Do Not Procrastinate: Devotion for Tuesday July 7, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday July 7, 2020

Topic: Do Not Procrastinate             

Text: Joshua 1:10 – 15                           

In Romans 4:20, the bible recorded that Abraham did not waver or stagger at the promises of God. This means that he had no doubt about what God told him despite his physical condition and that of his wife (Romans 4:19).

In our bible reading today, Joshua said to the people immediately God had spoken to him, “Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess” (Joshua 1:11b). We honour the truth of God, when we stagger not or waver at the promise of God as Abraham did. The two tribes and a half were to go over Jordan with their brethren. When God, by his providence, has given us rest, we ought to consider what service we may do to our brethren.

“The certainty that God will bestow upon his people the blessings he has promised them, does not in the least lessen the necessity of their using all appointed means to obtain them” so says Family Bible Notes. God promised to take them into the Promised Land. They don’t have to procrastinate or sit in a place for the promise to be fulfilled. They have a part to play.

Likewise, God has made several promises to us. We shouldn’t procrastinate about them by waiting for “manna to fall from heaven.” Rather we should swing into action by playing our part in that promise made by God. Remember that God promised to feed the birds of the air but He does not throw their food into their nest.

Food for Thought: What will you do to ensure that God’s promises made to you will be fulfilled?

Memory verse: Joshua 1:11

Prayer: God remove from me every form of procrastination especially in heavenly matters in Jesus name.

Obey Even When It Hurts: Devotion for Friday April 24, 20202

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday April 24, 2020

Topic: Obey Even When It Hurts                                 

Text: Genesis 22:1 – 14

Abraham learnt many tough lessons about the importance of obeying God. Some of them were when he was called out of Ur; when he went to Egypt, and when he had to wait for Isaac’s birth. Initially, Abraham did not always show that he trusted or believed God; but through each test, he saw God’s willingness and ability to keep His promises.

That was the reason God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22:1-2) at an altar as a burnt sacrifice. That is the greatest gift one can offer. God did not want Isaac to die, but He wanted Abraham to sacrifice Isaac in his heart so that he could learn to trust God completely (see Hebrews 11:19). Imagine what Abraham must have felt as he walked with Isaac up the mountain, each step being torturous and leading him painfully closer to unspeakable grief agony. However Abraham obeyed, giving Isaac at his own hurt and God honoured his faith.

Obeying God may often be a struggle because it may mean giving up something that we truly want. We should not expect our obedience to God to be easy or to come naturally. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. Trust and Obey is the best way to be happy. In what ways might God be testing your faith? Are you willing to obey Him even when it will hurt you? Such obedience is what God requires from us – Obedience at all cost.  

Action: As you go out today, be determined to obey God even when it hurts.

Memory verse: Hebrew 11:17 

Prayer: 1. God, grant me the grant me the grace to obey you in everything even when it hurts because there is a reward at the end.

2. Pray for my wife and I as we mark our 20th Wedding Anniversary today, April 24.

Our God Keeps To His Words: Devotion for Monday August 12, 2019

Devotion for Monday August 12, 2019

Topic: Our God Keeps To His Words

Text: Joshua 21:45

The words of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:56 confirm our topic for the today. God has never spoken and failed to do what He said. Joshua subscribed to the fact that all God said concerning possessing the Promised Land by Israel came to pass.

The inviolable truth of God’s promise and its fulfillment is what Christians should look up to even when it delays in coming to pass. If in anything, it has seemed to come short, we should be ready to take all the blame to ourselves. God does not speak always but when He utters a word, He abides by it.

What are His promises you have laid hold on, prayed about them and they have not come to pass? What are you currently passing through that has almost consumed you and you have started to doubt the promises of God and their fulfillment in your life?

Joshua testified that all God promised him and Israel came to pass. Solomon did same. All the promises He made to Paul also came to pass. I am assuring you, the user of this devotional today that God’s promises about your life and future will be fulfilled.

