REGARD YOUR MAKER: Devotion for Saturday October 15, 2016

REGARD YOUR MAKER: Devotion for Saturday October 15, 2016

Text: 1 Chronicle 17:1 – 14     Memory verse: 1 Chronicle 17 verse 1 

Any true Christian will not be contented with being blessed rather he will also want to do all he can for the honour of God and the good of mankind. What is statement means is that the person who is blessed will not be selfish with his blessing and will always acknowledge God as the source of his blessings. Such person will not want to rest until he uses his blessings to serve God and humanity. One reason God blesses us is to be a channel of blessing to others too.

David being at rest in his palace, considered how he might best employ his leisure and prosperity in the service of God. He formed a design to build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant. When he presented the idea to Nathan the prophet, initially he didn’t speak as a prophet who had received words from God, but as a godly man, encouraging David in his proposition to build a temple until God spoke otherwise (1 Chronicle 17:3–15).

What Nathan did was not wrong. Such encouragement is needed when we meet with people who have ideas on how best to promote God’s work. As Christians, we ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work. This is what promotes unity, love, peace and development in a society.

Have you been blessed by God and you feel unconcerned about the situation of your church? Are you blessed and you don’t consider doing anything for God, His Church, His servants, the needy and the less privileged in the society? God is saying to you today through Haggai; consider your ways (Haggai 1:7). A true Christian cannot be comfortable when God’s house is in ruins; when the church needs money for evangelism and mission.

Do you regard God who gave you the wealth you are enjoying now? Then do something to glorify Him. Do you think the peace you are enjoying is because you deserve it? They are all gift from God. Do something as a regard for God who has blessed you. I have seen individuals build churches. You can do similar thing too. You can support this production of this daily devotional. You will never lose your reward.  

Food for Thought: Regard for God’s blessing is an appreciation for His grace upon us.

Prayer: Lord, help me not to be selfish with your blessings upon my life.

He recalled and wept

HE RECALLED AND WEPT                         Wednesday March 25, 2015

Text: Mark 14:66 – 72                                      Memory verse: v 72

There are many kinds of sorrow but not all that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). We saw this in the case of Judas Iscariot. He had sorrow indeed but its result was not repentance as he went and took his life (Matthew 27:3 – 5). Jesus had foretold that Peter would deny him thrice (Mark 14:30). This warning was aimed at steering Peter into prayer. Unfortunately, he made light of the assertion, thinking his strength would carry him. He thought that by his understanding of and relationship with Christ, it will be absurd to think that he will deny his master. This is how most of us treat God’s warning with contempt. Peter recalled and wept. It shows the power in the word of God. Once it has been spoken, it remains a seed in the soil that will definitely germinate at the right time.

Someone who has true repentance is always pricked when he sins against God. The word Peter heard before led him to godly sorrow. He cannot bear the effect of the word of God in sin. When David sinned, words of God from Nathan humbled him. Do you harden your heart when the word of God reproves you of your sin or you recall that word and weep for your sins?

Food for Thought: God’s word we hear turns our heart back to him. Do you take God’s word to heart to recall them if the need arises?

Prayer: My God and Saviour do not let me harden my heart when I sin or deny you rather help me to always recall your word and repent.