Why Suffer If God Is With Us: Devotion for Tuesday June 16, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday June 16, 2020

Topic: Why Suffer If God Is With Us

Text: Judges 6:11 – 18                                      

Most Christians believe that they can’t suffer if God is with them. But this is not the true case. God was with Joseph even in the prison (Genesis 39:23). He was there in the prison with Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25ff). The presence of these men in prison turned out to glorify God and grant them favour as in the case of Joseph. God was in the Lion’s Den with Daniel and we have so many other examples.

This is what we should understand that suffering, temptation and trials are never signs that God has forgotten us or is no more with us. When we have this understanding, it will help us to weather all storms of life in faith and optimism that our God will bring us out of them at last.

Gideon queried the Angel of the Lord when the angel greeted him saying, "The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valour (Judges 6:12b)!" The reaction of Gideon to this greeting did not come from distrust, but from weakness of faith. No man in this life can have a perfect faith because we falter most times: yet the children of God have a true faith, by which they are justified.

The way Gideon reacted is the way most of us react when we hear some preaching about God’s faithfulness while we are suffering from lack, sickness, bondage of Satan, etc. We easily rebuff the message that God cannot be with us and the devil is dealing mercilessly with us.

Beloved, remember that God is not unmindful of what we suffer (compare Psalm 111:5). Keep trusting Him for at the appropriate time, He will send help/deliverance or salvation.  

Food for Thought: Why do you complain? Did God promise us life free from suffering?                          

Memory verse: Judges 6:13                   

Prayer: Lord, grant me proper understanding of your will for me so that I will not complain over things I pass through in life.

Use Every Opportunity to Glorify God: Devotion for Sunday June 7, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday June 7, 2020

Topic: Use Every Opportunity to Glorify God               

Text: 2 Kings 5:2 – 3                                            

When Paul and Silas were jailed for preaching the gospel, they were not deterred. Right there inside the prison cell, they were singing to God, using the very opportunity they had to glorify God. The result was unprecedented as souls were won for Christ.

In our scriptural reading for today, we saw how this young girl; a captive from Israel, used the opportunity to tell her captors that there is a God in Israel who is Almighty, who can heal her master. She didn’t nurse grudges that she has been deprived of parental love and care by her captors. She was in a foreign land proclaiming God.

This little maid, though only a girl, could give an account of the famous prophet the Israelites had among them. Children should be taught at the early stage of their lives about the wondrous works of God, so that, wherever they go, they may talk of them. How much do you tell your children about God?

Every day, we have opportunity to serve God and humanity, and to preach the gospel of repentance, peace and love to people. There are pulpits everywhere; on the road, school, offices, business premises, etc., which we can use to teach the word of God. We should stop complaining that our Priest/Pastor has refused to give us pulpit in our churches. Daily we have opportunity to show kindness to people. How much do we utilise these opportunities in our schools, offices, business premises, as we commute, etc?

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God has sent you to that school, that office, that neighbourhood at a time like this for a purpose. God can use you to spread His word. Look for opportunities to tell others what God can do. There’s no telling who will hear your message and benefit! Do so because you will account for it someday.

Action: As you go out today, ensure you use the opportunity you have to show kindness, preach the word of God and encourage someone.    

Memory verse: 2 Kings 5:3                                                

Prayer: Lord, may I use every opportunity I have to do good to people I meet and preach your gospel in Jesus name.

Why Do We Suffer If God Is With Us?

Devotion for Thursday May 17, 2018

Topic: Why Do We Suffer If God Is With Us?

Text: Judges 6:11 – 18

Most Christians believe that they can’t suffer if God is with them. But this is not the true case. God was with Joseph even in the prison (Genesis 39:23). He was there in the prison with Paul and Silas (Acts 16:25ff). The presence of these men in prison turned out to glorify God and grant them favour as in the case of Joseph. This is what we should understand that suffering, sickness, temptation and trials are never signs that God has forgotten us or is no more with us. When we have this understanding, it will help us to go through all storms of life in faith and optimism that our God will bring us out of them at last. Gideon queried the angel of the Lord when the angel greeted him saying, "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valour!” (Judges 6:12b). The reaction of Gideon to this greeting did not come from distrust, but from weakness of faith. This is how we falter most times: yet the children of God have a true and not perfect faith, by which they are justified. Some of us react the same way too when we hear some preaching about God’s faithfulness while we are suffering from lack, sickness, bondage of Satan, etc. We easily rebuff the message that God cannot be with us and the devil will be dealing with us mercilessly. But we should always remember that God is not unmindful of what we suffer (compare Psalm 111:5). Charlotte Elliott who became invalid at about 30 years old wrote A&M 357, Abu 193 on a wheel chair. Let’s sing to get her message for us in that hymn.

Food for Thought: Do not make your life miserable by complaining because God promise us life free from suffering.

Memory verse: Judges 6:13

Prayer: Lord, grant me proper understanding of your will for me so that I will not complain over things I pass through in life.