He Will Perfect All: Devotion for Tuesday August 18, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday August 18, 2020

Topic: He Will Perfect All                                       

Text: Psalm 138:6 – 8                    

Though the Lord is high, yet He has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from His blissful presence. He views us with pleasure, thinks of us with care, listens to our prayers, and protects us from evil. God is concerned in all apprehensions His people.

He sees to it that none of their precious things especially those things that will glorify His name shall fail of completion; their life, their strength, their hopes, their graces, their pilgrimage, shall each and all be perfected. Jehovah himself will see to this and therefore it is most sure. God will perfect means that God will fulfill His promises concerning us. It is thus the prerogative of God to do this. It does not depend on our work.

Every person dreams and makes plans for the future. Then they work hard to see those dreams and plans come true. However, to make the most of life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows what is best for us; he alone can fulfill his purpose for us.

As you make plans and dream dreams, talk with God about them. This is the only way He can perfect all that concerns us. We should not forget that the condition upon which God perfects all that concerns a man is for the man to walk before Him and be blameless. Are you living the life God expects from you?

Action: Write down the things you are required to do so that God will perfect all that concerns you.

Memory verse: Psalm 138 v 8 

Prayer: Help me O Lord. to keep to the things required of me so that you can perfect all that concerns me. 

God’s demand From Gospel Preachers

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion for Friday January 11, 2019

Topic: God’s demand From Gospel Preachers

Text: Colossians 1: 24 – 29

Every Christian is a preacher of the gospel whether you have official license like Priest, Pastors, Lay Readers, Catechists, Evangelists, etc., or not. Our call is to preach the gospel (Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). The command to go and bear witness/preach is compulsory and should not be treated with levity.

Here in our bible reading for the day, Paul pointed out what should be the centre of our message as Christians – Jesus Christ. He said, “Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." This should be the message we should preach with one thing in mind while preaching – to present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. According to Paul, this was the motivating factor behind all he was doing. To achieve the aim of his call, he had to labour through the grace God had given to him and self discipline (1 Corinthians 9:24 – 27).

Our preaching should not be based on self, money or church denomination; rather, it should be based on Christ Jesus. The aim of our labour in the vineyard of God should be to present our members perfect before Christ. As we labour with this in mind, all other things concerning us will be taken care of by God and at the appropriate time. May God be our helper in this regard in Jesus name!

Food for Thought: Acts 20:20, 27 and 31

Memory verse: Colossians 1:28

Prayer: God, I may my gospel message centre on Christ Jesus alone in Jesus name. Amen

A Perfect And Undefiled Religion

Devotion for Sunday July 29, 2018

Sing A&M 328 – A Charge To Keep I Have

Topic: A Perfect And Undefiled Religion

Text: James 1:27

Caring for the needy, the poor, the less privilege the destitute and the dejected is one of the duties expected of us who are Christians. In the present day church, we have a lot of these set of people and some of them even summon courage to share their challenges with us. Apostle James enjoined us to pay more attention to their need as believers. Unfortunately, the reverse is the case; instead of attending to the needy in the present day church, most Christians help only the rich because they are the ones that can pay them back or also help them when they are in need too, leaving the needy to their faith.

How do we respond to the needy among us? How do we treat the widows, orphans and the destitute among us today? Is serving God through humanity our religion today? Is it the religion of the best dress and cliques of personalities in same class? By not helping the needy in the church, we are directly or indirectly telling them “go the Lord will help you.” James’ opinion is that if we claim to be religious but fail in caring for the needy among us; we are just hypocrites who wash outside of a cup but inside is very dirty.

The religion some of us practice today is that of rich sharing with the wealthy while the poor Christians continue in their pains. Whenever we practice the principle of welfare, we are showing and practicing the “pure religion” James posited (James 1:27). Our Lord Jesus Christ noted that “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Jesus Christ made it a priority (a must do) for all believers to care for the needy and that He will base His judgment on how well you care for the less privileged people among you (Matthew 25:31-46).

Food for Thought: we were created to do good works that includes taking care of the needy and the poor among us.

Memory verse: Mathew 25:40

Prayer point: Grant me the grace, O Lord my God to help the needy who come to me and direct me to as many who desire my comfort.

