Righteousness Has Rewards

Devotion for Monday June 4, 2018

Sing SS&S 791; Abu 61

Topic: Righteousness Has Rewards 

Text: Proverbs 11:18 – 19 

In our text, we have reward for wickedness and righteousness. Wicked people do deceitful works. The works of the wicked work is like building houses upon the sand, which will deceive them when the storm comes. When the wicked is engaged in various acts of wickedness, it will seem as if it will ever remain the same, but Proverbs 11:19 have it that such person pursues evil to his death. Remember the case of Pharaoh and the Israelites. At the end, that same wickedness will cut his throat when it smiles upon him. He will finally say that sin deceived me, and by it slew me. However, it is not so with the righteous. The rewards of the righteous are many. People who live in righteousness lay up the best securities for themselves. He who sows righteousness, which is good, and continues in it, looking forward to heavenly reward shall surely have them (Hosea 10:12; Galatians 6:8 – 9; James 3:18). “As righteousness leads to life, so he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death (Proverbs 11v19).” Righteousness can never disappoint us. Its rewards are numerous. Above all, it leads to life eternal which is the desire of every Christian. Psalm 1:1 – 6 gives us a clue into what the righteous man will gain here on earth and in the life to come. If you desire these rewards, then live righteously.

Action: Write down 10 rewards for righteousness in your notebook for future reference.

Memory verse: Proverbs 10:6 

Prayer: Lord, may I live my life in righteousness that I might receive its reward now and in eternity in Jesus name. Amen

Arise, O Lord!

Devotion for Wednesday March 21, 2018

Topic: Arise, O Lord!

Text: Psalm 10:12 – 18

God is perfectly knows the words and works of both the righteous and the wicked, and in due time will appear and render to all according to their words and works. Here the Psalmist speaks with astonishment, at the wickedness of the wicked, and at the patience and forbearance of God. “Arise, O Lord, O God, lift up your hand” is a call for vindication and deliverance. 

The Psalmist might have suffered so much wickedness from people and it seems his prayers/appeal for help didn’t come. The poor, afflicted, persecuted, or tempted believer should understand that Satan is the prince of this world, and that he is the father of all the ungodly. The children of God cannot expect kindness, truth, or justice from a person. The Psalmist prayed that God should punish the wicked for their wickedness (v15) and then expressed his confidence in the abilities of God to hear the prayers of the humble and to do justice for the oppressed so that the oppressors will no longer oppress (v16 – 18). 

Are you currently under oppression of the wicked? Call on God to arise so that your enemies and His enemies will scatter. He may seem to be delaying but surely His hands will be lifted against them for His namesake and for your faith and confidence in Him. Trust Him to lift up those hands soon and very soon even as you go out today in your favour. 

Sing: Arise O Lord, let your enemies be scattered (3x) 

O Lord, my God, Arise

Food for Thought: Micah 5:9                     

Memory verse: Psalm 10 v 12

Prayer: Lord, lift your hands up against my enemies and turn their hearts to know and fear you in Jesus name.

God Frustrates The Devices Of The Crafty

Topic: God Frustrates The Devices Of The Crafty

Text: Job 5:6 – 16

Crafty means using or involving cunning or trickery to deceive other people. What our topic for the day connotes is that no matter how much art and subtlety wicked men may lay their plots and ill designs, God does disappoints and baffles them, making them vain and of no effect. He exposes their designs in various ways and shows that He is the friend of the sincere and the honest; showing that He is worthy confidant of the His people. The hands of the enemy around your life will not carry out their plans because God will show up with His finger on your behalf (Exodus 8:19).

Eliphaz, Job’s friend had seen instances where the plans of the crafty, designing and artful people had been defeated, and where the straightforward had prospered and honoured. Thus he asserts it here in our text. Such cases led him to believe that God is the friend of virtuous and worthy to confide in. God works for the good of those who trust and obey Him and counter working the plots of the wicked.

You may have been asking when God will frustrate the plans of the enemies against your life. God is not asleep. He waits for His appointed time to act. The devices of the wicked men shall luckily meet with disappointment, just at the very time when they are ripe and ready for execution. It is not appropriate to ask God how He will frustrate the enemies; He knows best when to do it. Rather, we should trust Him to do it at His own time. It is my prayer that God will frustrate the plans of your enemies in Jesus name.

Food for Thought: Isaiah 8:10

Memory verse: Job 5:12

Prayer: Lord, frustrate every plan of the enemies against my life, my family and your church, in Jesus name.

They Will Be A Separation

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday June 14, 2017

Topic: They Will Be A Separation

Text: Malachi 3:13 – 18                       

When God avenges for us, the world will certainly echo Ps. 58:11. We know what happened to Peter when he was imprisoned and also Paul and Silas. Many people today are disillusioned concerning the fate of the righteous by concluding that there is no hope for them as it was in the days of Malachi. They see the life of the righteous as filled with hardship and want. However, it is not so.

Here, Malachi assures that a time is coming when God will make the difference between the righteous and the wicked which the world will see. The use of return means coming back from their delusion, and to see in reality that God does make a difference between the righteous and the wicked. For now it may seem as if God has not put any difference between the righteous and the wicked, as the wicked seem to have their way now. Certainly, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. The reason for this is in Matt. 13:24 – 30. Then the unrighteous will clearly see the happiness of the righteous, and their own misery, how they will perish in their wickedness.  Where will you belong? The way you live now will determine where you will be after the separation.

