Category: Daily Devotionals

Because His ways are not ours (27/5/2023)

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Certain things God does or allows to happen leave us bewildered, because it is different from our imaginations and expectations. We don’t understand. One reason given is that His thoughts, wisdom and ways are far higher than ours just as the heavens are higher than the earth. Unless the Lord helps us to understand His ways, we can completely fail to understand certain things and treat them as foolish.

As God works, we only see and feel what catches the eye. We may not understand what is behind the scenes, the intentions and ultimate purpose and outcome. He may not even tell us what He intends to achieve by the experiences we go through. This is the point some give up and try to make their way out of the situation instead of wait on God to see what will come out.

As long as we remain in Him, God will do everything according to the purpose of His will. Even if He explained to us, our limited understanding may not fully grasp because His ways are higher than our ways. Paul tried, and all God told him was that His grace was sufficient to carry him through the pain. But in all things God means well, accomplishing His purposes even through things we don’t understand. Blessed be His name.

Philippians 2:13 "…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Shalom children of God

The truth stands the test of time (28/5/2023)

2 Corinthians 13:8 "For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth."

So much goes on in this world. It is either truth or lies. There are lies that have been perpetrated for several generations. And people have come to believe them as truth. But Paul makes a fundamental statement in the scripture above, that no one can do anything against the truth to destroy it. It will remain the truth what heaps of lies or cover ups are laid on it.

Truth stands the test of time. It is indestructible. Satan has successfully deceived multitudes who are totally convinced of his lies. They have turned the truth upside down and seem to win. Laws based on lies have been enacted. Politicians have won elections and formed governments based on lies. Businesses based on falsehoods may appear to thrive. Marriages, jobs and careers founded on deception exist. But temporarily.

Our world has sidelined, despised, covered or ignored the truth, but the truth will remain the truth. Truth only comes from God. Jesus is the Truth. Satan has no truth. He is a liar and only smartly thrives on deception to win many to his side. Unfortunately, many will discover too late that they lived their lives on a lie! Whatever ‘great’ achievements based on lies will vanish. The earlier we discover and rely on the solid truth of God’s word, the better our lives will be, now and forever.

John 8:44-45 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me!"

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Shalom children of God

Truth loves light (29/5/2023)*

John 3:19-21 "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God." - NIV

John gives the reasons why men hide from the light, because they are aware of their evil deeds. Evil thrives in darkness. Truth thrives in the light. God is light, and in Him is no lies at all. Whoever comes to God walks in the light and in the truth. Those who refuse to come to God fear to expose their evil deeds because they want to continue in them.

Instead of run away from the light of God, we should come to Him Who has the ability to set us free from the trap of sin. Adam and Eve ran away from God to hide after they sinned. Sin drives away from God. And Satan likes that. But God calls us to come just as we are to Him, repenting and confessing our failures. He is committed to forgive and restore those who come to Himself.

Hiding from is futile because everything is laid bare before God. He sees it all. To Him, secrecy and thick darkness is like broad day light. And it is to Him that we shall account for all we did in this life. Come to Him as you are, in humility and repentance. He is merciful and gracious to set you free from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ His Son. Don’t be deceived by the temporary pleasures of sin.

Hebrews 4:13 "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Shalom children of God.

Truth prevails through knowledge (30/5/2023)

John 8:31-32 "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Some had accepted His teaching. Others rejected it. To those who believed Him, Jesus’ urge was (and still is), that they hold on to His teachings to be His true disciples. The result of that commitment is knowledge of the truth which would set them free. The truth comes through knowledge. Knowledge is acquired through teachings and study. These require effort.

Whatever we now know was taught and learnt. There are all sorts of teachings in the world. Not all of it is the truth. God’s word is the fountain of the truth that guides life. It is through the knowledge of the truth from God Who created and knows us, that we are guided to truly live. We shall be set free from things which are satanic, futile and destructive.

Invest time, energy and other resources in seeking for the truth. Study and seek counsel from reliable sources. Let that truth fill you up and allow it to liberate your life as you see things from God’s point of view. When armed with the truth you become a formidable force. You prevail against the lies and manipulations of the devil who has held many captive through deception. It is God’s will that all people come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth."

Shalom children of God

Values upholds in the truth (31/5/2023)

Genesis 39:9-10 "No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her."