Congratulations in advance!

All will come to pass in your life in Jesus name. Just keep trusting and waiting for at the right time, it will be fulfilled.        

Food for Thought: “He who is the slowest in making a promise is the most faithful in the performance of it” – Jean Jacques Rousseau

Memory verse: Joshua 21:45

Prayer: God, bring all your promises for me and my family to fulfillment in Jesus name. Amen.

God’s Promises Are Sure

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion for Friday, January 04, 2019  

Topic: God’s Promises Are Sure

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:20 – 24 

We have some lessons in our bible reading for the day. 

1. That God has made many promises to His people. Can you mention five promises God has made to us as Christians in the scriptures?

2. That all the promises which God has made to His people, are made in Christ, and ratified by Christ. In all the promises of God to His people, Christ acts the part and office of a surety; He undertakes and engages for God, that all which He has promised shall be made good to us.

3. That the promises made by God, and ratified and confirmed in Christ, do all tend to the glory of God.

Paul gave the reason for his desired trip to the Corinthians; to bring joy to him and the people (1:24). He didn’t want to visit them only to rebuke them severely (1:23). Just as the Corinthians could trust God to keep his promises, they could trust Paul as God’s representative to keep his too. He would still visit them, but at a better time.

All of God’s promises of what the Messiah would be like are fulfilled in Christ. For this reason, we should trust God as we have just entered into the New Year. There are obvious challenges in this period. There are bills to pay. We should trust God to bless our efforts and provide for us. Jesus was completely faithful in his ministry; He never sinned (1 Peter 3:18); He faithfully died for us (Hebrews 2:9); and now He faithfully intercedes for us (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 4:14-15). Because Jesus Christ is faithful, Paul wanted to be faithful in his ministry and so we are expected to be faithful too. It is our faithfulness that will attract most of the blessings and promises of God to us. How faithful are you in your call as a Christian?

Food for Thought: God’s promises are what He can do. Therefore, keep trusting him to fulfill them.   

Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 1 v 20

Prayer: God help me to trust you to fulfill your promises for me no matter the situation or circumstance.

The Cost Of Following Jesus

Devotion for Tuesday January 30, 2018

Topic: The Cost Of Following Jesus

Text: Matthew 16:24 – 28

There are always terms and conditions which apply to any contract or agreement. In terms of our relationship with God, there are terms and conditions attached to it. Jesus came to establish the New Covenant. Our Catechism has it that Jesus commands us in the New Covenant to believe in Him and to keep His commandments with the promise to bring us into the Kingdom of God and give us life in its fullness. In our bible passage for the day, He states one of the conditions expected of would be disciples which is self- denial, taking up one’s cross and following Him. 

The words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 16:24 show us the 4 principles of the Christian life. 

1) He must have a sincere desire to belong to Christ - If any man desires to be my disciple. 

2) He should renounce self-dependence, and selfish pursuits – Let him deny himself. 

3) He should embrace the condition which God has appointed, and bear the troubles and difficulties he may meet with in walking the Christian road - Let him take up his cross. 

4) He should imitate Jesus by following Him even in suffering – Let him follow me. 

Everything in life has a cost attached to it. You cannot claim to be a disciple of Jesus without fulfilling these principles and conditions or else you will not be sincere in being His disciple. Have you met the terms and conditions of being a disciple? If not, there is still time for you to key into the conditions so as to benefit from His promises in the New Covenant. 

Sing SS&S 597; Abu 110

Food for Thought: A true disciple of Christ in all things denies his own will, however pleasing, and does the will of God, however painful.

