The Cost of being a Disciple: Devotion for Saturday April 4, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday April 4, 2020

Topic: The Cost of being a Disciple                           

Text: Luke 14:25 – 35

Following Christ means total submission to Him above all other things of great value or intimacy to us. It has its consequences and costs. One of the costs of being a disciple is not allowing your intimacy on your immediate family to be far above your intimacy with God.

What Luke 14:26 says is not a contradiction to the fifth commandment rather Jesus Christ meant that we are to love them less than we love Him; we are to obey Him more rather than them especially in the things spiritual. Again, we should be willing to forsake them if He calls us to go and preach His gospel; and we are to submit, without a murmur, to Him when He takes them away from us.

Jesus Christ emphasized on the need for feasibility study even in Christianity. He explained this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. We should count the cost of being a disciple which include mortifying of sin in our body and even the most beloved things we lust after.

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Jesus summed up His teaching here by telling the disciples what they ought to be in the society. He likened them to salt which is very expedient seasoning in any food. This means that we should also act as seasoning to our generation. Are you a seasoning?

Food for Thought: Have you really forsaken all for Christ?  

Memory verse: Luke 14:26

Prayer: My Father in heaven, help me to remove whatever will endanger my relationship with you so I will be a faithful disciple in Jesus.

Add Flavour to People’s Life: Devotion for Tuesday February 11, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 11, 2020

Topic: Add Flavour to People’s Life           

Text: Matthew 5:13

Seasoning is a flavour added to make food tasty. Some seasonings common to us are salt, pepper, spices, herbs, maggi, knorr, onga and others. A woman who forgot seasoning agent while shopping will cook a food that people can’t eat. People will out rightly reject the food despite the enormous amount of money and time spent in preparing the food. This shows the importance of seasoning to foods and people who prepare foods. Jesus used the importance of salt in preparing good and tasty foods to teach us the importance of Christians in any society. Salt has multi functions. It adds flavour to food and is used as preservatives. By salt of the earth, Jesus posited that we are means of earth’s preservation; by our holy doctrine, prayers, and exemplary life style.

There are two reasons Jesus compared us to salt. It is the nature of salt to preserve things from corruption and putrefaction, and to render them savoury and pleasant. Thus we should endeavour through our purity of our doctrine to sweeten and purify sinners that they may become savoury to God and Man; and may be kept from being flyblown (contaminated) with errors and false doctrine. Again according to William Burkett, “Salt has a piercing power in it, which subdues the whole lump, and turns it into its own nature: such a piercing power is there in the ministry of the word, that it subdues the whole man to the obedience of itself.” Are you a seasoning agent like salt in your office, workplace, church, neighbourhood and other places you go to? How much do people miss your absence in meetings, offices, business arena and your neighbourhood?

Food for Thought: Are you salt in your family and the society?

Memory verse: Mark 9:50

Prayer: Lord, make me a seasoning agent in my family and the society.

Add Flavour To Lives

Devotion for Friday April 6, 2018

Topic: Add Flavour To Lives

Text: Matthew 5:13 

Salt is a very common flavour that makes food tasty. This shows the importance of salt in seasoning foods. Jesus used the importance of salt in foods to teach us the importance of Christians in any society. Salt has multi functions. It adds flavour to food and is used as preservatives. By salt of the earth, Jesus posited that Christians are means of earth’s preservation through our prayers and exemplary Christian lifestyle.

Jesus compared Christians to salt because it is the nature of salt to preserve things from corruption and putrefaction, and to render them savoury and pleasant. In this respect, Christianity by the purity of its doctrine, should sweeten and purify sinners that they may become savoury to God and Man; and may be kept from being contaminated with errors and false doctrine. Again according to William Burkett, “Salt has a piercing power in it, which subdues the whole lump, and turns it into its own nature: such a piercing power is there in the ministry of the word, that it subdues the whole man to the obedience of itself.” In acting like salt, we are expected to add flavour to the lives of people around us.

Outside application of holy doctrine to preserve lives, we should let the world know the true essence of life and living. Some Christians live in such a way that unbelievers will never be motivated to go to church. We should let the world see peace, joy, happiness in our lives no matter the level of worldly afflictions and pains we may be going through. When we radiate life, it will make unbelievers to understand the true meaning of Christianity. Sing the hymn SS&S 798; Abu 239

Food for Thought: Are you adding flavour to the lives in your family and the society?

