Job Did Not Disappoint God: Devotion for Tuesday, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Tuesday March 24, 2020

Topic: Job Did Not Disappoint God         

Text: Job 1:20 – 22    

Most times, we are fond of asking God why He allowed problems and troubles of life to come our way just like we have COVID-19 now. Many of us believe that no evil, sickness or problems of life should come our way. We all know that Christ’s suffering was His path to glory and severally in the scriptures, He intimated us that if He suffered, we shouldn’t expect anything less.

In our text, Job did not hide his overwhelming grief but he didn’t lose his faith in God; instead, his emotions showed that he was human and that he loved his family. Upon all these calamities, He did not charge God with acting unkindly towards him by asking God, Why me? Rather, he accepted all with faith. If Job had used hasty words against God (see Proverbs 8:36), he would have sinned and incurred the wrath of God and Satan would have seen reason to say that he was right. 

God created our emotions, and it is not sinful or inappropriate to express them as Job did. If you have experienced a deep loss, a disappointment, or heartbreak, admit your feelings to yourself and others, and grieve. Thereafter, pick yourself up and begin life again. God boasted about Job and despite the quick succession of calamities that came his way, he did not disappoint God.

Beloved, how do you handle the problems of life that confronts you? Do you accept everything because you wanted solution to your problem? Do you lose your faith simply because you are in another environment? Do you speak harshly and thereafter, you begin to regret? We should show maturity of faith when passing through trials of life. That is evidence of true Christianity.  

Food for Thought: We know true Christians during trials and temptation.

Memory verse: Job 1:22 

Prayer: Help me never to disappoint you O Lord when I am faced with temptation.

Price of Godliness (Suffering)

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Devotion for Sunday April 2, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Suffering)

Text: 1 Peter 2:18 – 25

As Christians, we may suffer for many reasons. Some suffering is the direct result of our own sins; some happens because of our foolishness; and some are the result of living in a fallen world. Another reason for suffering may be as a result of our willingness to live godly lives. Peter wrote here about suffering that comes as a result of doing good.

Jesus Christ never sinned, and yet He suffered so that we could be set free. He suffered because He allowed the will of God to take precedence. Peter had learned about suffering from Jesus. He knew that Jesus’ suffering was part of God’s plan intended to save us (Matthew 16:21–23; Luke 24:25–27, 44–47). He also knew that all who follow Jesus must be prepared to suffer (Mark 8:34–35). He learnt these truths from Jesus and passed them on to us.

In 1992, Christian Education Movement organised a crusade in Issele Uku for towns Aniocha North. As we were going from the crusade ground inside a lorry, a teenager threw a big stone into the lorry. As the stone was coming to land on a 6 months old baby, a brother saw it, blocked it, and redirected it, and it landed on my face. I had a cut above my eye and on my nose. We went back to Ajulu Clinic where the cut was stitched. This is one way we suffer to preach the gospel.

Missionaries trekked long distances, suffered attacks and rejections before the gospel came to us. Following Christ’s example to live for others may lead to suffering. We shouldn’t avoid it rather we should with patience, calmness, and confidence pass through it knowing that God is in control of our future.

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 4:14 – 16

Memory verse: 1 Peter 2 verse 19

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the grace to endure suffering as I live for you.

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Thursday March 30, 2017

Topic: Price of Godliness (Imprisonment 1)

Text: Genesis 39:19 – 23

Joseph had a dream that his parents and brothers will come to worship him but for the dream to be fulfilled, he went through several processes; sale into captivity, living as a slave and then in prison. It was not his dream that took him to prison but his desire to please his God and live godly. Portiphar’s wife couldn’t stop lusting after Joseph. When he refused and ran away from her leaving his clothes, she framed him up and that landed him in prison.

If Joseph had succumbed to her pressure and slept with her, he wouldn’t have ended in prison but he would have gone out of favour with God. Just like Moses, Joseph chose to suffer momentarily affliction instead of partaking in the pleasures of sin that would have destroyed him completely.

Are you suffering now because you refused to give in to crimes and they are threatening you with imprisonment? Do not despair. God is on His throne laughing at them and He will soon set them into confusion. Are you already in prison because of a crime you didn’t commit? Let the story of Joseph encourage you. As a prisoner and slave, he could have seen his situation as hopeless but he did his best with each small task given him. His diligence and positive attitude didn’t go unnoticed by the warden, who promoted him to prison administrator. Are you facing an apparently hopeless situation? Remember how God turned Joseph’s situation around and do your best always. God will see your efforts and can reverse even overwhelming odds that stand against you.

Food for Thought: 1 Peter 2:19 – 21

Memory verse: Genesis 39 verse 20

Prayer: God, grant me the grace I need to follow the example you have set for us even if it leads to imprisonment in Jesus name.

No Excuse II

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Monday March 13, 2017

Topic: No Excuse II

Text: Revelation 2:8 – 11

Pain is part of life, be you a Christian or unbeliever. It is never easy to suffer, no matter the cause. Persecution is of Satan, not of God. He causes believers to be denied of their rights, thrown out of their homes, offices, and schools, thrown into prison and even are killed. Believers under persecution need not fear death, because they will be rewarded with the crown of life. Again, Satan may terminate our earthly lives, but not our spiritual lives.

In our scriptural reading for the day, God commended the church at Smyrna for the tribulation they endured, the poverty they have suffered and the blasphemy from some of the Jews there. God called them “Synagogue of Satan” because they were serving Satan’s purposes, not God’s, when they gathered to worship. He concluded by charging them not to fear what they will suffer even unto death but they should remain faithful to the end in order to be rewarded with crown of life. This is the only church out of the seven that was not rebuked by God. What they suffered during the writing of this letter and thereafter were enough for them to have given up their faith. They had enough reasons to do so but they didn’t do that. They were steadfast.

What is your reason to compromise and backslide from faith? If it is persecution, can you compare it with what the members of the church in Smyrna suffered? If you have been blasphemed, what of these people in Smyrna? Beware because you do not have any excuse (Romans 2:1) for compromising your faith.

Food for Thought: Revelation 3:9

Memory verse: Revelation 2 verse 9 - I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

Prayer: God, as I come across blasphemers and persecutors grant me the grace never to compromise my faith in Jesus name.

BE STEADFAST: Devotion for Wednesday October 28, 2015

BE STEADFAST      Wednesday October 28, 2015        

Text: 1 Peter 5:9        Memory verse: v 9

Yesterday we read Peter’s caution on being sober and vigilant. Being steadfast in faith means that we should be encouraged to endure our trials because our fellow Christians suffer the same things. We should not desire and reasonably expect a better condition in the world, with respect to freedom from sufferings. Jesus our Lord suffered and said that a servant is not greater than his master (John 13:16). What all other Bible characters suffered is well known to us. We too have our own share of suffering without which, we cannot share His glory with Him (Romans 8:17).

We can get consolations about suffering for the sake of the gospel in the following ways (1) when we see suffering only as the common lot of Christians and there was no evidence that God abandon them during suffering. (2) The fact that others were enabled to bear their trials should be a proof to us that we would also be able to bear sufferings too. If others were sustained, and were brought off triumphantly, it will be an assurance for us. (3) The assurance of Jesus being with us (Matthew 28:20) is enough confidence that we are not alone in suffering (see also Daniel 3:24, 25). The grace is there to support us. Remember Isaiah 59:1, 2. However, we should not invent suffering.

Food for Thought: James 4:7.

Prayer: Almighty God, grant me the grace to always resist the devil.