Memory verse: Matthew 10:38

Prayer: Lord God, help me to deny myself, take up my cross and follow you all the days of my life in Jesus name. Amen

The Alpha And Omega

Devotion for Saturday November 25, 2017

Topic: The Alpha And Omega

Text: Revelation 1:8

Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of Greek alphabets. By applying them to Himself, Christ had shown us that He is the cause and end of all things. In Revelation 1:11, similar application was made to God the Father, thus confirming the Trinity and what Jesus said that by Him everything that is made was made. This saying of Jesus has some inspirations for us as Christians. Jesus being the Alpha and Omega which is the beginning and the end means that He is aware of everything about us. He made us and everything about us is known to Him. As the Alpha and Omega, God is in control of the affairs of this world and this is the greatest assurance we have. He also knows what our end will be. This is a kind of reassurance for us that God knows when the problems confronting us will end. The second part of our text is a description of Christ as Jehovah; self-existing, unchangeable, and eternal. The truth here is that as God who called us is self-existing, He is also able to meet our needs. No matter the kind of boasting of our enemies and the rage they vent on God’s people, even in the interim, God remains the Author and Creator of all things. Whatsoever He proposes, declares, and promises surely must stand. As He is the end, He shall bring all the things which are revealed to a complete and glorious conclusion. What has God revealed to you? Just believe Him because in due time, it will come to a glorious conclusion (Philippians 1:6).

Food for Thought: As the Alpha and Omega, God is in control of the affairs of this world and this is the greatest assurance we have.

Memory verse: Isaiah 44:6                                                                    

Prayer: Lord Jesus, you know everything about me as the Alpha and Omega, bring every promise concerning me to a glorious conclusion in Jesus name. Amen.

He Keeps To His Words

Devotion for Wednesday August 9, 2017

Topic: He Keeps To His Words

Text: Joshua 21:45

The words of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:56 confirm our topic for the today. God has never spoken and failed to do what He said. Joshua subscribed to the fact that all God said concerning possessing the Promised Land by Israel came to pass. The inviolable truth of God’s promise and its fulfillment is what Christians should look up to even when it delays in coming to pass. If in anything, it has seemed to come short, we should be ready to take all the blame to ourselves. God does not speak always but when He utters a word, He abides by it.

What are His promises you have laid hold on and they have not come to pass? What are you currently passing through that has almost consumed you and you have started to doubt the promises of God and their fulfillment in your life? Joshua testified that all God promised him and Israel came to pass. Solomon did same. All the promises He made to Paul also came to pass. I am assuring you, the user of this devotional today that God’s promises about your life and future will be fulfilled. Congratulations in advance. All will come to pass in your life in Jesus name. Just keep trusting and waiting for at the right time, it will be fulfilled.         

Food for Thought: “He who is the slowest in making a promise is the most faithful in the performance of it” – Jean Jacques Rousseau

Memory verse: Joshua 21:45

Prayer: God, bring all your promises for me and my family to fulfillment in Jesus name. Amen.

He Is Abundantly Able

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday June 5, 2017

Topic: He Is Abundantly Able

Text: Romans 4:21

“God is able, abundantly able to deliver and to save those who trust in Him,” so says a song writer. God is able to perform what He has said. He fulfilled the promises He made in the scriptures. Where He did not fulfil it, may be the person to receive it compromised or failed on his part as in the case of Eli (1 Sam. 2:30). As we read yesterday, Abraham didn’t waver because of his strong belief that God is able to fulfil His promises (Romans 4:21). He was firmly persuaded of God's ability to fulfil His promises. Do you easily shake when you come to the curves of life? Abraham was certain that God not only could, but would do what He promised. We should know that this was not the only time Abraham clearly showed this kind of confidence in God. His faith was equally implicit and strong when God commanded him to go and sacrifice his promised son (Hebrews 11:19). Beloved of Christ, God is able to perform what He promised (Luke 1:37). What is that He cannot do? What you can achieve depends on what you believe. Do you actually believe God for what you are asking from Him? You should be fully persuaded that God is able to do it. It may have taken a lot of time but it is never late with God. You should live by believing in God and not by debating or arguing about His ability because with Him, all things are possible. Debating whether God can do it or not is a mark of unbelief. Just trust God for He would do it for you (Ps 4:5; 9:10 and 25:2).  

