Excuses Don’t Move God

Devotion for Thursday March 15, 2018

Topic: Excuses Don’t Move God

Text: Exodus 3:7 – 15                                 

Don’t you just hate it when people make excuses? Most of us do. Excuses mean that somebody is trying to avoid responsibility, some job or task that rightly belongs to that person but which he or she considers too inconvenient to do. On the surface the excuse may look right, but closer examination can reveal major flaws in the argument just as we have in the case of Moses in today’s bible reading.

Moses made excuses because he felt inadequate for the job that God asked him to do (Exodus 3:10ff). It was natural for him to feel that way, because he was inadequate all by himself. But God wasn’t asking Moses to work alone. He offered other resources to help (God himself, Aaron, and the ability to do miracles). God often calls us to perform tasks that seem too difficult, but He doesn’t ask us to do them alone. God offers us His resources, just as He did to Moses.

We should not hide behind our inadequacies, as Moses did, but look beyond ourselves to God’s great available resources. Then we can allow him to empower our unique contributions. What has God asked you to do? What excuses are you using to avoid this responsibility and work? Obey God by stepping out in faith. He will give you the resources to do His work.

Sing SS&S 601

Food for Thought: Do you hide behind your inadequacies to give excuses on why you shouldn’t do what God is asking you to do?

Memory verse: Exodus 3:11

Prayer: My God, make my inadequacies adequate for your services in Jesus name. Amen.

Good Influence of Godly Citizens

Devotion for Monday January 15, 2018

Topic: Good influence Of Godly Citizens

Text: Proverbs 11:11 (The Living Bible)

This passage of the scripture has a very important message for today’s Christians in our country. Many Christians of our time are not what they actually confess to be. I have continued to wonder whether we have the understanding of what our social responsibilities are. Our text speaks about the goodly influence expected of us as citizens of this country. The Living Bible translates this verse thus: “The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper but the moral decay of the wicked drives it downhill.” The good influence of godly citizen comes in form of praying for the city, living by example and speaking against evil. Before 1980s, when neighbour sees your child misbehave in the public, he will punish the child and immediately and comes back to report to you. You will even commend him for such kindness toward your family. However, it is no longer obtainable in our society. When you try such, the kind of abuse and condemnation you will receive will drive cold into your marrow. Today, our society has become worse because there is no influence of the godly citizens. There are so many ills ravaging the society and check the names of people involved, you will see Christians among them. Who are the people that cheat; throw their bins into gutters, hide people’s files in offices, give and take bribes and many other evils of our time? Where is your influence as a Christian? What kind of words comes out of your mouth about this country? Do you spread hates and bitterness instead of love, peace and unity? Sing A&M 349; Abu 170

Food for Thought: What influence has your Christianity on your neighbours and neighbourhood?

Memory verse: Proverbs 11:11

Prayer: God make my Christianity influential on my neighbourhood in Jesus name. Amen.

Our Social Responsibilities

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday March 5, 2017

Topic: Our Social Responsibilities

Text: Exodus 23:4 – 7a

Before writing this devotion, I read a post on Facebook where a young man berated Nigerian Pastors. My comment was that he shouldn’t have generalized what he said about Nigerian Pastors in terms of social responsibilities, whose emphasis is always on giving, seed sowing and prosperity messages, even neglecting the main message of Christianity which is on salvation.

I had to make an opinion poll thus: Is Religion the problem of this country, Yes or No. People who believe that religion is our problem were greater in number. The application of sentiments, bitterness, resentment, deceit in our religion is the major problem facing us not religion itself. If religion is a problem, why are people in Ghana and other countries living peaceful despite their practice of Islam and Christianity? In our present day, people no longer see a spade and call it a spade. Truth is far away from us.

We (Christians) have social responsibilities towards one another. We depend on one another to live well. The responsibilities include taking care of the animal that belongs to your enemies, never to abuse and oppress the poor and strangers, and never to take bribe. Unfortunately, these things are common among Christians. Who care to rebuke a neighbour’s child these days? Some civil servants deliberately hide people’s files and only bring them out when the person had parted with money. What God requires from us and our greatest obligation is love for one another. It entails being our brothers’ keeper. How much do you love people you meet on daily basis? Do you faithfully perform your responsibilities towards them? Think about this.

Food for Thought: Are you your brother’s keeper?

Memory verse: Exodus 23 verse 5

Prayer: God, help me to love my neighbours as myself in words and deed.

ENCOURAGE HIM: Devotion for Sunday November 15, 2015

ENCOURAGE HIM         Sunday November 15, 2015

Text: Deuteronomy 1:34 – 38       Memory verse: v 38

We should be mindful of words we utter especially when we are angry or quarreling with others. The Israelites spoke angrily against God and Moses which attracted severe punishment. This made God to decree that only Caleb and Joshua will enter into the Promised Land. Moses told them that God is also angry with him for not heeding to His instructions too. However, the journey must continue with Joshua leading. Thus he requested for encouragement for him from the people. 

The admonition to encourage Joshua to succeed is worth emulating by us. The time I was writing this devotion was when the issue of kidnapping of school girls was on. Many people seem to shift all the blame on the President as if he alone can solve that kind of problem. We should encourage our spiritual and political leaders to succeed. They need our constructive criticisms and prayers. Leadership is all about involvement and taking responsibilities. We don’t need title to lead according to Robin Sharma.

Food for Thought: In what ways can you encourage your political leaders and the preachers and teachers of the gospel?

Prayer: Lord, make me instrument of encouragement to my leaders