Memory verse: v 13

Prayer: Lord, may my life add flavour to people I meet daily in Jesus name

THE CHOSEN OF GOD: Devotion for Saturday July 16, 2016

THE CHOSEN OF GOD: Devotion for Saturday July 16, 2016

Text: Isaiah 49:7 – 12          

Memory verse: Isaiah 49:7 - Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen you."

Have you ever asked yourself, why am I a Christian? Is it because I was born into the church? Is it because God chose me to be a Christian? Being a Christian is not because we are good enough to be, but because God chose us out of His love and grace. Again, have you ever asked why God is so interested in Israel despite their stiff-neck disposition? The reason for the choice of Israel is to become an instrument through which the world will come to know God (49:8, 9). That is also why you are a Christian. The catechism in Book of Common Prayer 2007:480 has it that “God required the chosen people (Israel) to be faithful, to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.” Our text speaks of what Christ will do for us and what we should do in appreciation of God’s faithfulness.

Beloved, God chose you as a Christian for some purposes. He chose you to become salt (Matt 5:13), to become light (Matt 5:14) and to show forth His praise and glory. From the words of Book of Common Prayer, we are expected to “Be faithful, to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.” Have you been doing these? How faithful are you? In John 15:16, Jesus stated why He chose and appointed us as Christians. It is just simple; we “Should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give you” Jn. 15:16b. How are you doing these?

Action: As you go out today, do the work that will bear fruit for God either through preaching, charity or showing mercy on people you meet.

Prayer: My God and my Father in heaven, help me to live up to the reason for your call upon my life. Grant that I will not disappoint the confidence you have reposed on me as Christian in Jesus name.

LEAVING ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS: Devotion for Saturday April 2, 2016

LEAVING ALL TO FOLLOW JESUS: Devotion for Saturday April 2, 2016

Text: Luke 14:25 – 35                     Memory verse: 26

Following Christ means total submission to Him above all other things of great value or intimacy to us and it has its consequences and costs. One of the costs of being a disciple is not placing your intimacy to your immediate family above that one you have for God. Lk. 14:26 is not a contradiction to the fifth commandment rather Jesus meant that we are to love them less than we love Him; we are to obey Christ rather than them; we should be willing to forsake them if He calls us to go and preach His gospel; and we are to submit, without a murmur, to Him when He takes them away from us. Have you forsaken all to follow Christ or you still have them as attachments to your body as you run this heavenly race?

Jesus emphasized on the need for feasibility study even in Christian race. He explained this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. We should count the cost of being a disciple; including the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved lusts. We as Christians should understand what Christianity is all about to enable us practice it to the letter. Jesus summed up His teaching here by telling the disciples what they ought to be in the society. He likened them to salt which is very expedient seasoning in any food. This means that we should also act as seasoning to our generation. Are you a seasoning?

Food for Thought: Have you really forsaken all for Christ?   

Prayer: My father in heaven, help me to remove whatever will endanger my relationship with you so I will be a faithful disciple in Jesus.        

A Seasoning Agent: Devotion for Thursday February 11, 2016

A SEASONING AGENT       Thursday February 11, 2016

Text: Matthew 5:13           Memory verse: v 13

Seasoning is a flavour added to make food tasty. Some seasonings common to us are salt, pepper, spices, herbs, maggi, knorr, onga, etc. A woman who goes to market and bought everything and forgot seasoning agent will cook a food that people can’t eat. The food will be rejected out-rightly despite the enormous amount of money and time spent in preparing it. This shows the importance of seasoning in foods and people who prepare it. Jesus used the importance of salt in preparing good and tasty foods to teach us the importance of Christians in any society. Salt has multi functions. It adds flavour to food and it is used as preservatives. By salt of the earth, Jesus posited that we are means of earth’s preservation; by our holy doctrine, prayers, and exemplary life style.

Jesus compared us to salt for two reasons. It is the nature of salt to preserve things from corruption and putrefaction (decaying with disgusting smell), and to render them savoury and pleasant. It is our duty to endeavour by the purity of our doctrine, to sweeten and purify sinners that they may become savoury to God and Man; and may be kept from being flyblown (contaminated) with errors and false doctrine. Again according to William Burkett, “Salt has a piercing power in it, which subdues the whole lump, and turns it into its own nature: such a piercing power is there in the ministry of the word, that it subdues the whole man to the obedience of itself.” Are you a seasoning agent like salt in your office, workplace, church, neighbourhood, etc? How much do people miss you when you are absent from meetings, your offices, business, etc?

Food for Thought: Are you salt in your family and the society?

Prayer: Lord, make me a seasoning agent in my family and the society.