Food for Thought: Do you look down on God and His religion? Return from your delusion before it will be too late.

Memory verse: Malachi 3 verse 18

Prayer: Lord, when you make the difference, grant that I will not be among the wicked. Help me to live righteously in Jesus name.

JUSTICE IS TURNED BACK: Devotion for Thursday August 25, 2016

JUSTICE IS TURNED BACK: Devotion for Thursday August 25, 2016

Text: Isaiah 59:9 – 15             Memory verse: Isaiah 59:14

According to Matthew Henry Concise Commentary, “If we shut our eyes against the light of Divine truth, it is just with God to hide from our eyes the things that belong to our peace.” No wonder the bible says that “There is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked" (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21). A situation where the sins of those who profess themselves God's people, are worse than the sins of others who are termed unbelievers is very unfortunate.

Here, the prophet Isaiah decries the sad state where justice and righteousness are absent in the courts of law (Zechariah 8:16), and in social matters in general. All over the scriptures, God is always against injustice. He upholds justices and righteousness and He expects nothing less from us. But sad to say that He got the least from His people and was displeased about it. If you were in God’s shoes will you be pleased seeing injustice pervade all affairs of life?  

What can we say of our present day religious and political leaders? Are they upholding justice? What of our judges and magistrates? Have they not turned back justice by declaring the guilty, innocent and the innocent, guilty? Compare Amos 5:12; 6:12. Is this the same in your country?

Beloved, God is never happy when we pervert justice. It is a wicked and sinful person that does so (Proverbs 7:23). When we witness in any case, we should also not testify to pervert justice (Exodus 23:2). Let the fear of God be in our hearts in every witness we bear or case we judge. If this be our guiding principle, it will make our society and the world at large a peaceful place to live in.

Food for Thought: Deuteronomy 16:19

Prayer: Grant me the grace, O Lord, to always stand for justice no matter the circumstances in Jesus name.

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

THE DAY OF RECKONING: Devotion for Wednesday August 10, 2016

Text: Malachi 3: 13 – 18              

Memory verse: Malachi 3:18 – Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him

Few days before I wrote this devotion, I read a story of a transgender who said that God is daft and senseless. My comment was that she/he was digging her grave. If in this present age of knowledge, she doesn’t know that there is a day of reckoning then she is a serious mistake to the society. The act of this transgender turned lady now is similar to what we have in Malachi 3:13, 14. How can a creature call the Creator senseless and daft? This shows how depraved some people are in our present day society.

In 2014, there was a couple who publicly burnt their Bible in Bonsac area of Asaba, Nigeria in protest against God for not giving them a child after they had gone to many prayer houses, held weeks of fasting and did many other things to gain God’s favour. Their action was reciting the words in Malachi 3:14 that it is useless to serve God. There is a challenge for us in Malachi 3:16 about encouraging one another especially in a society as bad as ours today where economic stress, unemployment, kidnapping, etc are confronting us daily. Family Bible Notes puts it thus: “When infidelity and wickedness most abound in the community, then is the time for those who fear God to be most diligent in speaking often one to another, and encouraging each other in His service.” How often do we do this?   

These people saw no need of serving God because He does not notice and reward their empty and heartless forms of religion. God cannot be mocked. You can only reap what you sow as seed. For now, it may seem as if God put no difference between the righteous and the wicked. However, He will one day make an everlasting separation between them, such as all beings in heaven and hell shall well understand. This is the day of reckoning. Where do you think you belong in this two – hell or heaven?

Food for Thought: How prepared are you towards the day of reckoning?

Prayer: Make me your jewel, O Lord, as I prepare for the day of reckoning so that my name will be in the book of remembrance in Jesus name.

A WISE FATHER'S EXHORTATION: Devotion for Tuesday June 28, 2016

A WISE FATHER’S EXHORTATION: Devotion for Tuesday June 28, 2016

Text: Proverbs 1:10 – 19            

Memory verse: v 10 – My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent

The wicked are zealous in seducing others into the paths of their wickedness; they love to have company in their sin and crime. Nevertheless, they have so much the more to answer for (Rom. 14:12; Heb. 4:13). This should make young people to be very cautious. "Do not consent" here is all encompassing; do not say as they say nor do as they do. It also means do not follow them to do evil.

Furthermore, do not consent means you shouldn’t have any fellowship with them just as Paul warns in 2 Cor. 6:14 which says, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” Their idea of acquiring wealth is very different from God’s ideal. Their desire is to steal and even kill to acquire wealth. This confirms what Jesus said about Satan in Jn. 10:10. It is absurd to think that it is a pleasure for someone to destroy another. It is not a pleasure rather a quick ticket to hell fire.  

Those who choose the wicked as their companions will definitely become like them in character and their end. This advice is the best a father can offer to the son. Unfortunately these days, most parents don’t even care to know how their children acquired the wealth they are flashing about in the society. Some will advice their children to do whatsoever their hands can find them so far they come home with a car or build good houses. All these are not evidence of good standing with God. Men may appreciate and speak good of what you have ‘achieved’ but God’s verdict is what matters at the end. Some others will even advice their children to do things immoral. Some parents pay for their children to cheat in examinations. Some encourage their children into immoral relationship with opposite sex. Parents, what advice do you give to your children? Let the advice of Solomon here be a challenge and a model for us.   

Food for Thought: What kind of advice do you give to your children?

Prayer: Lord God, grant me the wisdom to always give wise counsel to my children and wards in Jesus name