The Price Tag of Salvation: Devotion for Monday August 24, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday August 24, 2020

Topic: The Price Tag of Salvation            

Text: Luke 15:1 – 10                               

The parable of the lost sheep is very applicable to the great work of man's redemption whereby God left His heavenly throne to come down to this sinful world to seek for us.

The two parables were given by Jesus to answer the question posted by the Pharisees and Scribes in Luke 15:2. The tag of salvation is likened to the sacrifice of the Shepherd dutifully and diligently looking for his lost sheep and the woman looking for the lost coin. 

The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him, yet not desirous to return. Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home.

In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of, to bring lost souls home to Himself, and the Saviour's joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that we do not take our repentance for granted!

God’s love for each individual is so great that He seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is found. Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep; people considered beyond hope to the God’s Kingdom.

Just as the shepherd took the initiative to go out and find the sheep, so Jesus actively seeks lost souls. These tax collectors and sinners (Luke 15:1) with whom Jesus was associating were like sheep that had strayed away from God and needed to be returned.

More than that, they needed the salvation that Jesus offered. We that are saved should also endeavour to bring other to know God too.

Action: As you go into the world today, endeavour to share the gospel with anyone that needs salvation.

Memory verse: Luke 15 v 4

Prayer: God, you paid the price to save me. Help me to live my life according to your will so that the sacrifice of saving me will not be in vain.

There Is A Price For God’s Gifts And Integrity: Devotion for Friday May 29, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday May 29, 2020

Topic: There Is A Price For God’s Gifts And Integrity   

Text: Genesis 39:7 – 19                                 

It is never a mistake that God made some people beautiful or handsome. However, the way some people abuse these blessings and gifts, gives me cause for concern. God has never made mistake in blessing us. If we abuse our gifts, we will pay dearly for it. Our beauty, blessings and gifts may become a snare to us because some will abuse them and it will no longer make them but mar them.

The gifts and graces of God upon our lives forbid pride in it, and require constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. On the other hand, we should have full control over our eyes, lest they infect our hearts. That was the problem with Portiphar’s wife

She couldn’t set off her eyes from Joseph in her husband’s house, lusting after Joseph (Genesis 39:7). She became a snare for Joseph because he was handsome and a young man of honesty and integrity. The result of Joseph’s refusal to consent to her request led to frame up against him and subsequent imprisonment.

The frame up and imprisonment was the price Joseph paid for the gift of God in him. Many people have paid similar prices. Some fell into the hands of the devil and his agents. Some after the fall could not even summon courage to rise again. There is nobody gifted by God in terms of beauty, being handsome, intelligent, talented, etc that hasn’t been tempted or will not be tempted. What matters is what should be your stand when tempted. Will you yield to their temptation because you want to avoid going to prison, being punished, etc?

There is somebody reading this devotion, who out of fear of being punished, refused to speak the truth as Potiphar’s wife did and somebody is suffering today because of your silence and betrayal. God requires you to go and make necessary restitutions. Despite the price Joseph paid, God was with him and he was loved and privileged above all other prisoners as we shall see tomorrow.

Food for Thought: Every gift and blessings from has a price tag.

Memory verse: Genesis 39:19

Prayer: Grant me the grace I need O God, never to abuse your gift upon my life or a stumbling block to other people because of their gifts.

Every Gift And Blessing From God Has A Price Tag

Devotion for Tuesday January 23, 2018

Topic: Every Gift And Blessing From God Has A Price Tag

Text: Genesis 39:7 – 19

It is never a mistake that God made some people beautiful or handsome. The way some people abuse these blessings and gifts, gives me cause for concern. God has never made mistake in blessing us. If we abuse our gifts, we will pay dearly for it. Our beauty, blessings and gifts are snare to us because they will either make or mar us. It forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. 

On the other hand, we should have full control over our eyes, lest they infect our hearts. Potiphar’s wife couldn’t set off her eyes from Joseph in her husband’s house, lusting after him (Genesis 39:7). She became a snare for Joseph because he was handsome and a young man of honesty and integrity. When Joseph refused to consent to her request, she framed-up Joseph and he was subsequently imprisoned. The frame up and imprisonment was the price Joseph paid for the gift God gave to him. 

Many people have paid similar prices. Some fell into the hands of the devil and his agents. Some after the fall could not even summon courage to rise again. There is nobody gifted by God in terms of beauty, handsomeness, intelligence or talent that hasn’t been tempted or that will not be tempted. What matters is your reaction when temptations come. Will you yield to their temptation because you want to avoid going to prison or being punished? If you have framed up or betrayed someone, God requires you to go and make necessary restitution. Despite the price Joseph paid, God was with him and he was loved and privileged above all others in the prison. Sing SS&S 235; Abu 183

Food for Thought: Every gift and blessings from God has a price tag.

Memory verse: Genesis 39:19

Prayer: Grant me the grace I need O God, never to abuse your gift upon my life or a stumbling block to other people because of their gifts.

