daily devotions 12th August 2017

Deut 8: 10When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you

Finally God has led the Israelite to the edge of the Promised Land and just before they crossed over, Moses spoke to them the word that God had put into him.

God promised that when they cross over to occupy the land that God had promised to Abraham and all his descendants, first God proclaimed all the blessings that He would pour out upon them. God will bless the land which shall be flowing with milk and honey. The crops will flourish and the livestock will increase. Their silver and gold also will increase.

Then God reminded them that when begin to enjoy the goodness of the land which God had set apart for them, the most important thing is that they must remain faithful to God and to worship Him according to the manner that God had described.

Just as God had promised, the land of Israel till today is truly a land flowing with milk and honey literally. It is a fact that the cows in Israel produced more milk in Israel than all the cows put together in the US. Another fact is that the Israelites have perfected the art of making honey out of dates. Today when we visit Israel this is one item that we must but as a testimony of the fulfilment of the promises of God.

Today’s verse reminds us that God is faithful and whatever He promised is true and will come to pass even though it may be hundreds or thousands of years after He has pronounced it. Let us stand on this promise and let us receive it for our own blessings

John 11: 32Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

In the next verse we read ‘When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.’

Again in verse 38 ‘Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave.’ Many have commended that Jesus had purposely delayed his coming to Lazarus’ home because He wanted to demonstrate His resurrection power in raising the dead. While that was true but many have missed out on these two verses.

It was recorded twice that Jesus groaned in the spirit. This groaning is the working of the Holy Spirit as Paul wrote in Rom 8: 26 The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought. But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words. This tells us the working of the Spirit who was interceding for the family even as Jesus was still a distance from their home.

The Holy Spirit knew the sadness of Mary and Martha, the Holy Spirit could discern the broken heart of the family members as Lazarus was well loved by the family. This also showed the heart of God for His children. God does not want His children to be sad and burdened with sadness.

This was also the ministry of Jesus that when he came, He called to all believers, ‘give me your burden for my load is light.’ In other words, Jesus who is also God said that He is able to carry all our heavy loads. In this case He knew the heaviness of heart of the family and He sympathized with them and His spirit groaned for them. It was deep intercession that the disciples did not know of at that time.

The mission of Jesus was completed when He demonstrated Huis resurrection power and raised Lazarus even after he had been dead for a few days. It was a mission accomplished.

Daily Devotions 10th Aug 2017

Psalm 80: 3

Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.

The psalmist as he wrote this psalm was in the most difficult period, the enemies are encroaching on them from all sides. The northern nation of Israel had been defeated and now Judah is facing the same threat from the enemies.

When the psalmist wrote seeking the face of God to shine upon them, it meant that he was seeking God’s favour and protection. It is like when a child is facing a threat or danger, the child would look to the father for his assurance and safety. The child knows that when he sees the father’s face, he will be safe and protected for the father will ensure that no harm will come to the child.

In the same manner, the psalmist was writing the psalm and calling out to God to reveal His grace and mercy to be upon the nation which is now facing danger from all sides. The psalmist said that they are seeking God’s face so that they may be saved.

This brings out the truth, as believers and children of God, our safety and security is in our Father God. We must continue to seek His protection and overshadowing of His hand.

Even today, the nation of Israel continues to call on to God when the enemies all around them are threatening them. The situation today is just like the situation of the psalmist when he wrote this psalm. Today Israel is also facing the challenges of their enemies from all sides but even as Israel calls out as a nation, God is faithful and have been hearing and answering all the prayers of His people.

From the accounts we receive, we know that God’s protection has definitely been seen over His people Israel. It is humanly impossible to ward off so many hostile nations and remain safe unless God’s hand is over Israel.

We too can cry out to God in times f danger and threats and we too can call to God our Father to protect and deliver us from all dangers.

Exodus 32: 32

Please forgive their sins – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.

Here is the record of the meekness and merciful heart of Moses, it was just a while ago when he was so angry with the Israelites for having made a golden calf and bowing before it. This angered Moses so much that he smashed the tablets with the 10 commandments written on them by the finger of God.

But after his anger subsided, the fatherly heart of Moses was revealed when he pleaded to God for his forgiveness of the sins of the people. He was so passionate with God that he cried out and seeks God’s mercy and forgiveness for the people. He pleaded to God to forgive their sins completely otherwise he was prepared to ask God to punish him too by blotting his name out of the book of life.

This showed that Moses’ heart was like the heart of Jesus who laid down His own life in order to redeem the lives of all sinners. Jesus’ heart was a mirror of the Father’s heart. God is love and that love was replicated in Jesus as well as Moses. They were selfless and were ready to sacrifice all for the people.

In the New Testament we see that Paul who was once a hardened man also had a change of heart when he had the supernatural encounter with Jesus. His hardened heart was transformed into a soft and compassionate heart, we see that he too pleaded to God to forgive the people and he was ready to also lose his salvation in exchange for the forgiveness of the peoples’ sins.

We see that in Roms 9:3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsman according to the flesh. Paul too has a heart transformation and now he is no longer the wicked and evil young Saul, now he is the matured and spiritual Paul whose heart is merciful and compassionate for all sinners.

This is what God is revealing to the body today, as leaders we must have the goodwill of the people as our first priority. As under-shepherds our priority is the safety and salvation of the people. It is no longer about us but it’s all about others.

