Our God Keeps To His Words: Devotion for Monday August 12, 2019

Devotion for Monday August 12, 2019

Topic: Our God Keeps To His Words

Text: Joshua 21:45

The words of Solomon in 1 Kings 8:56 confirm our topic for the today. God has never spoken and failed to do what He said. Joshua subscribed to the fact that all God said concerning possessing the Promised Land by Israel came to pass.

The inviolable truth of God’s promise and its fulfillment is what Christians should look up to even when it delays in coming to pass. If in anything, it has seemed to come short, we should be ready to take all the blame to ourselves. God does not speak always but when He utters a word, He abides by it.

What are His promises you have laid hold on, prayed about them and they have not come to pass? What are you currently passing through that has almost consumed you and you have started to doubt the promises of God and their fulfillment in your life?

Joshua testified that all God promised him and Israel came to pass. Solomon did same. All the promises He made to Paul also came to pass. I am assuring you, the user of this devotional today that God’s promises about your life and future will be fulfilled.

Congratulations in advance!

All will come to pass in your life in Jesus name. Just keep trusting and waiting for at the right time, it will be fulfilled.        

Food for Thought: “He who is the slowest in making a promise is the most faithful in the performance of it” – Jean Jacques Rousseau

Memory verse: Joshua 21:45

Prayer: God, bring all your promises for me and my family to fulfillment in Jesus name. Amen.

Topic: Deviants From The Truth

Devotion for Sunday May 20, 2018

Topic: Deviants From The Truth

Text: Romans 1: 19 – 32   

In the context of our devotion, deviants are people who deviate from the truth. Yesterday, we read the warning of Jesus Christ concerning false prophets. An Egyptian Professor some time ago posited that Jews lied about their history. That there was never a time they lived in Egypt. These are attempts by people to change the truth. Paul asserts that no one has excuse for not believing God. This is his argument here because God has revealed what He is like in and through His creation (Romans 1:19ff). Unfortunately, many have deviated from the truth about God and creation while some others have refused to accept Him, choosing to worship the creature instead of the Creator (Romans 1:22 – 25). For this reason God has given up on them (Romans 1:26) and will not spare them at judgment. Deviants from the truth are rampant in our days. They have given up the worship of God to worshipping of Pastors, General Overseers, Bishops, Archbishops, Priests, etc. They do this by accepting what these people say as standard instead of what the Bible say. Recently, I read how a pastor asked the female members not to put on underwear as they come to church so that it will be easier for the Holy Spirit to enter into them. Abomination you will say! I don’t blame them as much as those who give ear to them. Can you mention some other acts of deviants from the truth? Do you belong to these deviants – the gay people, modern idol worshippers in the church and compromisers or are you one of their supporters (Romans 1:32)? Repent now before it will be too late. God, forgive our foolish ways as we sing from A&M 184

Food for Thought: God cannot trade His glory with any creature

Memory verse: Romans 1:25

Prayer: God, help me not to deviate from the faith I received from you.

The Unchangeable God

Devotion for Sunday July 30, 2017

Topic: The Unchangeable God

Text: Malachi 3:1 – 6

What led God to say He us unchanging (Malachi 3:6)? It was the impending judgement which He had vowed to bring upon the Israel (Malachi 3:5). Malachi proved that God is just. He discussed the fact that the people of Israel were unjust in the way they robbed God of what rightly belong to Him. That was the reason for these social abuses in Malachi 3:5.

The people who committed them had no fear of the Lord. They thought that God was like themselves, that He would close His eyes to their sins and wouldn’t judge them for breaking His laws (see Psalm 50:21). God was not happy the way His people, Israel had cynically twisted His truth. He would punish those who insisted that because God was silent, He approved of their actions or at least would never punish them. God would also punish those who professed a counterfeit faith while acting sinfully (Malachi 3:5). When God says a thing, He performs it to the letter. He told His people that He will not change His decision to punish them for their crimes.