Food for Thought: All we have seen, read and heard are enough to persuade us that God can do that which we ask of Him.

Memory verse: Romans 4 verse 21

Prayer: God, grant me an implicit faith to trust you for all my needs.

He Is Abundantly Able

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Monday June 5, 2017

Topic: He Is Abundantly Able

Text: Romans 4:21

“God is able, abundantly able to deliver and to save those who trust in Him,” so says a song writer. God is able to perform what He has said. He fulfilled the promises He made in the scriptures. Where He did not fulfil it, may be the person to receive it compromised or failed on his part as in the case of Eli (1 Sam. 2:30). As we read yesterday, Abraham didn’t waver because of his strong belief that God is able to fulfil His promises (Romans 4:21). He was firmly persuaded of God's ability to fulfil His promises. Do you easily shake when you come to the curves of life? Abraham was certain that God not only could, but would do what He promised. We should know that this was not the only time Abraham clearly showed this kind of confidence in God. His faith was equally implicit and strong when God commanded him to go and sacrifice his promised son (Hebrews 11:19). Beloved of Christ, God is able to perform what He promised (Luke 1:37). What is that He cannot do? What you can achieve depends on what you believe. Do you actually believe God for what you are asking from Him? You should be fully persuaded that God is able to do it. It may have taken a lot of time but it is never late with God. You should live by believing in God and not by debating or arguing about His ability because with Him, all things are possible. Debating whether God can do it or not is a mark of unbelief. Just trust God for He would do it for you (Ps 4:5; 9:10 and 25:2).  

Food for Thought: All we have seen, read and heard are enough to persuade us that God can do that which we ask of Him.

Memory verse: Romans 4 verse 21

Prayer: God, grant me an implicit faith to trust you for all my needs.

Antidote to Worry (2)

My Daily Covenant (2017 Edition) Devotion for Friday January 6, 2017                  

Topic: Antidote to Worry (2)

Text: Psalm 23:1 – 6                

Yesterday, we started series of teaching on antidote to worry. It will last till Sunday. If you missed yesterday’s devotion, look for it and read. It will help you so much.

This antidote to worry in our text is proper understanding of our relationship with God and the tenets of His covenant with us. What God means to you will determine the kind of benefit you will receive from Him. Such understanding is a great advantage in reaping from His promises and blessings just as David expressed in this Psalm 23.

In describing God as his Shepherd, David wrote this out of his personal experience because he spent his early years caring for sheep (1 Samuel 16:10–11). Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, care and protection. Sheep doesn’t doubt the competence and ability of the shepherd. It subjects itself to the command and authority of the shepherd. It is not disturbed or perturbed by threat of the enemies around.

In Gen 17:1, God introduced Himself as Almighty God, meaning All-powerful; having supreme unquestionable power over everything. This introduction was necessary because Abraham needed to understand the God that called him. From that moment, his walk with God changed. Beloved, if you must avoid worries, then you should have God as your shepherd. You must know Him as the Almighty God with whom ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

In John 10, Jesus said that He is the Good Shepherd. If we have proper understanding of the work of a shepherd, we will not stress ourselves with cares for worldly things because He knows all we need and will provide them at the appropriate time. At the start of the New Year like this, it is proper to have God speak to us just as He spoke to Abraham. That will help us to live our lives less of worries because we will come to understand that He is the Almighty, with whom all things are possible. Trust Him as you go out today to take care of all those cares and worries.

Food for Thought: Worry is an insult on God that He can’t fulfil His promises.

Memory verse: Psalm 23 verse 1 - ​ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (English Standard Version).

Prayer: Lord God, help me to understand that you are the Almighty with whom all things are possible in Jesus name. Amen.

