military or Para-military personnel, husband, wife or whatever we do, do you plead for God’s mercy. All of us need it. Therefore we should retire ourselves to God because all things come from Him. Always cry to Him for mercy and out of His fountain of all good things He will spring it out for you.

Food for Thought: God’s mercy breaks every barrier and grants favours that we need.

Memory verse: Psalm 6 verse 2

Prayer: Grant, O Lord that your mercies will not depart from me and my family in Jesus name. 

BE MERCIFUL

DEVOTION FOR MONDAY DECEMBER 19, 2016

Topic: BE MERCIFUL              

Text: Matthew 5:7         

The blessed state for the merciful as Jesus used it here, does not promise outright laughter, pleasure or earthly prosperity rather the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. Romans 9:15 tells us that God shows mercy. Mercy means capacity for holding oneself back from punishing or causing suffering to someone whom one has the right to punish. Just like Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13); forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us, so we should be merciful in others so as to obtain mercy. Do you show mercy to people who have truly offended you, that you may also obtain mercy? Are you of the group that believes in an eye for an eye (Exodus 21:24)? God expects us to be merciful, because He is merciful to us (Exodus 34:6 & 7). If God counts all our shortcomings, who will stand before Him?

If you desire the blessedness of God in this life, joy; the deepest form of happiness and peace of God which passes all understanding, then you must be ready to show mercy to people you meet on regular basis.  You must follow the example of Jesus to the woman caught in the very act (John 8:1–11). Always show mercy and you will also receive it.

Food for Thought: Mercy imitates God, and disappoints Satan - St Chrysostom.

Memory verse: Matthew 5:7

Prayer: God, sow in me the spirit of mercy and grant me the grace not to retaliate when people offend or hurt me.

FOR MY NAME SAKE: Devotion for Thursday June 9, 2016

FOR MY NAME SAKE: Devotion for Thursday June 9, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 35:21 – 24         Memory verse: v 22 

When God visits and revives his people after a season of declension, they should remember that He does this, not for their sake, but for the glory of His own name. They deserved only evil at God’s hand. He showed mercy upon them, because He will magnify Himself in their salvation. This is typical nature of God. Paul wrote in Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He did that for His own glory not that we actually deserved it. We have not repented when He died for us just like the Israelis did not repent but God chose to bring them back from exile for His name sake.     

There are so many things we do as Christians that we do not even deserve any mercy. There are so many prayers we say and God answers not because we are worthy or righteous to receive answers but because God just want to honour His name. An example is in Num. 20:7–12. God answered Moses by letting water out of the rock to honour His name but that action was offensive against God (Num 20:12). Jesus warned that God will reject some who will come with the claim that they did miracles in His name because they were workers of iniquity (Lk. 13:25 – 28). Therefore, do not boast that God answers you and you perform miracles. Heed the warning in 1 Cor. 10:12.

Food for Thought: Psalm 106:8

Prayer: Lord God, I ask for your grace to remain under your will so that I will not lose my salvation in Jesus name.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

Text: Luke 6:38     Memory verse: v 38

Generosity in giving of material goods as well as love, compassion, and forgiveness of others will result in returned generosity from God and men to us. Jesus wants us to be merciful and loving, not selfish or spiteful. He is against retaliation and the concept of an eye-for-an-eye recompense for wrongdoing. The illustration here is of blessings being returned in a bushel basket, filled to the brim, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, then running over. Jesus wants our measure of mercy to overflow. Those who give easily will find goodness coming back to them. Those who are stingy and reluctant givers will receive in the same way.

There is not one text of scripture that declares the bounty of God more fully in rewarding acts of charity and mercy than our text today. Jesus assures that the recompense will be in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over to accommodate more. Being liberal is the way to riches; giving is the best and surest way of thriving. The woman of Zarephath gave her last and that opened doors of abundance for her. Beloved, if you want to live in abundance this year, plan and give; give to genuine needy people, widows, destitute, the Levites, etc. Surely, your reward will be great. Start today by giving what you have.

Food for Thought: God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. – Billy Graham

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to give because it is a way to make me look like you, the giver of all things.   

IT RENEWS OUR HOPE: Devotion for Wednesday January 27, 2016

IT RENEWS OUR HOPE            Wednesday January 27, 2016

Text: Lamentation 3:21 – 36             Memory verse: v 21

Having stated his distress and temptations (3:1ff), Jeremiah shows what gave him courage and hope to stand firm as we have in our bible reading for today. Bad as things are, it is owing to the mercy of God that they are not worse. No wonder the admonition to give glorify to God in all situations (1 Thess. 5:18) God's compassion doesn’t fail; of this we have fresh instances every morning. Jeremiah affirmed that he had hope because God is his portion. God being his portion encouraged him in affliction, distress and temptation because the portion is forever. Affliction has made many humble and serious, and has weaned them from the world. If not, they would have been proud and unruly.

There are many things that can renew our hopes today as we pass through afflictions, distresses and temptations of life. They are the word of God (Bible), testimonies of people, direct revelation from God as we pray, etc. It is our duty, and will be our comfort and satisfaction, to hope and quietly to wait for the salvation of the Lord. David did it and admonished us to do same (Ps 42:5; 43:5; 78:7; 115:11). You may be going through afflictions, troubles, temptations or trials now. Be of good cheer and put all your hope on Him. The Lord is your strengthen and you will come out a better Christian in Jesus name.

Food for thought: Lamentation 3:24

Prayer: Lord, may I continue to hope on you no matter the severity of temptations, trials or trouble I am passing through.

ACT OF LOVE IS NEVER IN VAIN: Devotion for Sunday January 24, 2016

WORK OF LOVE IS NEVER IN VAIN     Sunday January 24, 2016

Text: 2 Samuel 9:1 – 7      Memory verse: v 3

Naturally, most kings will try to wipe out the families of their rivals in order to prevent any descendants from seeking the throne. But David showed kindness to Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul. David was kind, partly because of his loyalty to God’s previously anointed king (1 Sam 24:5-6) and mainly because of his vow to show kindness to all of Jonathan’s descendants (1 Sam 20:14–17). David did not forget the love and sacrifice Jonathan showed him. Do you forget the mercies God and people show you?

In the midst of numerous affairs, cares and worries of life, we are apt to forget the gratitude we owe, and some engagements we have to undertake, not only to our friends, but to God Himself. Yet people who are really godly will have no rest until they have discharged their vows and attend to their engagements. David made inquiry because he knew he owed a great deal of responsibility to the family of Jonathan in particular. Jonathan was David's sworn friend; therefore he shows kindness to his son Mephibosheth. 

God is ever faithful to us; let us not be unfaithful to one another. If Providence has raised us, and our friends and their families are brought low, we must look upon that as giving us the fairer opportunity of being kind to them. We can show kindness for love we have received from God by being more dedicated and committed to His service. And to those who have shown us love, we can pray for them always. When we do these, God will bless them and us, the more.

Food for Thought: “Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together” – Goethe.

Prayer: God, may I ever be grateful for love I have received from you and from people.