Rejoice With Me

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday May 31, 2017

Topic: Rejoice With Me

Text: Psalm 118:1 – 24

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. On such days our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. On such day, we will wish death to come and take us but not so on a day like this for me and my family.

This psalm is the last of ‘Hallel’ or Praise psalms (Ps 113 – 118). It is caption Praise for Deliverance. There are things God does for us that we cannot keep quiet about. Here, the Psalmist called on us to give thanks to God (118:1) for his mercies (118:1 – 4). He recounted how he called on the Lord and He answered (118:5). This boosted his confidence in God to assert that he will not fear man. This made him to call on us to put our confidence in God and not man. For what God did for him, he called on those who love God, to rejoice with him.

In the same way, I am calling on those who love God to rejoice with me because of what God had done in my life. Today, I am celebrating my 50th Birthday. I never knew I would be alive due to the waters, rivers and fires of life I had passed through. Nobody who saw me in the year 2003 would believe that I would be alive to see this day but my prayer then had been Ps 118:17.

Today, I have every reason to rejoice and I say to God, “Open to me the gates of righteousness; I will go through them, and I will praise the Lord. I will praise you, for you have answered me, and have become my salvation. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Join me on Saturday 3rd June, 2017 in a Birthday Thanksgiving Service at Cathedral Church of St. Peter Asaba by 10:00am. God bless you.

Food for Thought: Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Memory verse: Psalm 118 verse 24

Prayer: Join me to thank God for my life and pray for more mercies and grace upon my life and family on this my birthday.

Place of Choristers in Worship

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday February 22, 2017

Topic: Place of Choristers in Worship

Text: 1 Chronicles 16:4 – 7

David brought the Ark of Covenant into Jerusalem because he knew what the presence of God can do. God’s presence assures us of victory, protection and guidance. He used the occasion to show how much he cares about God by making sacrifices as we saw yesterday and by appointing choristers to sing before the Ark.

As soon as the Ark was deposited in its tent, the Levites, who were to officiate in the choir before it, entered into their duties. A select number of the musicians were chosen for the service from the list (15:19-21) of those who had taken a prominent part in the recent procession. The same arrangement was to be observed in their duties, now that the Ark again was stationary.

Two lessons are here for us – the importance of praise in our relationship with God and importance of choristers in our worship. Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine, not reserved only for celebrations. We should praise God for His love, mercies, and provision for us, his grace and faithfulness daily.

Again, our text reveals the place of Choristers in worship. They have a place in the position where the Ark of Covenant is. Thus they should always consecrate themselves as they come into the presence of God. They shouldn’t come into the presence of God defiled. The best way to express our gratitude to God’s love and faithfulness is to thank and praise Him always. Learn to do it always.

Food for Thought: The only occupation in heaven is praising God and you can only learn it here on earth.

Memory verse: 1 Chronicles 16 verse 4

Prayer: Teach me to praise you, O Lord my God, as a way of appreciating your love and faithfulness upon my life. 

God Doesn’t Forget His Kindness

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday January 23, 2017

Topic: God Doesn’t Forget His Kindness

Text: Ruth 2:18 – 23             

There are some lessons in our text for the day.

1. Ruth brought back to Naomi, food provided for her by Boaz. She didn’t keep it back for her later use but for her mother in law. We should be magnanimous to share our blessing with our loved ones in the family.

2. Though Naomi was bitter about events in Moab (1:20-21), but her faith in God was still alive, as she praised God for Boaz’s kindness to Ruth. She still trusted God. We may feel bitter about a situation, but we must never despair. Today is a new opportunity to experience God’s care and love.

3. Naomi asked Ruth how her day went and where she gleaned. Parents and guidance should examine their children, as Naomi did, not to frighten or discourage them but to commend them if they have done well, and with mildness to reprove and caution them if they haven’t done well.

4. Ruth went to glean, not knowing where to go and it just happened she went to the field owned by Boaz who just happened to be a close relative of her late husband. This was more than mere coincidence. It was God leading her.

