An Incomplete Testimony: Devotion for Saturday June 6, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday June 6, 2020

Topic: An Incomplete Testimony                                 

Text: 2 Kings 5:1                                   

Here is a great testimony of Naaman, the commander of the army of Syria. He was described as a mighty man of valour, a great man in battle, used by God to wrought victories for Syria but he was a leper. What a testimony of a great man!

However, the ‘but’ has a great question mark on his life. This shows that despite all his exploits in life, the leprosy has restricted him in so many ways because no honours or successes can secure men from trouble.

Matthew Henry puts it this way, “No man's greatness, or honour, can place him out of the reach of the sorest calamities of human life: there is many a sickly, crazy body under rich and gay clothing.” This shows that any man living has some troubles of life to contend with. Naaman took the advice of the young captive girl from Israel and he was healed as we shall read in the days ahead.

In life, many of us have one “but” or another tormenting us which invariably has dented our testimonies. It may be pride, unfaithfulness, lies, anger, malice, little sins, gossip, immorality, stealing, etc. Whatever may be the “but,” it is important you realise that it has dented your testimony and do something about it now. You can’t say you are a Christian but you are still living a life of lies, deceit, anger, etc. That is not a good testimony. It is better to do something now or it will deny you a place in the Kingdom of heaven.

Food for Thought: Every man has one negative ‘but’ or another which blemishes and diminishes him.                         

Memory verse: 2 Kings 5: 1b

Prayer: My God and my Father, remove every negative ‘but’ in my life the way you healed Naaman of his leprosy in Jesus name.

A PROPHET IN ISRAEL: Devotion for Tuesday May 31, 2016

A PROPHET IN ISRAEL: Devotion for Tuesday May 31, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 5:7 – 8     Memory verse: v 8

When Jehoram, the king of Israel got the letter sent by the king of Syria through Naaman, he tore his cloth, a way of expressing grief and despair. The writer of the letter Naaman brought does not mean it should be taken literally. It may be that, since the letter was addressed to the king of Israel, Jehoram saw this as a potentially embarrassing situation for him politically. He well knew he could not heal Naaman and this might be seen as a political snub, leading to new hostilities. Unfortunately, it didn’t occur to Jehoram that there are still prophets of God in the land of Israel because of the level of idol worship in the days of Ahab. This made Elisha to chide him.

The language of Elisha here is not out of arrogance or pride but to chide kings of Syria and Israel. Most times we undermine what we have. Some people are running from church to church, fellowship to fellowship in search of miracles undermining what they have in their church. They go about to wrong places like the king of Syria and Naaman who went to the wrong place for miracle. If God could touch my life and I repented in the church where I am now, what else can’t that God give to me if I ask Him? Jehoram didn’t know that there was a prophet in Israel. Do you know that there is a prophet in your church? God can use him to meet your need.

Food for Thought: Most people don’t know the value of what God has blessed them with until others start requesting for and making use of it.

Prayer: Help me to value what I have, O Lord, before it eludes me.

A BAD TESTIMONY: Devotion for Saturday May 28, 2016

A BAD TESTIMONY: Devotion for Saturday May 28, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 5:1         Memory verse: v 1b

Here is a great testimony of Naaman, the commander of the army of Syria. He was described as a mighty man of valour, a great man in battle, used by God to wrought victories for Syria but he was a leper. What a testimony of a great man! However, the ‘but’ has a great question mark on his life. This shows that despite all his exploits in life, the leprosy has restricted him in so many ways because no honour or success can secure men from trouble. Matthew Henry puts it this way, “No man's greatness, or honour, can place him out of the reach of the sorest calamities of human life: there is many a sickly, crazy body under rich and gay clothing.” This shows that any man living has some troubles of life to contend with. Naaman took the advice of the young captive girl from Israel and he was healed.

In life, we all have one ‘but’ or another tormenting us which invariably has dented our testimonies. It may be pride, unfaithfulness, lies, anger, malice, little sins, gossip, immorality, stealing, etc. Whatever may be your own ‘but’, it is important you realise that it has dented your testimony and do something about it now. You can say that you are a Christian but you are still living a life of lies, deceit, anger, etc. That is not a good testimony. It is better to do something now or it will deny you a place in the kingdom of heaven.

Food for Thought: Every man has one negative ‘but’ or another which blemishes and diminishes him.

Prayer: My God and my Father, remove every negative ‘but’ in my life the way you healed Naaman of his leprosy in Jesus name.              

      

OMNIPRESENT GOD

OMNIPRESENT GOD        Tuesday June 30, 2014 

Text: Ezekiel 35:10 – 15       Memory verse: v 10

Idumeans (Edomites) were planning how to overrun Judah and Israel but the Lord God Almighty was there. This verse 10 is an encouragement never to worry about the plans of the enemies against us because for every plan the enemies make, the Lord is always there. He will either thwart the plan or wait for the appropriate time to act. This reminds us about Elisha and the king of Syria, whose war plans and strategies God reveals to Elisha (2 Kings 6:8 – 17). 

We have here the record of the sins of the Edomites and their bad conduct towards the people of God. They thought of conquering and possessing Judah and Israel; and they would have succeeded, but only the Lord was there; and this spoiled their plans, and blasted their hopes. Every plan your enemies are making will attract God who will spoil their plans and blast their hopes in Jesus name. Let us note that, no plan your enemies have made or will make that God is not aware of.

Are you apprehensive of what the enemies have planned? Are you now panicking that they are about to consume you? You shouldn’t worry yourself because your Father was there when they were planning. You don’t even know what He has said about the matter; maybe what He said is in Isaiah 41:11 – 16 and 54:15. When we hear anything the enemies have planned, we should ask God because He was there when they planned and will never keep quite to allow their plans prevail.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 54:15

Prayer: God, when enemies gather against me, frustrate them in Jesus name.