There are some ways we undermine the basic truth about our Christian faith and commit all manner of sins. Some of us feel that God understands and would forgive if they repent after committing those sins. It doesn’t work like that. The grace of God may not be sufficient for you. On the other hand, because our God is unchangeable, He can still meet you at the point of your need no matter how long it has persisted. Trust Him to do it for you as you wholehearted trust and believe Him.

Food for thought: Lamentation 3:22

Memory Verse: Malachi 3:6

Prayer: May I not undermine you, O Lord my God because what you have determined to do, no one can stop you.

STAND IN THE GAP: Devotion for Monday October 3, 2016

STAND IN THE GAP: Devotion for Monday October 3, 2016

Text: Ezekiel 22:23 – 31      Memory verse: Ezekiel 22 verse 30

Whatever we do as leaders or priest will always have effect on the people we lead whether good of bad. If only we hope to make great impacts on the people we lead, we should be very cautious of what we do; the kind of policies we introduce and the kind of advice we receive from people. When wicked leaders collaborate with wicked and false prophets, and priests to ruin a nation and corrupt its faith and practices through false doctrines, ungodliness and iniquity, it will bring unbearable consequences because it will definitely permeate the masses.

This is the case in this our country and most other countries of the world. Unfortunately, the deceiver and the deceived cannot escape God’s anger. At the revelation of His anger, the people with their rulers and teachers will become like briers and thorns ready to be consumed by the fire of His wrath. None of them will be spared. That is the extend God can go in dealing with us in His anger.

As Christians who fear God, we should unite to promote His truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down. This is what is expected of us if only we can make our world a better place for all of us to live in. A situation where we who ought to be bearers of light turn out to become agents of darkness will at the long run receive the wrath of God.

When the society is morally bankrupt, it will be hard to see anyone who seeks the face of God in fasting and prayers. This was the reason God expressed sadness over the situation in Ezekiel 22:30. God sought for a man that would stand in the gap; that would faithfully exhort, reprove and counsel, with all long-suffering and doctrine because there was a serious breach made in the moral state and feeling of the people. But none was to be found! Today, most of us instead of standing at the gap because of the moral decadence in our society, we resort to joining them or complaining. We should stand at the gap always for that is what God expects from us.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 59:16

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace I need to stand at the gap always for my family and my nation in Jesus name.

AWAKE FROM SLEEP: Devotion for Tuesday August 30, 2016

AWAKE FROM SLEEP: Devotion for Tuesday August 30, 2016

Text: Ephesians 5:12 – 20       Memory verse: Ephesians 5:14

Paul teaches us here that as Christians, we should stand for the truth and we shouldn’t get caught up in gossip about the shameful actions of sinful people (Ephesians 5:12). The need for Christians to stand up for the truth cannot be overemphasized. This is so because it is the truth that will set us free. Jesus Christ asserted that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life (see John 14:6).  

Paul cautioned us that we should not promote or dignify sin by even so much as discussing it. This is very important aspect of our bible reading today. Discussing sin defiles us how much more committing it. The reason for this is because out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Nothing can hide from the light piercing through darkness. The believers’ behaviour and character are the ‘rays’ of that light that shines to reveal the darkness surrounding unbelievers. By our actions (5:8–12), we become instruments of light, exposing the dark acts of sin. Paul instructs us to expose these deeds, because our silence may be interpreted as approval. God needs people who will take a stand for what is right. Christians must lovingly speak out for what is true and right.

It is for this reason the Apostle calls on compromising Christians to wake up from sleep (5:14) and begin to live for Christ. What Paul was stressing here is that the Ephesians should wake up and realize the dangerous condition into which some of them had been slipping into through condoning sin and inability to speak out against it. Are these things not seen in our present day Christendom? Are we not unperturbed and senseless in the darkness, and pollution of sin? We should wake from death in sin to a sense of our guilty, lost condition, and look to Him who died for us, and He will make us light. We should redeem the time we have lost while asleep by being active for God. God is waiting for you to act. Start now (Isaiah 60:1)   

Food for Thought: Romans 13:11 & 12

Prayer: Almighty God, give us grace to cast way the works of darkness and to put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility so that on the last day, when He shall come again in His glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through Him who is alive and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Advent Sunday).