Hoarding Attracts Curses

Devotion for Monday January 8, 2018

Topic: Hoarding Attracts Curses

Proverbs 11:26

Part of our scriptural reading yesterday says, “And there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty” – Proverbs 11:24b.  Our text today expatiates on that. Hoarding as we have in our text can mean two things – hoarding goods in anticipation of price increase or one who is a miser that cannot give out what he or she has. The earlier meaning is very common in our country. We have witnessed it among petroleum marketers and other traders especially those that sell food stuffs. Their aim is to make much gain but the bible says that they are under curse. People will curse them and blessing will be upon those that sell. Do our Christian brothers and sisters who create artificial scarcity through hoarding read this passage of the scripture? If they do and still continue to partake in evil, I wonder their kind of Christianity. On the other hand, when you hoard your seed, talent, gifts and wealth, the person is invariably incurring curse upon himself or herself. We know that extortion is sin but the worst extortionist is he who takes advantage of a public calamity to fill his own coffers at the expense of the poor. This should not be seen among Christians. So many Petrol stations lock up on Sundays but check their dispensing meter on Monday morning. They have adjusted it to make gains yet they were in the church the previous day. Beloved, avoid the curse of men and heaven by doing what is right. Sing A&M 184

Food for Thought: Do you hoard your wares for sale; your gifts, your talents and wealth? Repent to avoid curses.

Memory verse: Proverbs 11:26

Prayer: Almighty God, grant that I will not hoard my wares for sale, gifts, talents and wealth in Jesus name. Amen.

Price of Godliness (Sickness)

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Devotion for Wednesday April 5, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Sickness)

Text: Job 2:7 – 10

Yesterday we saw how Job lost all his possessions because Satan was not happy that God had blessed him because he was a godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. Today we have the story of how Satan came back to afflict him with a sickness doctors can’t describe. What was his sin for this affliction? He refused to give up his godly life. He refused to curse God.

Some people would have concluded that he was not really a godly man if not why will these serial attacks come upon him. The comment of his friends who came to him proves this. Some people said such about me when within a period of 4 years; I underwent kidney transplant operation two times and a heart operation also. If not that we are reading the story of Job, we wouldn’t have known what transpired between God and Satan before the problem started.

If living a godly life can attract such persecution and trials, do we avoid godliness? No! What we stand to gain far more outweigh the immediate pains (2 Corinthians 4:16 – 18). Our body may wear away but our soul which will return to God is what matters. Job understood this too well when he said that he knows his Redeemer lives and that he shall see God even after his skin has been destroyed (Job 19:25 – 27). What an expression of faith! Job was a man of faith who confessed the resurrection of the dead. If we have such understanding as Job had, we will not fear sickness and death; rather sickness and fear of death will draw us closer to God.

Food for Thought: Job 19:25 – 27

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17

Prayer: Grant me the grace I need, O Lord, never to deny you in time of sickness in Jesus name.

Price Of Godliness (Loss Of Possessions)

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday April 4, 2017

Topic: Price Of Godliness (Loss Of Possessions)

Text: Job 1:13 – 22       

Job 1:1 gives us a description of Job. He was a godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. For this reason, God made a hedge round him and all he had. This didn’t go down well with Satan who appeared in the presence of God to accuse Him for blessing Job. This conversation between God and Satan teaches us an important fact about God. He is aware of every attempt by Satan to bring suffering and difficulty upon us.

God knew Job and what Job can do. God vouched for him and when Satan was not satisfied, He permitted Satan to tempt Job but not to take his soul. The first series of attack was loss of his possessions including his children simply because God had blessed him and he was godly man; blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

While God may allow us to suffer for a reason beyond our understanding, He is always compassionate with us. Job had lost his possessions and family in this first of Satan’s tests, but he reacted rightly toward God by acknowledging God’s sovereign authority over everything God had given him. Satan lost this first round. Job passed the test and proved that people can love God for who He is, not for what He gives to them.

Have you taken time to analyze that problem you are going through; that loss of job, loss of your benefactor, loss of car, etc? It may be a test of your faith and commitment towards God. It may be that Satan wants to use it to distract you. Never give up. Loss of possessions shouldn’t distract our focus on God.

Food for Thought: Love and passion for possession can make us deny God if they are destroyed as a trial of our faith.

Memory verse: Job 1 verse 21

Prayer: Lord God, may I not love possessions more than you in Jesus name. 

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday March 30, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Imprisonment 1)

Text: Genesis 39:19 – 23

Joseph had a dream that his parents and brothers will come to worship him but for the dream to be fulfilled, he went through several processes; sale into captivity, living as a slave and then in prison. It was not his dream that took him to prison but his desire to please his God and live godly. Portiphar’s wife couldn’t stop lusting after Joseph. When he refused and ran away from her leaving his clothes, she framed him up and that landed him in prison.