Antidote to Worry 1

My Daily Covenant (2017 Edition) Devotion for Thursday January 5, 2017                  

Topic: Antidote to Worry 1

Text: Matthew 6:31 – 34     

As I was meditating on this topic, I got a question that I haven’t received an answer till now. Why is it that mad people don’t fall sick as normal people and they don’t receive treatment as we do in hospital yet some of them live longer than normal human being except they die by accident? One thing I have come to understand which may not necessarily be the answer is that mad people don’t live lives of worries. They take things one day at a time. They don’t care about what they eat or where they sleep.  

Have you ever thought of a life without worry? Have you ever thought of seeing the promises of God fulfilled as we have them in the bible? Don’t think it is impossible because there is nothing too hard for God to do. Why then do we keep on worrying ourselves?

In our text, Jesus gave us antidote to worry – GOD KNOWS THAT WE NEED THEM. Instead, we should seek the kingdom of God first and God will meet us at the points of our needs. Unfortunately, most of the things we characterized as needs are wants and not needs. Because of the ill effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply.

Worry can (1) damage your health, (2) disrupt your productivity or affect your productive organs, (3) negatively affect the way you treat others, (4) reduce your ability to trust in God (5) shorten our lives and (6) lead to other ailments like stroke, hypertension, etc. From the above, how many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here, is the difference between worry and genuine concern—worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Anxiety springs from the desire that things should happen as we wish rather than as God wills. Are you anxious about what the year holds for you? Remember our devotion for yesterday – Trust God All Through. He will not fail you neither will He disappoint you as you hold on to His promises. Have a great day.  

Action: Think of what to do so as to have your needs met and begin to act on them from today.

Memory verse: Matthew 6 verse 33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 

Prayer: Help me, O Lord to trust you to provide all I need on daily basis.

He Keeps Us On Our Way

My Daily Covenant with God (2017 Edition) January 1, 2017                    

Topic: He Keeps Us On Our Way   

Text: Exodus 23:20 – 31         

Happy New Year and welcome to 2017! In today’s text is a promise directly from God that He will send His angel to guide His people, Israel through the wilderness to the Promised Land with a condition of obedience attached to it (Exodus 23:21 and 22). How possible would it have been for Israelites to walk through to the Promised Land without God guiding them? That would have been a mission impossible. But God who called them and initiated the movement knew the task ahead and decided to lead them through. They needed courage to continue the journey. God made three promises in 23:20; to send his Angel, to guide His people in the wilderness and to bring them into the Promised Land. 

These are the three promises God has for you as you start this year that He will send His Angel to go before you throughout the year, to guide and guard you and to bring you promises of good health, peace, progress and all the heavenly blessings. God has made these promises; the fulfilment depends on your ability to keep to the conditions attached to them. Just like He told Joshua, so He is telling you today to “Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Let this assurance from Josh. 1:9 be your courage this year and beyond.

Food for Thought: "The Lord is my Shepherd," not was, not maybe, not will be. "The Lord is my Shepherd" – is on Sunday, is on Monday, and is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, and is in China; is in peace, and is in war; in abundance and in poverty – Taylor (PowerBible CD)

Memory verse: Exodus 23 verse 20 

Prayer: Pray for the year 2017 and ask for God’s grace, favour, peace and blessings in your life, family and career.

FOR YOU SAID

Devotion for Wednesday December 14, 2016

Topic: FOR YOU SAID                       

Text: Genesis 32:9 – 12         

The promises of God in the scriptures should inspire us to hold on to Him in prayer in order to claim those promises. They are aimed at challenging us to keep to the conditions of the promises while holding on to God for their fulfilment. Jacob remembered the promise God made to him in Genesis 28:13–15, which included his safety and return to the land of promise. As he was going back to his people, he remembered how he supplanted his brother Esau and was afraid. Faced with uncertainties of what might befall him as he goes to meet him, he then went to God to remind Him of the promise He made to him. With the promise, he encouraged himself in the Lord as David did (1 Samuel 30:6). He knew that despite his weaknesses, God is still able to perfect all that concerns him (Psalm 138:8).