RELIGIOUS DEVIANTS: Devotion for Monday May 9, 2016

RELIGIOUS DEVIANTS: Devotion for Monday May 9, 2016

Text: Romans 1: 19 – 32     Memory verse: v 25

In this context, deviants are people who deviate from the truth. Yesterday, we read the warning of Jesus Christ concerning false prophets. Before writing this devotion, I read an article by an Egyptian Professor that Jews lied about their history. That there was never a time they lived in Egypt. This is an attempt by people to change the truth. Does anyone have excuse for not believing God? This is the argument of Paul here because God has revealed what He is like, in and through His creation (1:19ff). Unfortunately, many have deviated from the truth about God and creation while some others have refused to accept Him, choosing to worship the creature instead of the Creator (1:22 – 25). For this reason God has given up on them (1:26) and will not spare them at judgment.

Religious deviants are rampant in our days. They have giving up the worship of God to worship of Pastors, General Overseers, Bishops, Archbishops, Priests, etc. They do this by accepting what these people say as standard instead of what the Bible say. Recently, I read how a pastor in the name of deliverance asked women to pull off their clothes in the church. Another pastor asked the female members not to put on underwear as they come to church so that it will be easier for the Holy Spirit to enter into them. Abomination, you will say! I don’t blame them as much as those who give ear to them. Can you mention some other acts of religious deviants? Do you belong to religious deviants – the gay people, modern idol worshippers in the church, etc or are you one of their supporters (1:32)? Repent now before it will be too late.

Food for Thought: God cannot trade His glory with any creature

Prayer: God, help me not to deviate from the faith I received from you.

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU: Devotion for Thursday December 31, 2015

HE IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU        Thursday December 31, 2015

Text: Jude 1:24, 25         Memory verse: v 24

God is able, and as willing as able, to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory. Not as those who never have been faulty, but as those who, but for God's mercy, and a Saviour's sufferings and merits, might most justly have been condemned long ago. Keeping us as used by Jude involves falling from truth and into error and sin. In all efforts for our own good, we should depend for success wholly upon the grace of God, who is able to save us from sin, to keep us from falling into it, and to present us faultless before the presence of God, with exceeding and eternal joy. To him belongs the glory of all the good which is done or enjoyed, and to him should be given all the praise for ever. Amen.

As we end this year, we should not be anxious about the next year because God who kept you throughout this year is able to keep you in the New Year. All we can do now is to keep trusting on God to sustain us. This is the assurance of Jude to us that God who called us is able to keep from falling off from faith and seeing us through to the end of our race.

Food for Thought: Romans 16:25

Prayer: Lord, as I depend on you, keep me from falling and take me into the New Year in Jesus name.

GROW UP: Devotion for Tuesday December 8, 2015

GROW UP      Tuesday December 8, 2015

Text: Ephesians 4:11 – 16    Memory verse: v 15

We ended our devotion yesterday with the admonition to grow up which is our topic for today. This is necessary because it is expected that at a point, a child should grow. Paul exhorts the Ephesians to take advantage of the gifts God has bestowed on them (4:11, 12) aimed at “The unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This will make them not to behave like babes without proper understanding rather they will grow up.

This admonition is good for Christians of today. Many Christians are still tossed, to and fro. They don’t know what salvation is all about. Today they believe this and tomorrow, they throw it aside. As Christians, we must be committed to the truth. Our words should be honest and our actions should reflect Christ’s integrity. Speaking the truth in love is not always easy, convenient, or pleasant, but it is necessary if we will do Christ’s work effectively. Stand by and for the truth now and always.

Food for Thought: Truth, honesty and integrity are essentials for spiritual growth.

Prayer: Lord, grant to me these essentials for growth in Jesus name.