Extravagant Grace

Devotion for Wednesday January 17, 2018

Topic: Extravagant Grace                             

Text: John 8:1 – 11                                             

When Jesus called on someone without sin to throw the first stone on this woman caught in the very act, the leaders slipped away one by one, from oldest to youngest. As Life Application Commentary noted, “Evidently the older men were more aware of their sins than the younger. Age and experience often temper youthful self-righteousness.”

Every human being has a sinful nature and is desperately in need of forgiveness and transformation. If we are invited today to throw a stone on that woman, I know we wouldn’t have thrown the first stone because we cannot claim that we have not sinned. We would have also walked away.

Actually no one could claim he or she is sinless so as to throw a stone this woman. Jesus had exposed their hypocrisy and embarrassed them. They went back in shame to think of some other ways to trap Jesus. No one had accused the woman, and Jesus kindly said that He would not condemn her either. Thus she was released through extravagant grace God shows sinners.

Jesus secured her freedom from the Pharisees and to free her from her sins said, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus didn’t condemn her, but neither did he ignore or condone her behaviour. Jesus told the woman to leave her life of sin.

As we have been graciously brought to this new day, we should not abuse the grace of God. He expects to see righteousness in us. Don’t think you deserve to be alive; it is by God’s grace. Live in gratitude like this woman having received God’s grace. Sing A&M 352; SS&S 581; Abu 195

Food for Thought: How grateful are you to God for the grace He showers on you?

Memory verse: John 8:11

Prayer: Lord, I am alive by your grace. Help me to live my life in gratitude for this singular honour in Jesus name. Amen.

The Wise Woman

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Mothering Sunday March 26, 2017

Topic: The Wise Woman

Text: Proverbs 14:1

Happy Mothers’ Day celebration to all women especially those of Anglican Communion Worldwide! Prov. 31:10ff give an insight into what a virtuous woman looks like. Such a woman can be described as the wise woman. Today, in our society, most women cannot be classified as wise simply because of their ineptitude, selfishness, greed and poor understanding of their roles in marriage.

A wise woman by her prudent and industrious management increases property in the family, food and raiment for her household. These increases also include wealth, children, social status through wise control of the family’s resources, support for the husband and godly training of the children (Proverbs 31:10ff).

The foolish woman diminishes her home by arbitrary and careless mismanagement of the family which includes wealth, children, husband, etc. She destroys her home through her ineptitude, selfishness, greed and poor understanding of their roles in marriage.

As we celebrate Mothers’ Day it will be proper for our women and mothers to re-assess their lives; their marriages and their families. How industrious are you in making home an envy of others or you destroy your home with arbitrary quest for fashion and outward beauty at the expense of your family urgent needs? The quest for things worldly should not take precedence over the things eternal. Build your home by complementing your husband.

Action: Write down the ways a wise woman builds her home and the ways a foolish woman destroys her home, and make a comparison with your life.

Memory verse: Proverbs 14 verse 1 - The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down (ESV).

Prayer: Lord God; bless all women and mothers, and make them wise in Jesus name. Amen.

If Only I Can Touch

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Wednesday March 8, 2017

Topic: If Only I Can Touch

Text: Matthew 9:20 – 22

As Jesus Christ left with Jairus, His disciples and the multitude followed Him and right there in the crowd pressing on Him was a desperate person in need of healing. This woman who had suffered haemorrhage for twelve years was desperately in need of healing as the bleeding she suffered was painful. She had been to many doctors, had spent all her money, but had received no cure (Mk. 5:26).

The bleeding caused the woman to be in a constant condition of ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. 15:25-33) which had denied her worship in the synagogue. It also barred her from having normal social relationships, for under Jewish law, anyone who touched her also became unclean. Thus, she had been treated as a leper.

When Jesus came her way she thought in her heart that if only she had the opportunity of just touching the helm of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. Not minding restrictions place on someone with such sickness, she worked her way through the crowd and came up behind Jesus. She may have feared that Jesus would not touch her if He knew her condition, that Jesus would not risk becoming unclean in order to heal her. She may have feared the crowd would be angry with her if they know about her condition, had touched her and become unclean unknowingly. The woman knew she could receive healing but she did it unobtrusively as possible.

Beloved, if only you can touch His garment today, you will certainly be made whole.

Food for Thought: What could be the restrictions to your salvation, healing or blessings from God?

Prayer: Lord, help me to overcome restrictions that hinder my healing, salvation and blessings in Jesus name