You should know the promises God made to you because they are all there in the bible in your hand. In Luke 18:1ff, Jesus taught us the importance of persistence in prayer. When you discover what God said about that your problem, it will spur you into prayer. This is a way to develop faith.  God is not moved by our tears, complain or grumbling, rather by our faith in His word. Faith in the word of God should be your guiding principle as you approach the throne of grace (Hebrews 11:6). Go to God in prayer to and remind Him about His promises. He will not refuse you for it is His will to bless you always.

Food for Thought: Our faith moves God and not our tears or complaints.

Memory verse: Genesis 32 verse 12

Prayer: God, remember the promises (mention them) you made to me and fulfil them in Jesus name.

HIS PROMISES ARE SURE: Devotion for Friday October 21, 2016

HIS PROMISES ARE SURE: Devotion for Friday October 21, 2016

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:20 – 24     Memory verse: 2 Corinthians 1 verse 20

In the lives of some bible characters, we have seen that the things God promised them were fulfilled. He promised to save Noah during the deluge if he builds an ark He did it. His promise to bless Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, down to the Apostles all came to pass. For this reason, Apostle Paul in this letter to the Christians in Corinth admonishes them to remain faithful and focused as they await God’s promises which are sure.

We have some lessons in our bible reading for the day.  

1. That God has made many promises to His people. God made many promises but of great importance and value is the promise of eternal life. Can you mention five promises God has made to us as Christians?

2. That all the promises which God has made to His people, are made in Christ, and ratified by Him. In all the promises of God to His people, Christ acts the part and office of a surety; He undertakes and engages for God, that all which He has promised shall be made good to us.

3. That the promises made by God, and ratified and confirmed in Christ, do all tend to the glory of God. This is what present Christians should understand. God didn’t promise anything that will not glorify Him.

Paul gave the reason for his desired trip to Corinth; to bring joy (1:24). He didn’t want to visit them only to rebuke them severely (1:23). Just as the Corinthians could trust God to keep His promises, they could trust Paul as God’s ambassador to keep his. He would still visit them, but at a better time. All of God’s promises of what the Messiah would be like are fulfilled in Christ.

Jesus was completely faithful in His ministry; He never sinned (1 Pet. 3:18); He faithfully died for us (Heb 2:9); and now He faithfully intercedes for us (Rom 8:34; Heb 4:14-15). Because Jesus Christ is faithful, Paul worked to be faithful in his ministry and so we are expected to be faithful too. How faithful are you in your call as a Christian?

Food for Thought: Do you know your worth in the eyes of God as a Christian?  

Prayer: Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, make me faithful as I live my life with your promises in view in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

TITHING (INSURANCE AND ASSURANCE): Devotion Saturday August 5, 2014

TITHING (INSURANCE AND ASSURANCE): Devotion Saturday August 5, 2014

Text: Malachi 3:11 - And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of hosts                  

Memory verse: Malachi 3:11

Tithing is a way of insuring our lives and barring the devourer from coming near us. One of the greatest evil that can befall a farmer is if, after planting, the Lord’s army (Joel 2:25) come visiting and devour everything in the farm. This shows that God can withdraw His protection and we will be prone to attack of the enemies. The devourer as used here means “All kind of devourers; the locusts, the canker-worm, and the caterpillar, which though they are in incredible multitudes, yet a rebuke from God will check them all at once, as if they were but one” according to John Wesley Notes.

The devourers mentioned above are connected to farming. Other devourers may be armed robbers, kidnappers, sickness, failure, termination of appointment, failure in business, revocation of contract, etc. These are devourers that God promises to rebuke on our behalf when we are obediently paying our tithe. It means that when we are faithful in paying our tithe, God will prove His faithfulness in keeping the enemies at bay.

