IT IS NOT OVER WITH YOU: Devotion for Friday July 1, 2016

IT IS NOT OVER WITH YOU: Devotion for Friday July 1, 2016

Text: Micah 7:7 – 13                 

Memory verse: Micah 7:8 – Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

Micah showed great faith in God both personally as we have in Micah 7:7) and on Israel’s behalf (Micah 7:8-10) as he proclaimed that (1) he would wait upon God because God hears and saves when help is needed, (2) God would bring His people through when times were tough, (3) Israel must be patient in punishment because God would bring them out of the darkness, and (4) their enemies would be punished. This is expression of faith indeed which arose from a comprehensive knowledge of what God can do. Micah knew that God is merciful and he enthused such faith.   

New Living Translation and New International Version used gloat in place of rejoice as we have in New King James Version. Gloat means to “show you are happy about your own success or somebody else’s failure in an unpleasant way.” The lesson from Micah’s faith is that we can also have a relationship with God to the extent that we will develop confidence in God like Micah. No great talent is required here. It takes faith in God and a willingness to act on that faith.

Beloved, are you currently being confronted by problems of life that people are making mockery of you, thinking your life is over as Israel was mocked? Is it that there is no prospective life partner, no job, living in abject poverty; you are now an orphan or no child after many years of marriage? Cheer up you will rise again. Is it that you business has collapsed and you have packed up? In this new month, you will surely rise when you believe God. You who rejoices over another person’s predicament, are you aware that what you have achieved is not out of your strength or righteousness? It is not over with you. Tell yourself that it is not over. Ps 30:5, Mic. 7:7 & Isaiah 62:2–4 should comfort you. Happy New month

Food for Thought: You are God’s project and He has never abandoned any project.

Prayer: God, lift me up again so that all my enemies will eat their words as they will come back to congratulate me.

THEY OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN

THEY OUGHT TO HAVE KNOWN          Tuesday June 9, 2015

Text: Micah 3:1 – 7                          Memory verse: 1

Men cannot expect to do ill, and fare well; but they should expect that to be done to them which they did to others. When those appointed to administer justice to the people think only of plundering them, and when they whose office it is to rebuke sin flatter all who will feed them plentifully, we have the kind of society described in  Micah 3:1 – 12. Is this similar to what is in your country? How seldom do wholesome truths reach the ears of those in high stations or in authority! 

It is the duty of the Pastors and Priests to speak the truth. Those who deceive others are preparing confusion for their own faces. Micah had ardent love for God and to the souls of men; deep concern for His glory and their salvation, and zeal against sin unlike some other prophets who were flatterers. The difficulties he met with did not drive him from his work. He challenged these flatterers by telling them that they ought to know what is expected of them (Micah 3:2 – 7). It is appalling that people who have the oracle that ought to be the light are source of darkness.

Are you in this category of people Micah says you ought to know? In the words of my late bishop, Rt. Rev Dr. R. N. C. Nwosu, “You ought to know is an insult.” As a Christian still living in sin, you ought to have known that sin should no longer have dominion over you. Ought you to have known that you are more than a conqueror and that He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world? Pick up yourself because Christ has given you victory.         

Food for Thought: It is foolishness to undermine the judgment of God.

Prayer: Lord, may I not be confronted with ‘you ought to have known’ on the last day. Always help me to do what is right in Jesus name.

THEY WERE NOT FROM GOD

THEY WERE NOT FROM GOD       Thursday May 28, 2015

Text: Micah 3:1 – 7             Memory verse: v 7

The men of the East prided themselves on their beards and mustaches; to cover them was a sign of shame and remorse (Leviticus 13:45; Ezekiel 24:17, 22). These seers will be ashamed for the false visions of comfort and prosperity which they pretended to see. The false prophets would be so ashamed of themselves and so afraid of what was happening that they would not be able to open their mouths again to prophesy. False prophets gave false messages, perhaps due to political pressure (2 Kings 22:13), personal immorality (Isaiah 28:7), greed (Ezekiel 13:19), or even confusion (Jeremiah 14:14). Micah never calls these prophets false; their prophecies do it for him.

We still have similar prophets around who are not from God. You know will know them by their prophecies. Because their messages are not from God, it will all fail. God did not send them, Jeremiah 29:9.  The Bible says that by their fruits you shall know them. That they preach and pray does not mean they are of God. Be cautious and test every spirit that says he is of God (1 John 4:1). They are comfortable now in their lies and deceits. Soon and very soon, they will be exposed.

Food for Thought: Our deeds will always speak what we are to others.

Prayer: Lord, grant me grace and wisdom not to fall into the net of these false prophets in Jesus name.