Love Never Fails

Devotion for Tuesday June 12, 2018

Sing SS&S 648; Abu 40

Topic: Love Never Fails

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:8 – 10

Paul expresses the value of love which he said can never be obsolete; it will always have its place. All the spiritual gifts will eventually disappear, but love will last forever. On this earth, outside of heaven, everything is imperfect. No matter how much people may know, they know only a little. No matter how much prophecy is given, it still reveals little. Not until the arrival of God’s Kingdom (the end), will everything be made perfect and complete. At that time, all the special gifts of the Spirit will disappear. Because gifts are given for the building up of the body of Christ, they will no longer be needed. The body will be complete, and God’s Kingdom would have arrived. Yet love will continue (1 Corinthians 13:8), because love is the very essence of God. “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love caused Him to reach out to undeserving humanity and send a Saviour. His love saved us and will bring us into His Kingdom to be with Him forever. The Kingdom rests on God’s love. On the other hand, works of love never die too. They outlive us. Love is the gift and virtue that can accompany us to heaven because that is the essence of life of Christianity. The first fruit of the Spirit mentioned by Paul in Galatians 5:22 is love. It shows how important love is in our lives as Christians. Do you actually love God and man? Note that without genuine love for God and man, you are deficient in your character as a Christian. 

Action: As you go out today, use every opportunity you have to show love to someone.

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 13:10

Prayer: Lord God, help me to love you and my neighbours as I ought to in Jesus name.

Our Works Perfect Our Faith

Devotion for Monday May 28, 2018

Topic: Our Works Perfect Our Faith

Text: James 2:19 – 24

Here in our scriptural reading for the day, James presents a proof that faith cannot exist without being active in works of righteousness. He argued that Abraham’s faith in God would have been of no avail to him, had it not been manifested by his works. It was by his works; his obedience to the commands of God that his faith was made perfect and shown to be complete because it produced its appropriate fruit. The idea of James here is that our work is a way of justifying our faith and righteousness. From James position, we can allude that our work of righteousness speaks more of our faith than our profession. There we have a binding obligation to work out our faith so that people will know us more about our faith from our works and not from our confession. This is a challenge for us in this present generation where sin and all manner of evil have become the order of the day. It is only when we establish our righteousness through godly living that we can influence our generation for good. The bible says, “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” – Romans 8:19. We must reveal ourselves to the world through the works (actions and words) we do. The works Abraham did by offering his only begotten son made perfect his faith. Likewise will your works make perfect your faith and it all starts from absolute obedience.

Sing A&M 225; Abu 81

Food for Thought: Allow people to know your faith through your works of charity and your obedience to God and not just your confession.

Memory verse: James 2:22

Prayer: Grant, O Lord, my God, that I will justify my faith through the way I live and my obedience to your commandments in Jesus name.

Have The Mindset of Christ

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday July 18, 2017

Topic: Have The Mindset of Christ

Text: Philippians 3:15 – 16

The word mature as used in our text was translated perfect in King James Version. It implies full grown, as opposed to babes or children. Full grown here is used for me and women who are grounded in the word of God (1 Corinthians 14:20 compare Hebrews 5:12 - 14).

The mature in this context means striving for perfection and not perfection. Our mindset determines our perspective of issues, the way we react and respond to issues. The mind factor here had to do with maturity; showing perfect love and manifesting itself in perfect humility through Christ.

Paul exhorts the full grown Christians to imitate His perseverance, urging them to forsake any claim to legal righteousness. He charged them to seek that righteousness which is through faith of Christ so as to know Christ; to win Christ and to press ever forward to obtain the prize. For us the present day Christians, the mindset Paul expects us to develop is having deep personal desire for a daily experience with God and the pursuit to be like Christ. It should be an experience that can give vitality and meaning to life.

To attain maturity expected of us in this Christian race, we should focus on knowing Christ the more (Philippians 3:8), having righteousness of Christ (Philippians 3:9) and desiring moral transformation which leads to encounter with the resurrection power (Philippians 3:10). This should be our concern as we race towards heaven.

Food for Thought: Christians must live like Christ or nothing else

Memory verse: Philippians 3:15

Prayer: Lord God, help me to have the mind of Christ which is love, obedience and humility

Where You are Now is not Enough

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday July 6, 2017

Topic: Where You are Now is not Enough

Text: Philippians 3:8 – 14

Being complacent because you have attained a level of success is dangerous. The day I wrote today’s devotion, I bought a book titled WHERE YOU ARE IS NOT ENOUGH written by Freshmann J. N. Esq. At the back cover is the story of how Google approached the CEO of Yahoo in 1997 to buy Google at the cost of One Million dollars because they were not making profit. He refused, stating that it would be a bad investment. To him what he was making in Yahoo was okay. Six years later (2002), Yahoo tried to buy it again at three billion dollars but the founder of Google refused to sell. As at 2004, Google is worth Three hundred and ninety five billion dollars. What would have happened if Yahoo had bought Google then? There were not foresighted. They thought they were okay and today, they are regretting. They were satisfied with what they dad achieved.