Another thing worthy of note in this Malachi 3:11 is assurance of continuous productivity of our farm produce. Outside insurance, God also assures us of regular and constant productivity. This is what tithing does for us. In the case of farmers, I have seen cases where people’s products in the farm were destroyed by rodents, fire and other animals that what they thought would have yielded for them will be eaten by animals. As mark of your obedience and faithfulness, God will bless the land where you cultivate, your business and all you lay your hand will prosper. If you desire to have the insurance and assurance of God, then pay your tithe faithfully and leave the rest for God.

Food for Thought: When we are faithful and obedient to God through our tithes, He keeps the devourers at bay.

Prayer: Almighty God and our Father, as I obediently pay my tithe faithfully, remember your covenant, in respect of paying tithe. Insure me and assure me of your providence and protection.

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE: Devotion for Saturday June 25, 2016 ]

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE: Devotion for Saturday June 25, 2016 ]

  

Text: Joshua 1:10 – 15                           

Memory verse: v 11 - "Pass through the camp and command the people, saying, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess”

In Rom. 4:20, the bible recorded that Abraham did not waver or stagger at he promises of God. This means that he had no doubt about what God told him despite his physical condition and that of his wife (Rom. 4:19). In our bible reading today, Joshua says to the people immediately God had spoken to him, “Prepare provisions for yourselves, for within three days you will cross over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess” (1:11b).

We honour the truth of God, when we stagger not or waver at the promise of God as Abraham did. The two tribes and a half were to go over Jordan with their brethren. When God, by His providence, has given us rest, we ought to consider what service we may do to our brethren. Again, we God has blessed us, we should not neglect our brethren. We should be of help to them with what God has blessed us with.

“The certainty that God will bestow upon His people the blessings He has promised them, does not in the least lessen the necessity of their using all appointed means to obtain them” so says Family Bible Notes. God promised to take them into the Promised Land. They don’t have to procrastinate or sit in a place for the promise to be fulfilled. They have a part to play. Likewise, God has made several promises to us. We shouldn’t procrastinate about them by waiting for ‘manna to fall from heaven’ upon our laps which rarely happens. Rather we should swing into action by playing our part in that promise made by God. For example the promise to bless us depends on the effort we make. God blessed Isaac and made him prosperous when he sowed in Gerar. God promised to feed the birds of the air but He does not throw their food into their nest.

Food for Thought: What will you do to ensure that God’s promises made to you will be fulfilled?

Prayer: God, remove from every form of procrastination in me especially in heavenly matters in Jesus name.

YOU WILL RETURN: Devotion for Wednesday June 22, 2016

YOU WILL RETURN: Devotion for Wednesday June 22, 2016

Text: Isaiah 10:20 – 23        Memory verse: v 21

God keeps to His words. He fulfilled all His promises except when we fail to keep our own part of the covenant. When He told the Israelis, at the bank of Red Sea that the Egyptians they are seeing they will see no more. It was as if it is something very impossible to happen. But God was true to His word. 

Here is the assurance that the remnant will return to their Promised Land. Those who remained faithful to God despite the horrors of the invasion are called the remnant. Once Assyria’s army was destroyed, a small group of God’s people would stop relying on Assyria and start trusting God (10:20). This remnant would be but a fraction of Israel’s former population (Ezra 2:64-65). Have your life been battered by evil, sickness, sin, etc? God is promising you that you will return to the position of good health, prosperity, progress, knowledge of God, etc.   

In spiritual terms, the key to being a part of the remnant was faith in Christ Jesus. These remnants are those that will be raptured to be with the Lord. Being a descendant of Abraham, living in the Promised Land, having trusted God at one time, none of these were good enough. Are you relying on your Christian heritage, the rituals of worship, or past experience to qualify you for belonging to God’s family? The key to being a true Christian is faith in God.

Food for Thought: Will you be among those that will return to God when the rapture takes place?

Prayer: Lord God, keep me rapturable till the day of rapture or my death