The Price Tag of Salvation: Devotion for Monday August 24, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday August 24, 2020

Topic: The Price Tag of Salvation            

Text: Luke 15:1 – 10                               

The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption whereby God left His heavenly throne to come down to this sinful world to seek for us.

The two parables were given by Jesus to answer the question posted by the Pharisees and Scribes in Luke 15:2. The tag of salvation is likened to the sacrifice of the Shepherd dutifully and diligently looking for his lost sheep and the woman looking for the lost coin. 

The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home.

In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of, to bring lost souls home to Himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that we do not take our repentance for granted!

God’s love for each individual is so great that He seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is found. Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep; people considered beyond hope to the God’s Kingdom.

Just as the shepherd took the initiative to go out and find the sheep, so Jesus actively seeks lost souls. These tax collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1) with whom Jesus was associating were like sheep that had strayed away from God and needed to be returned.

More than that, they needed the salvation that Jesus offered. We that are saved should also endeavour to bring other to know God too.

Action: As you go into the world today, endeavour to share the gospel with anyone that needs salvation.

Memory verse: Luke 15 v 4

Prayer: God, you paid the price to save me. Help me to live my life according to your will so that the sacrifice of saving me will not be in vain.

Beware Of Covetousness

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday April 23, 2017

Topic: Beware Of Covetousness

Text: Luke 12:15 - 21

People are of the opinion that life consist of what one possess. They forget that the length, usefulness, happiness of neither a man's life in this world nor his eternal life hereafter, depend not upon the amount of his earthly possessions. It is man’s foolishness to think so. The tenth commandment says, “You shall not covet.” Jesus warns us here about the dangers of covetousness with the story in Luke 12:16–21. God took this man’s life because he failed to acknowledge Him as the source of all he had. Though sometimes it is necessary to have some of the world’s good things of life for our comfort and happiness, yet abundance is not necessarily essential. When we accumulate them in abundance for selfish reasons it amounts to covetousness. There are many dangers that go with covetousness. Covetousness killed Judas Iscariot. It turns people’s heart from following God. It makes people to kill, tell lies and it a result of greed. A covetous man will continue to acquire without getting satisfied. It can lead to the person losing the ones he already had. Covetousness can lead us into problem. Avoid it and learn to be contented with what you have. Those that will not be contented with what God has given to them will not be comfortable and satisfied with whatever they achieve. Therefore, beware! 

Food for Thought: Ecclesiastics 5:10

Memory verse: 1 Timothy 6:7

Prayer: 1. God, uproot any form of covetousness in my life. 2. Grant me the grace to be content with your allotment for me in Jesus name.

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Inestimable

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday January 24, 2017

Topic: The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Inestimable

Text: Matthew 13:44 – 52            

Jesus teaches us in these four parables the inestimable value of the Kingdom of heaven and of being part of that Kingdom. He described it as a treasure found hidden in a field. The man who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found it. Though treasures are hardly stumbled upon rather they are searched for but Jesus was showing the value of this treasure that is worth every sacrifice and commitment to obtain. Jesus Christ used stumbled upon and not searched for despite its value was to show us how easy one can get into the kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything to obtain it. The man who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled upon it by accident but knew its value when he found it.

The merchant was earnestly searching for the pearl of great value, and when he found it, he sold everything he had to purchase it. This is what Jesus used to illustrate how priceless the Kingdom of heaven is.

In the third parable, Jesus speaks about the far-reaching efficacy of the gospel. This gospel net gathers every kind of persons, meaning every variety of character. Have you found the Kingdom of heaven? What price tag have you placed on it – inestimable, priceless or unworthy to die for? The value you place on it determines the commitment you will put into it. The decision is yours today.

Food for Thought: What is your value for the Kingdom of heaven?

Memory verse: Matthew 13 verses 45 and 46 - “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (ESV).

Prayer: Grant me the understanding of the true worth of heaven so that it will help me to live for it here on earth in Jesus name. Amen.

EXTRAORDINARY LOVE: Devotion for Wednesday July 27, 2016

EXTRAORDINARY LOVE: Devotion for Wednesday July 27, 2016

Text: Luke 15:11 – 32                     

Memory verse: Luke 15:24 - For this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.

The parable of the prodigal son shows what is expected of us in repentance, and the Lord's readiness to welcome and bless all who return to Him. It fully sets forth the riches of gospel of grace – the extra ordinary love of God. This young man took a decision to go back to the father and acted on it. “But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him” – Luke 15:20b. The father immediately restored this destitute and humbled young man as his son. “This represents the readiness with which God receives returning sinners. To be saved, men must not only resolve, but they must return to God; taking all the blame and shame of their departure to themselves, and ascribing righteousness to Him, they must surrender all their interests for time and eternity to His care, guidance, and disposal” as Family Bible Note opined.  

The sheep was lost because it may have foolishly wandered away (15:4); the coin was lost through no fault of its own (15:8); and the son left out of selfishness (15:12). God’s great love reaches out and finds sinners no matter why or how they got lost. His concern is to bring them back into the sheep fold. Beloved, have you ever wondered why God has showed so much love on you despite your weaknesses? Does it make any sense to you that God’s love for you is unconditional? What steps can you take to reciprocate this extra ordinary love of God for you? Reciprocating God’s love can be done in so many ways; through more commitment to God’s work, selfless service, through love for humanity, etc. It will be great injustice if we neglect and fail to appreciate the love of God for us. This starts when we accept His work on the Calvary, repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Food for Thought: Job 7:17 and Psalm 8:4

Prayer: God, may I never fail to reciprocate your love for me. Help me to serve you out of love and gratitude for loving me despite my sins. 

THE PRICE TAG OF SALVATION: Devotion for Tuesday July 26, 2016

THE PRICE TAG OF SALVATION: Devotion for Tuesday July 26, 2016

Text: Luke 15:1 – 10                        

Memory verse: Luke 15:4 -What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

The two parables were given by Jesus to answer the question posted by the Pharisees and Scribes in 15:2. The tag of salvation is likened to the sacrifice of the shepherd dutifully and diligently looking for his lost sheep and the woman looking for the lost coin. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him, yet not desirous to return. Jesus Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of, to bring lost souls home and His joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that we do not take our repentance for granted! Unfortunately, most of us are yet to understand that it cost God so much to save which should elicit more commitment from us to His service.

God’s love for each individual is so great that He seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is found. Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep; people considered beyond hope to the God’s Kingdom. Just as the shepherd took the initiative to go out and find the sheep, so Jesus actively seeks lost souls. These tax collectors and sinners (15:1) with whom Jesus was associating were like sheep that had strayed away from God and needed to be returned. More than that, they needed the salvation that Jesus offered. We that are saved should also endeavour to bring others to know God too.

Action: As you go into the world today, endeavour to share the gospel with anyone that needs salvation and don’t stay this day without sharing your faith with someone.

Prayer: God, you paid the price to save me. Help me to live my life according to your will so that the sacrifice of saving me will not be in vain and grant me the grace to share the good news of salvation with people always in Jesus name.