If Joseph had succumbed to her pressure and slept with her, he wouldn’t have ended in prison but he would have gone out of favour with God. Just like Moses, Joseph chose to suffer momentarily affliction instead of partaking in the pleasures of sin that would have destroyed him completely.

Are you suffering now because you refused to give in to crimes and they are threatening you with imprisonment? Do not despair. God is on His throne laughing at them and He will soon set them into confusion. Are you already in prison because of a crime you didn’t commit? Let the story of Joseph encourage you. As a prisoner and slave, he could have seen his situation as hopeless but he did his best with each small task given him. His diligence and positive attitude didn’t go unnoticed by the warden, who promoted him to prison administrator. Are you facing an apparently hopeless situation? Remember how God turned Joseph’s situation around and do your best always. God will see your efforts and can reverse even overwhelming odds that stand against you.

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 2:19 – 21

Memory verse: Genesis 39 verse 20

Prayer: God, grant me the grace I need to follow the example you have set for us even if it leads to imprisonment in Jesus name.

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: Devotion for Thursday October 20, 2016

BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: Devotion for Thursday October 20, 2016

Text: 1 Corinthians 6: 12 – 20    Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 6 verse 20

Yesterday, we read how Paul asserted that people who say they are Christians but are still living in sin will not be part in the Kingdom of God. We summed up by saying that Christians must not willfully commit sin or condone it in any way. His stand according to yesterday’s devotion is that we cannot be selective about the sin we condemn or excuse. God expects His followers in any age to have high moral standards.  

In our bible reading for the day, the Apostle continues his admonition by stressing the importance of living a life of purity and righteousness. He gave instances of how we can defile ourselves especially through immorality. The reason he was so particular about immorality is in 1 Corinthians 6:18 and 19. Christians should take this admonition is very seriously because as they are no longer the owners of their bodies.

Now, our bodies belong to God and should be honoured and exclusively be used to glorify Him. We can do this by absolute obedience to God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Paul stressed this because we have been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). The price with which Jesus Christ bought us is stated in Matt 20:28; Galatians 3:13 and 1 Peter 18, 19. The precious blood of Jesus Christ is not what we should take for granted and abuse it. We should consider the sacrifice Jesus Christ made and take our call and faith seriously.

Beloved, since our bodies belong to God, it is our duty to glorify God with them. The fact that we are His, purchased and now belong to His spiritual temple makes our obligation to consecrate our spirit and body to His service imperative. Unfortunately, some Christians today who belong to the permissive group don’t see anything wrong in this. They hold the view that we can live in the world and do whatever we like in the name of freedom. It ought not to be so. We need the grace of God to fulfill our obligation of consecrating our lives to God and we can only succeed if we apply the counsel of Paul in Romans 12:1–2. To present the body to God as a living sacrifice is to consecrate it, with the living soul that inhibits it, to God's service.       

Food for Thought: Act 20:28

Prayer: God, grant me the understanding that I have been bought with a precious price so that I will live my life to conform to the standard expected of me in Jesus name. Amen.  

THE PRICE TAG OF SALVATION: Devotion for Tuesday July 26, 2016

THE PRICE TAG OF SALVATION: Devotion for Tuesday July 26, 2016

Text: Luke 15:1 – 10                        

Memory verse: Luke 15:4 -What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

The two parables were given by Jesus to answer the question posted by the Pharisees and Scribes in 15:2. The tag of salvation is likened to the sacrifice of the shepherd dutifully and diligently looking for his lost sheep and the woman looking for the lost coin. The lost sheep represents the sinner as departed from God, and exposed to certain ruin if not brought back to Him, yet not desirous to return. Jesus Christ is earnest in bringing sinners home. In the parable of the lost piece of silver, that which is lost is one piece, of small value compared with the rest. Yet the woman seeks diligently till she finds it. This represents the various means and methods God makes use of, to bring lost souls home and His joy on their return to Him. How careful then should we be that we do not take our repentance for granted! Unfortunately, most of us are yet to understand that it cost God so much to save which should elicit more commitment from us to His service.

God’s love for each individual is so great that He seeks each one out and rejoices when he or she is found. Jesus associated with sinners because he wanted to bring the lost sheep; people considered beyond hope to the God’s Kingdom. Just as the shepherd took the initiative to go out and find the sheep, so Jesus actively seeks lost souls. These tax collectors and sinners (15:1) with whom Jesus was associating were like sheep that had strayed away from God and needed to be returned. More than that, they needed the salvation that Jesus offered. We that are saved should also endeavour to bring others to know God too.

Action: As you go into the world today, endeavour to share the gospel with anyone that needs salvation and don’t stay this day without sharing your faith with someone.

Prayer: God, you paid the price to save me. Help me to live my life according to your will so that the sacrifice of saving me will not be in vain and grant me the grace to share the good news of salvation with people always in Jesus name.