Ways to Redirect Your Focus 2: Devotion for Saturday August 29, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Saturday August 29, 2020

Topic: Ways to Redirect Your Focus 2      

Text: Colossians 3:8 – 11                       

There is one striking point to note in the ways to redirect our focus on Christ in our bible reading of yesterday and today. It is the point that you are the one to put them to death/put off and not any other person.

In our bible reading of the day, Paul was emphatic. He said, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these …” These things are part of our old nature which sure raises their heads in us. That is why our text called them our members.

Though these sins mentioned in Colossians 3:8 are of less infamy (minorisinfamia) and reproach before men, yet they are of greater guilt (majorisreatus) in the sight of God. Thus any sincere Christian who desire to please God will not hesitate in putting off these sins so as to have a clear focus on Christ.

The five sins of speech/action here are anger, wrath (rage), malicious behaviour, slander (blasphemy) and dirty language. When these are manifest in our lives, they offend the Spirit of God in us. Paul concluded by calling on us to put on the new man after putting off the five sins mentioned above.

Putting on new man means that our conduct should match our faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like a Christian. To be a Christian means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions.

Food for thought: Have you put off anger, wrath, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language from your life.     

Memory verse: Colossians 3 v 8

Prayer: God, help me to put off old nature and to put on the new man that reveals Christ in me.

God Hears When We Complain: Devotion for Wednesday August 5, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Wednesday August 5, 2020

Topic: God Hears When We Complain                 

Text: Numbers 11:1 – 3                                   

It is proper to remind us that God is not man. He is omnipresent, omniscience and omnipotent. He alone knows what we will do or say tomorrow and even in years ahead. Not only that, He knows the intent of our hearts and the motive behind whatever we do. For this reason, we should be very careful of the utterances we make. When we have in mind that God is always with us in whatever we do, it will make us to be extremely cautious of our actions and inaction.

One of the ways we attract God’s anger is murmuring and complaining. These acts discredit God as unable or unwilling to save, deliver and help us. They are acts of lack of faith and confidence in God. Some major problems between God and His people, Israel is their act of disobedience and lack of faith they showed to Him. They were always faltering between opinions (1 King 18:21). It attracts God’s anger always.

In our text, the Israelites complained bitterly against God and Moses (Numbers 11:1). This made God to send fire against them in Taberah. Discontentment with the ways God deals with us is unwise and wicked. People who indulge in it provoke Him, and expose themselves to His wrath. We should understand that He knows the best for us.

Are you complaining because you are discontented with God for not answering your prayer about job, success in exam, fruit of the womb, no prospective spouse, etc.? As you even contemplate it in your heart, God hears.

Don’t incur His wrath. Know that these things you are seriously asking from God are extra blessings. The ultimate is our salvation.

Food for Thought: Discontentment and complaint are stepping stone to backsliding in faith. Beware because it attracts God’s anger.

Memory verse: Numbers 11:1               

Prayer: Heal me, O Lord, of any discontentment in me and help me never to complain about the position I find myself.

Money Cannot Save

Devotion for Saturday December 9, 2017

Topic: Money Cannot Save

Text: Zephaniah 1:18

Jesus Christ is the only source of salvation (Acts 4:11 – 12). His salvation is all encompassing as Paul asserted. The salvation from God is not just salvation from sin unto eternal life alone but also from poverty, sickness, bondage, curse and spell, etc.

God spoke through Zephaniah to the Israelites that their wealth cannot save them from the impending judgement. God posited that neither their silver nor their gold in which they trusted, and from which they expected happiness shall profit them on that awful day. This warning was to challenge them not to be asleep because they were enjoying the patience of God. When men’s iniquity is full, certainly, His justice will overtake and overcome them.

Many wealthy people have engaged all forms of security outfits. They have the police, all kinds of security dogs, well fenced and electrified walls, personal guards, bullet proof vests and cars, etc. Unfortunately, all these cannot save especially when it comes to God’s judgement and verdict. “Riches do not profit in the day or wrath, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 11:14).” On the Day of Judgement, wealth will no longer count as it will not save neither can we place value on them (see Ezekiel 7:19). Again, some donate money to the church to secure salvation. You can’t bribe God to have salvation. It is not so! Salvation is of God alone and He is the one that grants it to us.

