The Faithful Stewards: Devotion for Friday May 1, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Friday May 1, 2020

Topic: The Faithful Stewards                                  

Text: 1 Corinthians 4:1 – 6                         

Our bible reading for the day was the response to the evaluation of humans by the Corinthians. Although the term ‘servants’ (1 Corinthians 4:1) denotes subordination, “stewards” (1 Corinthians 4:2) emphasizes privilege and responsibility. The call to leadership is a call to a pure and trustworthy character (1 Corinthians 4:2). The Corinthians acted as if they were the judges at the last day, but they had judged much too early (1 Corinthians 4:5, “before the Lord returns”).

Their judgments of Christians were not for edification, but to put a final tag of good or bad, in or out, on the ones they judged. It was a non-ministry judgment that had its source in pride. This is very common even among us Christians of today. According to Family Bible Notes, “Fidelity to God and to the souls of men, in rightly dispensing the truths of the gospel, and in enforcing them by a uniformly holy and consistent example, is required of all ministers of Christ.” This is the emphasis of Paul in verse 1 Corinthians 4:2.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets as Michelangelo painted or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare, poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well” so says Dr. Martin Luther King Jnr.

As we celebrate Workers’ Day, it is appropriate to evaluate our calls as servants of whatever category we may be. How faithful are you in your job? Do you do it so well as Martin Luther Jnr. suggested? We should remember that our call is to be faithful first to God and then to our employer. May God, grant us that grace in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: The supreme quality required in a steward is fidelity to his trust.

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 4:2

Prayer: Lord God, help me never to betray the trust you have reposed on me. 

Qualities of a Good Servant: Devotion for Tuesday January 4, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday February 4, 2020
Topic: Qualities of a True Servant
Text: 1 Peter 2:18 – 25
Servants in the bible days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet Apostle Peter directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with fear so that they will not dishonor or offend God. And not only to those pleased with their reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. This may seem a hard teaching but that is what God requires of us. It is said that two wrongs cannot make a right. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other just to retaliate. For this reason, a servant is bound to his duty, though the master may be sinfully froward and perverse.
Christians are servants to God and in some other places, servants to men in the case of our offices, as apprentice or in business. We owe it a duty to serve God diligently there whether it is convenient for us or not. Our masters where we work may be froward – difficult to deal with and at times make life miserable for us. However, no matter how difficult they may be to us we owe it a duty to serve well because our service is not only to our earthly masters but to our God in heaven. Paul also gave similar advice in Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22; 1 Timothy 6:1; Titus 2:9. How effectively are you serving as a civil servant, public servants, apprentice, shop keeper, etc.? How faithful are you in that house as a maid, nanny or house help? God demands absolute obedience and nothing less.
Food for Thought: Loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment singles us out as true Christians.
Memory verse: 1 Peter 2:18
Prayer: Lord God, make me a faithful and obedient servant in the place where I work in Jesus name.

MYSTERIES ABOUT LIFE: Devotion for Sunday July 17, 2016

MYSTERIES ABOUT LIFE: Devotion for Sunday July 17, 2016

Text: Ecclesiastes 10:4 – 11          

Memory verse: Ecclesiastes 10:7 - I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants.

Solomon cautions that we shouldn’t to seek redress neither in a hasty manner nor to yield to pride and revenge. Do not, in a passion, quit your post of duty; wait awhile, and you will find that yielding pacifies great offences (10:4). He also posited that men are not preferred according to their merit (10:5–7). These verses show that life is full of mysteries. The error (10:5) consists in exalting the mean and unworthy into offices. Do we have such in our present day political, religious and traditional offices?

Family Bible Notes noted that “The elevation of unworthy men to offices of power and trust is a heavy calamity to the people. Whether it proceeds from their rulers, or, as in the case of free governments, from themselves, the result will be corruption, misrule, and misery.” This opinion of Family Bible Notes is the bane of most countries in Africa where majority of those holding political offices could be termed square pegs in round holes. For this reason, they stay in offices for a stipulated time without anything meaningful to show for their tenure.   

Naturally, riding on horses belongs to the princes and not servants. When it is the opposite, it becomes a mystery. We have seen these things happen. One easily recalls the case of Mordecai and Haman. Mordecai was a war captive and mere gateman while Haman was a very high profiled personal assistant or adviser to the king. In fact, he was the highest officer in the kingdom after the king. It was God who humbled Haman to guide Mordecai on the king’s horse round the city. Who would have believed that Haman would ever guide Mordecai on top of a horse? The lesson for us here is that no condition is permanent in life. Life is full of mysteries and challenges. Therefore, do not boast about your present position. We should note that wisdom is profitable in all things. The dangers and difficulties of life are many; but with wisdom we shall overcome.          

Foods for Thought: The elevation of unworthy men to offices of power and trust is a heavy calamity to the people.

Prayer: God, may I not boast or abuse the opportunity I have today.

A TRUE SERVANT: Devotion for Thursday February 4, 2016

A TRUE SERVANT     Thursday February 4, 2016

Text: 1 Peter 2:18 – 25     Memory verse: v 18

Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet Apostle Peter directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear not to dishonour or offend God. And not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. This may seem a hard teaching but that is what God requires of us. It is said that two wrongs cannot make a right. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other. For this reason, a servant is bound to his duty, though the master may be sinfully froward and perverse.

Virtually all of us Christians are servants to God and in some other places, servants to men. We owe it a duty to serve God diligently whether it is convenient for us or not. Again, we have masters where we work for or under. They may be froward – difficult to deal with and at times make life miserable for us. However, no matter how difficult they may be to us we owe it a duty to serve well because our service is not only to our earthly masters but to our God in heaven. Paul also gave similar advice in Eph 6:5; Col 3:22; 1 Tim 6:1 and Tit 2:9. How effectively are you serving as a civil servant, public servants, apprentice, shop keeper, etc? How faithful are you in that house as a maid, nanny or house help? God demands absolute obedience and nothing less.

Food for Thought: Loyalty and perseverance even in the face of unjust treatment singles us out as true Christians.

Prayer: Lord God, make me a faithful and obedient servant in the place I work in Jesus name.

SERVANTS OF SIN: Devotion for Friday January 29, 2016

SERVANTS OF SIN                  Friday January 29, 2016

Text: Romans 6:1 – 6                Memory verse: v 6

Paul expresses the necessity of holiness in life of Christians. He shows that justification and holiness are inseparable. He asked series of questions here (6:1–3) stressing that Christians should abhor the thought of continuing in sin. In view of the foregoing truths (Rom 5) and especially the fact that, where sin abounded, grace did much more abound, shall we continue to live in sin, that grace may the more abound? In 6:4, Paul exhorted that as Christians who have received the sacrament of baptism, we should walk in newness of life so as to be united with Christ in His resurrection (6:5). Baptism teaches the necessity of dying to sin, and being buried from all ungodly and unholy pursuits, and of rising to walk with God in newness of life.

Christians should know this fact that our old man (old nature of sin) has been crucified and what is crucified is dead. The reason for crucifying the old nature is to deliver us from being servants of sin. It is one thing to sin, and another thing to serve sin: To serve sin, is to yield willing obedience, to indulge ourselves in any presumptuous act or course of sin. It is prevalent of sin that destroys the sinner. Being in the flesh makes us to continue in sin and that displeases God. Are you still living in sin and serving it? The whole body of sin, whatever is not according to the holy law of God, must be done away with, so that we may no more be the slave of sin, but live to God, and find happiness in His service. 

Food for Thought: Continuing in sin makes our baptism unprofitable.

Prayer: Lord, help me to live a crucified life so I will no longer be a servant of sin.