Today, as you go about your daily tasks, God is working in your life in ways you may not even notice. We mustn’t close the door on what God can do. Events do not occur by luck or coincidence. We should have faith that God is directing our lives towards what He has purposed for us.

Food for Thought: Events we see as luck or coincidence are directed by God to fulfil His purposes in our life.

Memory verse: Ruth 2 verse 20 - And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the Lord, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, the man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen (ESV).

Prayer: Direct my steps O Lord my God to the place you have prepared to bless me this day in Jesus name.

GOD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS

DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7, 2016

Topic: GOD LOVES THE RIGHTEOUS 

Text: Psalm 146:5 – 10                      

God created us in His image (Genesis 1:28) and one of the characteristics or nature of God is righteousness. We that He created in His image ought to have that nature or characteristics in us. For this reason God love the righteous man because he has His nature.

The bible says that the righteous man lives by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Our bible passage for the day says that, “God loves the righteous”. Why is it, that God loves the righteous? God loves the righteous because they please Him (Hebrews 11:6). The gospel message states that righteousness is determined by faith and not by law. The Old Testament speaks of the law which the New Testament speaks on grace that comes through our faith in Christ Jesus.

Here are some qualities that distinguish a righteous man. Use them to assess yourself to know if you are one the righteous or not.

a) Total faith in God (Psalm 31:14) – A righteous man has total and implicit faith in God. He is not moved by situation or circumstances.

b) Bears fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22 & 23) – This is another nature or a righteous man. He bears fruits that glorify God.  

c) His actions are guided by faith (Habakkuk. 2:4)

d) He fears God and respects man (Matthew 10:28)

e) He obeys the word of God (Acts 5:29). You can add more to this. 

Note the concern God has for those who are down with burden. Are you down in your spiritual life, academics, business, marriage, career, etc? God has promised to lift you up and He will do it. For those who are righteous and are enjoying the love of God, take this advice. As someone who enjoys the inestimable privilege of His love, you should always endeavor to magnify His name with enthusiastic delight. One good area in Church’s worship where we can serve God well and magnify His name is in the choir. You must never be absent from the choir. You must never pause from His praise whose infinite love has made you what you are. Do you make out time praise God? Praises is what we can offer Him.

Food for Thought: Jesus is our burden bearer (1 Peter 5:7).

Memory verse: Psalm 146 verse 8

Prayer Points: God, help me to please you through a righteous living.

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

Text: Malachi 3: 13 – 18              

Memory verse: Malachi 3:18 – Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him

Few days before I wrote this devotion, I read a story of a transgender who said that God is daft and senseless. My comment was that she/he was digging her grave. If in this present age of knowledge, she doesn’t know that there is a day of reckoning then she is a serious mistake to the society. The act of this transgender turned lady now is similar to what we have in Malachi 3:13, 14. How can a creature call the Creator senseless and daft? This shows how depraved some people are in our present day society.

In 2014, there was a couple who publicly burnt their Bible in Bonsac area of Asaba, Nigeria in protest against God for not giving them a child after they had gone to many prayer houses, held weeks of fasting and did many other things to gain God’s favour. Their action was reciting the words in Malachi 3:14 that it is useless to serve God. There is a challenge for us in Malachi 3:16 about encouraging one another especially in a society as bad as ours today where economic stress, unemployment, kidnapping, etc are confronting us daily. Family Bible Notes puts it thus: “When infidelity and wickedness most abound in the community, then is the time for those who fear God to be most diligent in speaking often one to another, and encouraging each other in His service.” How often do we do this?   

These people saw no need of serving God because He does not notice and reward their empty and heartless forms of religion. God cannot be mocked. You can only reap what you sow as seed. For now, it may seem as if God put no difference between the righteous and the wicked. However, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. This is the day of reckoning. Where do you think you belong in this two – hell or heaven?

Food for Thought: How prepared are you towards the day of reckoning?

Prayer: Make me your jewel, O Lord, as I prepare for the day of reckoning so that my name will be in the book of remembrance in Jesus name.