Food for Thought: Acts 4:12

Memory verse: Proverbs 11:14

Prayer: My Father in heaven, help me never to put my trust in my wealth for there is no salvation in them.

So He Did As Instructed

Devotion for Sunday November 19, 2017

Topic: So He Did As Instructed

Text: Genesis 6:22

Noah was a man of faith who obeyed God. His faith and obedience singled him out in his generation as a righteous man. What God demands from us is obedience. God revealed to Noah His plans to end the world through deluge because he was very obedient. He gave him the instruction to build the ark. He did what God instructed him to do with care and diligence which could be attributed to his faith in the word of God. He believed God’s word about drowning the world and he prepared the ark according to specification.

We should not doubt God’s word about impending wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. People doubted Noah but at last God’s word came to pass and so shall the reality of hell fire come to pass too. Noah did as God instructed him. His obedience was ready and resolute. Having begun to build, he did not leave off till he had finished. Such dedication to our call is required of us.

Just as Noah was warned, so we have a more solemn warning for us, to flee from the wrath to come. How prepared are you? Are you doing as God instructed you so as to flee the second death in hell fire? Noah did as God said and we must do as God said if only we hope to escape the wrath of God on the Last Day.

Food for Thought: Are you living your Christian life according to God’s instructions?

Memory verse: Genesis 6:22

Prayer: Lord God, I need your grace to live according to your instructions so that I can avoid the wrath that is to come upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men in Jesus name. Amen.

WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

WAYS TO REDIRECT YOUR FOCUS 2: Devotion for Sunday July 31, 2016

Text: Colossians 3:8 – 11                       

Memory verse: Colossians 3:8 - But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

There is one striking point to note in the ways to redirect our focus on Christ in our bible reading of yesterday and today. It is the point that you are the one to put them to death/put off and not any other person. In our bible reading of the day, Apostle Paul was emphatic about this. He said, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these …” These things are part of our old nature which sure raises their heads in us. That is why our text called them our members.

Though these sins mentioned in Colossians 3:8 are of less infamy (minoris infamia) and reproach before men, yet they are of greater guilt (majoris reatus) in the sight of God. Thus any sincere Christian who desire to please God will not hesitate in putting off these sins so as to have a clear focus on Christ. As long as they are part of us, they will keep on pulling us down.  

The five sins of speech/action here are anger, wrath (rage), malicious behaviour, slander (blasphemy) and dirty language. When these are manifest in our lives, they offend the spirit of God in us. Paul concluded by calling on us to put on the new man after putting off the five sins mentioned above. Putting on new man means that our conduct should match our faith. If you are a Christian, you should act like it. To be a Christian means more than just making good resolutions and having good intentions; it means taking the right actions.

Food for Thought: Have you put off anger, wrath, malicious behaviour, slander and dirty language from your life?

Prayer: God, help me to put off old nature and to put on the new man that reveals Christ in me.

GRAVES OF GREEDINESS: Devotion for Friday July 15, 2016

GRAVES OF GREEDINESS: Devotion for Friday July 15, 2016

Text: Numbers 11:31 – 34              

Memory verse: Numbers 11:34 - So he called the name of that place Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had yielded to craving.

In our devotion of yesterday, we saw how God handled the complaint of Moses by putting His spirit into 70 men who were made his assessors in the government. Today, we read how God answered to the complaint of the people by giving them meat to eat. As they were eating the meat, the anger of God aroused against them. He sent plagues on them which killed many of them. God may in wrath give men what they desire, to show them and others the wickedness and folly of wishing to have their own way, and refusing to be guided and governed by Him. The death of many there as a result of the plague made Moses to call the place Kibroth Hattaavah, meaning “the graves of greediness.”

Brethren, it is often better for us when we accept ‘NO’ from God as we make our requests. A young Christian sister was looking for job. She heard of job opportunity somewhere and she fasted and prayed for that particular job. God refused to grant her request. She kept persisting and God finally let her have her way. The job denied this lady time for God again. At last she backslid and one day on her way to keep appointment for the company she died on road accident within 2 years of getting that job. This is similar in marriage, fruit of the womb, etc. God knows the best for us. We should always allow Him to have His way.     

Food for Thought: Romans 1:24, 26

Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace to accept your verdict about my life in Jesus name.