This whole scheme of redemption comes down from God the Father, He passed it to Jesus who in turned passed it to us. The plan of God is that all men have the opportunity to choose salvation and to keep it. Therefore it is our duty to ensure this for the people.

Daily Devotions 8th Aug 2017

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Here is a timely reminder to all leaders and workers that when we answer the call to serve in the kingdom, we are not to be served by those who are around us but we are to serve them instead. Jesus was recognized as a leader but He did not demand that the followers serve Him, instead He went around with the grass root people, did what they did and ate what they ate.

Jesus was very at home with the crowd, He went to their homes, to their towns and He even went to the Samaritan well where He met the Samaritan woman who was drawing water from the well. He asked her for a drink from the well, he had conversation with her.

Jesus never withdrew from the crowd but He can to meet with them so that He could be part of them. Jesus never became unapproachable, in fact everyone including the little children could come to Him and he received all gladly.

Jesus also said in Mark 10: 43-44 “Whoever wants to become graet among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave to all.”

Jesus walked with those rich and the poor, the religious as well as the non-religious. The sick crowded around Him, the blond beggar came to Him to be healed, the lepers came to Him to be healed, the woman with the issue of blood came to touch His garment to be healed. He came to save the sinners and He moved among them.

This reminds us that as the church of Jesus Christ, we need to be among the destitute, the lame and the blind. Jesus when he was accused of eating with the tax collectors, he knew the hearts of His accusers. He said that the healthy do not need a doctor, only the sick need one. What he meant was the Pharisees and the religious do not need Jesus but it is the sinners ho need to be saved.

Jesus showed that He was accessible to all, He was a people’s person. All can come to Him and that indeed was His invitation. He said; ‘come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’

Have we come to Jesus for His cleansing power, have we been washed with His blood? 

Daily devotions 7th Aug 2017

John 10: 10

I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Jesus reveals the truth about His mission on earth. It was to defeat the spirit of death and to bring life to all who believe in Him. Not only will we have life but we will have it to the fullest. The promise of Jesus reminds us of the character of God who is generous and kind. Not only will he not withhold any good things from us but He promised to reward us in abundance and fullness.

In Mark 10 : 17-20 Jesus reminded us that we are not to store up treasures on earth but instead we must store up treasures in heaven instead. The material wealth of this world are temporal, everything can be destroyed overnight. Look at the cities and the buildings that man takes pride in and have so much of attachment to it in the countries that are being ravage by war. The most beautiful buildings and palaces will turn to ruins and be worthless with a split second when a bomb falls on it.

We have seen some of the dictators’ palaces which are so beautiful and richly adorned but today these are worthless ruins and rumbles. Jesus had also constantly reminded us that we should be storing up our treasures in heaven where it will not be destroyed. The treasures in heaven are perfect and eternal.

Jesus also reminded us that for those who leave the world behind them and sacrifice all for Him, surely their rewards shall be great in heaven. Jesus said “whoever finds their lives (on this earth) will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Looking at the early believers, they were the ones who walked with Jesus, lived with Him and they totally believed and obeyed Him. There were many who had material wealth during that time but they were willing to let all of that go and instead chose to live frugal lives in obedience to Jesus Christ.

One of them was the apostle Paul who gave up his family and successful career to become the apostle to the gentiles. He did not receive any financial support and lived entirely by faith. He wrote of the times he had to be without food for days as he had no money to buy food. Paul also wrote that he had to do tent making to earn some money to support himself and his travelling companions. They ate when they had some money, and they hungered when they had none.

This brings us back to Jesus’ call to us to wait and receive the rewards from Him. His reward is great and generous.

Daily Devotions 6th August 2017

Ex 34: 29

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.

After spending 40 days and 40 nights continuously with God on Mount Sinai, Moses descended with the two tablets that God had made. Because of the close encounter that Moses had with God, the glory of God was reflected upon the face of Moses who did not realized that.

It was only when he came down and when the people saw him; they saw the bright reflection that was upon the face of Moses. He had no idea that when he spend the intimate relationship with God, it would actually change his appearance. Moses did not have a mirror to see his own face but the Israelites could see it when he came down.

This is a good reminder that our lives would be affected and changed when we too spend long hours with God, of course we would not be privileged to reflect God’s glory like Moses did. However, as we spend time with God in prayer, it would affect and transform us in our character. We would become more holy and righteous and our words and deeds would also change.

This is one good reason why we must seek God’s face daily just like Moses did and we will surely be changed to a degree of likeness of Jesus Christ.

Paul also wrote in 2 Cor 3: 7-11 where he made a comparison that even when the dispensation of the law brought such glory in the OT time, then surely in this time when Jesus Christ brought His saving grace surely the glory of God would be much greater. Paul says that now with the grace of Jesus which enables us to come into the presence of God face to face, surely that same glory will be reflected upon our lives though it may not be the same measure as that of Moses.

This is the open invitation to all through Jesus Christ who forgives us and transform us through His Spirit when we draw close to Him. And as we do that continuously, our lives will be changed and others too will see the change in us as the Israelites saw the change in Moses.

Let us shine forth with the glory of God and let others see the love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in our lives. Let us develop and bear the fruit of the Spirit as an eternal testimony for Jesus Christ.