Paul told the Philippians in our scriptural reading for the day that where he was then was not enough for him. He saw himself as someone who is not yet perfect despite all the miracles and things God had used him to do. He didn’t believe that he had accomplished anything. He was very hungry to do more and achieve more. There was the burning desire in him to do more for God. His achievement did not enter his head. He was still humble despite all his exploits for God.

As church militants, we are not yet perfect and cannot be perfect until our race is done. We are still vulnerable to sin and can fall off the faith (1 Corinthians 10:12). That you can pray and speak in tongues should not make you complacent. Let your accomplishment humble you and make you desire to do more for God. This should be so in your business and chosen career. Aspire for more height because there is still more room for that.

Food for Thought: Never give up! Keep your thoughts and your mind always on the goal – Tom Bradley

Memory verse: Philippians 3:12

Prayer: God, help me never to be carried away by my achievement so that I will not lose focus on heavenly goal in Jesus name.

Man’s Limited Knowledge

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday February 13, 2017          

Topic: Man’s Limited Knowledge                                     

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:9

On this earth, everything is imperfect and knowledge is limited. No matter how much people may know, they know only a little. No matter how much prophecy is given, it still reveals little. Everything will only be made perfect and complete when the Kingdom of God arrives (the end of age).

Paul wrote this   “Because we are now in the state that we have need to learn daily, and therefore we have need of those helps, that is, of the gift of tongues, and knowledge, and also of those that teach by them” according to Geneva Bible Notes. There are people who brag that they are learned, they have wisdom, they know everything, etc. All we have today are limited, knowledge, wisdom, etc. We learn every day and will continue to learn through the word of God.

One of my uncle came picked my baby of one month and as she was moving her mouth, he said, “When we get to heaven, we will ask God if children understands what we say.” This shows that our knowledge is limited. The word of God we read is always new to us every morning. When we read a passage and come back to it the following day, we will get a different meaning. What this implies is that we should rely on the Holy Spirit in everything we do as our knowledge is limited. As we know in part now, we should look forward to that time when we will know everything in full. This should challenge and inspire us to live well and come to the time when we will know everything.  Please kindly work towards that. Have a great day.

Food for Thought: 1 Corinthians 8:12

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 13 verse 9 - For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

Prayer: God, grant that I will not boast about knowledge because it is limited.

HE WILL PERFECT ALL: Devotion for Wednesday July 20, 2016

HE WILL PERFECT ALL: Devotion for Wednesday July 20, 2016     

Text: Psalm 138:6 – 8          

Memory verse: Psalm 138:8 -The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Though the Lord God Almighty is high in the heavens, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from His blissful presence. He views us from His heavenly place with pleasure, thinks of us with care, listens to our prayers, and protects us from evil. These are what He does for us especially those who obey words and live according to all He commands us.  

God is concerned in all that apprehensions His people – our cares and worries. He sees to it that none of the precious things He promised us, shall fail of completion. These include our lives, our strength, our hopes, our graces, our pilgrimage, etc, which shall be perfected. God Almighty will see to this and therefore, it is most sure that He will fulfill them. God will perfect what concerns me means that God will fulfill His promises concerning me. It is thus the prerogative of God to do it. It does not depend on our work. It is of the grace of God as it is in our salvation.

Every person dreams and makes plans for the future. Then he or she works hard to see those dreams and plans come true. However, to make the most of life, we must include God’s plan in our plans. He alone knows what is best for us; He alone can fulfill His purposes for us. As you make plans and dream dreams, talk with God about them. This is the only way He can perfect all that concerns us. We should not forget that the condition upon which God perfects all that concerns a man is to walk before Him and be blameless. Are you living the life God expects from you? How faithful and obedient are you to His bidding?

Action: Write down the things required of you for God to perfect all that concerns you and paste it in a conspicuous position in your room so that as your eyes will go there always, it will remind you of what you have resolved to do.   

Prayer: Help me, O Lord, to keep to the things required of me so that you can perfect all that concerns me.