Use Your Gifts Efficiently

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday May 10, 2017

Topic: Use Your Gifts Efficiently

Text: Romans 12: 6 – 8         

God’s gifts differ in nature, power, and effectiveness according to His wisdom and graciousness, not according to our faith. He gives spiritual power necessary and appropriate to carry out each responsibility. God graciously bestows upon members of the church different talents and gifts, and we are to use them according to His will. It was never designed that all Christians should be equal as per talent. God designed that men should have different endowments. Everything is according to grace (favour) from God (2 Cor. 6:1) which should not be treated with disdain. Our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve others with what Christ has given us.

What are your gifts or talents? Here we have prophets, servers, teachers, encouragers, givers, leaders. It would be difficult for one person to embody all these gifts. Have you discovered them? How effectively are you using them to glorify God and serve humanity or are you hiding your talent? As Pastor, Teacher, Banker, Fashion Designer, Hair Dresser, Bible Study Teacher, Civil or Public Servant, etc, we all should use our gifts effectively and efficiently. Remember we will all give account of our stewardship here on earth no matter where you serve (Rom. 14:12).

Food for Thought: How effectively are you using what God gave you?

Memory verse: 1 Peter 4:10

Prayer: God, help me to understand what my gifts are and enable me to use them efficiently and effectively 

Our Social Responsibilities

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday March 5, 2017

Topic: Our Social Responsibilities

Text: Exodus 23:4 – 7a

Before writing this devotion, I read a post on Facebook where a young man berated Nigerian Pastors. My comment was that he shouldn’t have generalized what he said about Nigerian Pastors in terms of social responsibilities, whose emphasis is always on giving, seed sowing and prosperity messages, even neglecting the main message of Christianity which is on salvation.

I had to make an opinion poll thus: Is Religion the problem of this country, Yes or No. People who believe that religion is our problem were greater in number. The application of sentiments, bitterness, resentment, deceit in our religion is the major problem facing us not religion itself. If religion is a problem, why are people in Ghana and other countries living peaceful despite their practice of Islam and Christianity? In our present day, people no longer see a spade and call it a spade. Truth is far away from us.

We (Christians) have social responsibilities towards one another. We depend on one another to live well. The responsibilities include taking care of the animal that belongs to your enemies, never to abuse and oppress the poor and strangers, and never to take bribe. Unfortunately, these things are common among Christians. Who care to rebuke a neighbour’s child these days? Some civil servants deliberately hide people’s files and only bring them out when the person had parted with money. What God requires from us and our greatest obligation is love for one another. It entails being our brothers’ keeper. How much do you love people you meet on daily basis? Do you faithfully perform your responsibilities towards them? Think about this.

Food for Thought: Are you your brother’s keeper?

Memory verse: Exodus 23 verse 5

Prayer: God, help me to love my neighbours as myself in words and deed.

CHRIST’S COMPASSION: Devotion for Wednesday November 23, 2016

CHRIST’S COMPASSION: Devotion for Wednesday November 23, 2016

Text: John 6:1 – 13        Memory verse: John 6 verse 5

For the devotion today and tomorrow, we shall be looking at two characters of Jesus Christ worthy of emulation. Today’s devotion centers on Jesus Christ’s compassion spirit. Matthew 14:14; Mark 6:35; 8:2 Luke 9:12 all speak about the compassion Jesus Christ had on the multitude that came to Him. In the bible story in Mark 8:1–9 Jesus Christ openly confessed His compassion for the multitude (Mark 8:2 & 3). Even though that crowd came on their own accord to hear Him, He didn’t leave them to go without food.

Jesus knows the need of the people and He shows concern. The curious throng was not that easily dissuaded, for they followed Him even to His secluded hideaway (John 6:5). Instead of repelling the people angrily for their invasion of His privacy, Jesus Christ first healed the sick among them as the version of this story in Matthew 14:13, 14 have it. Thereafter, He turned to Philip with the compassionate words, “Where can we buy bread to feed all these people?”

What Jesus Christ did here is a great lesson for pastors and ministers of the gospel. Occasionally, we should look out for some of our parishioners that lack some basic necessities of life and see how we can help out. It may be through getting other wealthy members to help out as Jesus Christ did by using what belongs to the young boy to meet the needs of the multitude.

What problem are you passing through in a time like this? You may have been sick for years like that man at pool of Bethesda, imprisoned for years without cause and abandoned, living without food, lacks some basic necessities of life, etc. You may be thinking that God is not aware of your problems.  Do you ever feel that God is so busy with important concerns that He can’t possibly be aware of your needs? Just as Jesus was concerned about these people’s need for food, so He is concerned about our daily needs – food, clothing, housing, money, etc. Jesus knows and cares. Remember that He warned us in Matthew 6:31 and 32 that we shouldn’t worry about having enough food or drink or clothing because our heavenly Father already knows all our needs. Go to Him today and certainly, He will meet your needs.    

Food for Thought: Without a compassionate heart you can never be a true Christian.

Prayer: Grant me your kind of compassionate heart, O Lord, so I will live out my life as a true Christian in Jesus name.

AN ELDER INDEED: Devotion for Friday April 8, 2016

AN ELDER INDEED: Devotion for Friday April 8, 2016        

Text: 2 Peter 1:12 – 18    Memory verse: v 12

Our society (African context) is one that loves titles and human recognition. This is very common in the church of today. Some Pastors have even gone to acquire awards from fake institutions so as to be addressed Rev Dr. or Bishop (Dr) … Presently people are made Elders in the church so as to have a Christian title without having necessary requirements for that position. An elder lives by example. He cares for the flock of Christ. He constantly reminds the flock about the expectations of God from them. He is very careful to take care of the flock and to bring them to Christ at the end. This was the concern of Peter in our bible passage for the day. He kept reminding Christians as an Elder, about what they saw and heard from Jesus Christ (1:16–18). The reason for this was to build their faith on solid foundation and guide them jealously against false teachers and teachings.

Elders in the present day church are not only people with the title Elders but as many as are in leadership position in the church and all her organizations. How much do we care about the flock? Many of them are prone to attacks of the enemies and are also vulnerable to false teachings of our time especially in social media and internet. What are you doing to safeguard them? Be a true elder who should guide his flock jealously.

Food for Thought: Words of our elders are words of wisdom

Prayer: Help me to always take to heart all the counsels and wisdom from the bible.  

             

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.