For Our Enjoyment: Devotion for Friday, January 10, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday January 10 2020

Topic: For Our Enjoyment                  

Text: 1 Timothy 6:17 – 21

There is difference between being financially rich and being rich towards God. Wealth is very uncertain (Proverbs 23:5). Those who are rich should understand that their riches came from God. He alone grants the grace to enjoy them richly; for many have riches, but enjoy them poorly, not having a heart to use them rightly (1 Timothy 6:17).

Riches are meant to be used for doing good deeds (1 Timothy 6:18). Those who have money must be generous, but they must not be arrogant just because they have a lot to give. They must be careful not to put their hope in money instead of God for their security. See Mark 10:24.

Even if we don’t have material wealth, we can be rich in good deeds. No matter how poor we are, we have something to share with someone. These things we have in us are for the enjoyment of ourselves and those we meet or those who come to us on daily basis.

There is the admonition to guard what has been entrusted to Timothy. These things are of two dimensional; his congregation and his talents/gifts. The reason for this is because of false teachers who brought wrong doctrines into the church. We still have many of them now. Beware, so that you will not be deceived.

Food for Thought: How best can you use your wealth in the service of God and humanity?

Memory verse: Luke 12:21

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O God to use my wealth to serve you and humanity.

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.

Don’t Shut Your Hands

Devotion for Sunday January 14, 2018

Topic: Don’t Shut Your Hands

Text: Deuteronomy 15:7 – 8

This passage is similar to Leviticus 25:35 – 37. Due to the foregoing laws in the previous verses, Moses admonished the Israelites not to shut their hands against the poor. He exhorts them not to be mean and selfish but to develop a liberal spirit of charity and kindness which will secure for them the divine blessings (Romans 12:8 & 2 Corinthians 9:7). Also in Leviticus 25:35 – 37, Moses charged them to relieve the poor; by not taking interest or increase, for what was needful for the poor man's support (Leviticus 25:36–37). This is what Christianity demands from us. The Psalmist added his voice on this matter and stated that there are promises attached to the command of taking care of the poor in Psalm 41:1 and 112: 9. Just as stated earlier, if we desire to secure divine blessings from God, we should be ready and ever willing to open our hands to the poor and the needy. If God has blessed you enough, you should make a regular provision for some of the poor people in your neighbourhood. Securing all the worldly goods for yourself and your children alone while people around you are living in abject poverty is the highest level of wickedness. Plan and put someone poor you know into your budget and God will bless you the more. Sing A&M 361; Abu 128        

Food for Thought: Leviticus 25:35 – 37          

Memory verse: 1 John 3:17

Prayer: O Lord, may I not shut my hands against the needy when I have what they need from me in Jesus name. Amen.'

THE POOR IN SPIRIT

DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY DECEMBER 15, 2016

Topic: THE POOR IN SPIRIT                      

Text: Matthew 5 verse 3                    

Each of the beatitude tells us how God blesses us. Christians should spend time to study the beatitude because some of us have been following the wrong path and when they come to the crossroad (when the blessings they had hoped for didn’t come), they will begin to see the promises of God as not true and subsequently fall out of the faith.

Blessed, means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate and enviable state of believers. It is more of inward and not outward. We shall look at the beatitude for the next 10 days. The poor as used here means the humble, who depend on God in all things, temporal and spiritual, and look to Him for the supply of every want; more especially those who feel their need, as sinners, of spiritual blessings, and look to Jesus Christ to grant them (Isaiah 66:2).

It is proper to understand that being poor as Jesus Christ used it is not those that are poor in estate, or those whom the world has made poor in possession, but those whom the gospel has made poor in spirit, that is, the truly humble and lowly spirits. They have a right and title to the kingdom of heaven. Beloved, what is the effect of the gospel in your life? The gospel should make us do the accepted things in the likeness of Christ. Christ was not keen on material things while on earth but whenever the need arises there is always a provision for that. Though, a King, He live a life of poor spirit. We should emulate Him.      

Food for Thought: True happiness does not consist in external condition, but in the state of the mind.

Memory verse: Matthew 5 verse 3

Prayer: God, grant me the understanding of what being poor in spirit means so I will live to receive the blessings therein in Jesus name.