Pull Down Walls: Devotion for Tuesday August 4, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday August 4, 2020

Topic: Pull Down Walls                                  

Text: Ephesians 2:14 – 22                              

Jesus Christ made peace between God and us by the sacrifice of Himself on the Cross of Calvary. In every sense, Christ is our Peace, the author, centre, and substance of our being at peace with God and of our union with the Jewish believers in one church.

In the process of dying for us, Christ has destroyed the barriers people build between themselves. Because these walls have been removed, we can have real unity with people who are not like us. This is true reconciliation.

Because of Christ’s death for our sins, we are all one (Ephesians 2:14); our hostility against each other has been put to death (Ephesians 2:16); we can all have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18); we are no longer strangers or foreigners to God (Ephesians 2:19); and we are all being built into a holy temple with Christ as our Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, 21). What a privilege and honour!

The middle wall of separation alludes to the wall in the Jewish temple that separated the court of the Gentiles from the holy place occupied by the Jews. A Gentile who was caught going beyond this wall was killed (see Acts 21:28, 29).

Today most of us Christians are still building walls that Christ pulled down through segregation, despising others, feeling superior because we have one gift or another, etc. Can you mention some other ways we still build walls? Instead of building bridges to link one another, we are building wall and barriers. We should be like Christ in reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:18) instead of sending them away with our quirk character and perceived spiritual birth.  

Food for Thought: In what ways are you building walls against fellow Christians and unbelievers?

Memory verse: Ephesians 2:14     

Prayer: Lord God, I repent of my actions which are barriers to people who want to repent and come to you.

Our Reconciliation is in Christ

My Daily Covenant with God Devotional

Devotion for Thursday January 10, 2019

Topic: Our Reconciliation Is In Christ

Text: Colossians 1:19 – 23

Two days ago, we read about the preeminence of Jesus Christ; born of God and existed before the creation of the world. In continuation of Paul’s position about the supremacy of Christ, he noted that Christ has all the fulness of the Godhead and as a Saviour, He has all that was needed to save to the uttermost all those who come to God through Him (Hebrews 7:25).

In Colossians 1:20, Paul’s statement showed that the work of reconciliation and salvation of man Jesus Christ did at the Cross of Calvary was predestined. This work of salvation Jesus Christ did for us restored us to God because we were alien to Him; hitherto, we were not in any relationship with God. However, the death of Jesus Christ brought us back to God. Thus that reconciliation Jesus did for us has opened greater doors for us in that we can now approach God directly without intermediary. We are now adopted sons and daughters of God and joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17).

For such honour that has been bestowed on us, we should live a life of gratitude to God for His mercies upon us. We should not abuse such a privilege by living carelessly. Paul advised us in Ephesians 4: 1–3 saying, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Let this advice be our watchword always.

Food for Thought: Colossians 3:12 – 13

Memory verse: Hebrews 10:12

Prayer: God, help me to live a life of gratitude for the salvation you have offered me in Jesus name. Amen

Christianity Breaks Barriers

Devotion for Tuesday August 15, 2017

Topic: Christianity Breaks Barriers

Text: John 4:4 – 15

The ancestors of the Samaritans were introduced into the land of Israel by the King of Assyria, after he had led the ten tribes into captivity (2 Kings 17:24 – 41). When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon and began to rebuild their temple, the Samaritans asked for permission to build with them, and when this was refused, an enmity arose between the two people which never died out (Ezra 4:1 – 5; Nehemiah 2:10; 4:1 – 3).

There was no familiarity nor friendship between Jews and Samaritans before Jesus came into the world. However, this may not affect business as the disciples of Jesus Christ had gone to buy food in the town. This woman of Samaria knew that Jesus was a Jew. The antipathy between the Jews and Samaritans was so bitter that they will never want to ask any hospitable rite. The woman’s reply is not a refusal of the Jesus’ request anyway, but an expression of astonishment that a Jew should ask a favour of a Samaritan. However, Jesus had come to set example for us that Christianity should break barriers, build bridges and not walls.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:24; Luke 6:27 and 35). Jesus did not want to follow the status quo maintained by His people. He was distinct and that is what He expects from us. A Christian shouldn’t join his/her family to maintain enmity with another family. Do you use your Christianity to break barriers and mend fences? Do you seek for avenues to reconcile people in enmity? This is what Christianity is all about; making peace and reconciling people, and people with God (2 Corinthians 5:17 – 19 and Matthew 5:9).

Food for Thought: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Memory verse: John 4:9

Prayer: Lord God, make me an instrument of peace in my generation in Jesus name.

CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD

DEVOTION FOR WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 28, 2016

Topic: CONQUER EVIL WITH GOOD     

Text: Romans 12:19 – 21                     

Rom. 12:6–21 states how we can live well as Christians. When someone hurts you deeply, instead of retaliating, Paul says you should befriend him. Reasons why we should forgive someone who hurts us are (1) forgiveness can break a cycle of reprisal and lead to mutual reconciliation. (2) It can make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. (3) By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. You should understand that even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness. Family Bible Notes says, “Kindness towards enemies is a most likely means of making them friends; and if it does not have this effect, but they continue obstinately and wickedly to be enemies to their benefactors, they will ripen for aggravated ruin.”

We shouldn’t allow evil to rule over us (Gen. 4:6). According to Life Application Notes, “Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. If appropriate, tell this person that you would like to heal your relationship. Lend a helping hand. Send him or her, a gift. Smile at him or her. Many times you will discover that right actions lead to right feelings.” These words are hard to perform for an enemy but that is what will mark you out as a Christian. Anything short puts question mark on your Christianity.

Action: Write down five ways you can conquer evil

Memory verse: Romans 12 verse 21

Prayer: God, I need the grace to develop self-control and conquer evil with good.