Portiphar’s wife daily nagged Joseph to sleep with her. Joseph did his work professionally and faithfully, having been entrusted by his master, Portophar. He resisted portiphar’s wife because he considered it a wicked thing before God to sleep with her. She was someone’s wife. When he was in a fix, instead of yield to the temptation, he fled. Though he suffered for it, he held firmly to the truth he knew and the principles he stood for.

Such is a life founded and guided by values. So much of this happens to us all in various ways. We are tempted to compromise what we believe in as the truth so as to gain some quick benefits. Unfortunately, many fall victims. But if our values are strong enough, they will sustain us in such times regardless of the consequences.

The early church, under severe persecution for their faith couldn’t yield to the pressure to compromise the truth they held. The battle to downplay, trivialize and sideline the truth over temporary benefits and gains goes on every day in each one of us. But it can be overcome only if we are so established and convinced of what the truth we believe, and in whom we have believed.

Acts 4:19-20 "But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

2 Timothy 1:12 "That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day."

Shalom children of God.

Hold on to what you have (1/6/2023)

Revelation 3:11 "I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown."

This was Jesus’ charge to the church in Philadelphia. They had those who belonged to the synagogue of Satan, claiming to be Jews but were liars. Through their deception, the believers risked losing the what they had been taught in exchange for some counterfeit. Thus the warning from Jesus for them to hold on to what they had lest they lost their crown. This is more so as we await His coming.

There is so much that seeks to displace the truth we have obtained in Christ. This comes through various teachings and doctrines which claim to bring new revelations and teachings that appear godly and yet in reality driving people away from God. Paul’s sharp rebuke to the Galatians was based on this risk. They were exchanging faith in Christ for something else and believing another gospel.

This is so common in our world today with so much going on. Deception is real. The strange voice ever lurks around to decieve and divert. Some have drifted from the faith following promises for quick fixes and a seemingly better solution to life challenges. But the call to hold on to the truth we have in Christ as taught in the scriptures comes to us all. It is each one of our responsibility to purposefully hold on.

2 Thessalonians 2:15 "So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."

Shalom children of God

Perseverance: Key to success (R) (2/6/2023)

Hebrews 10:35-36 "So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised." - NIV

The writer relates the trials of the faith that those in Christ undergo. They suffered, were publicly insulted, persecuted, imprisoned and willingly gave up their possessions and their lives for what they confidently believed. They knew they had lasting possessions in God that far surpassed the temporary things of this life. Perseverance was key to their abiding in the faith despite all these challenges.

We were never promised a smooth ride in the journey of faith, and indeed in all life endeavors. But we were assured of victory in them all (John 16:33). Perseverance involves patience and endurance in the face of pain, delays and seeming uncertainty. It takes a decision to remain steadfast. The knowledge of Whom and what we have believed, gives us confidence to continue moving amidst opposition, pain and tears.

The promised reward is given to those who endure to the end. Many give up along the way and look for an easy way out. But just as all those who went ahead of us in this journey endured and recieved their crowns, so can we. Cheer up precious child of God. Hang in there, doing God’s will. You will overcome and eventually inherit the promise.

Matthew 24:12-13 "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Revelation 2:10b "…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life."

Shalom children of God.

Do not grow weary! (R) (3/6/2023)

Hebrews 12:2-3 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." - NIV

The constant battles and challenges we are engaged in eventually drain strength and can wear us out. As a result, fatigue and burn out set in and people give up or surrender to negative situations despite knowing the truth and the right things to do. Jesus endured the horribly painful cross, its shame and fierce opposition from evil men because of the joy that lay ahead of Him. We are encouraged to fix our eyes on Him so that we do not grow weary and lose heart.

Jesus was tried and tempted in every we are but never gave in. The great heroes of faith too went through very terrifying trials but never lost heart. Let their example and testimony encourage and inspire us in our faith. They overcame. We too shall overcome. Sufficient grace was upon them to endure. We too have sufficient grace to go through. It’s the devil’s intention to bombard us with so much from every side and throw thoughts of quiting. Do not quit! Hold on to the faith and keep serving till the end. Then you will receive the reward.

Looking to Jesus, learning from the examples of those who went ahead of us, focusing on the prize and reward ahead will strength our commitment and perseverance to go on. You are not alone going through it. Victory is promised to us, if we don’t grow weary. As we trust God daily, He renews our strength. We shall overcome because we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Isaiah 40:29 - 31 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Shalom.

You are not just part of the crowd! (4/6/2023)

Luke 8:47-48 "Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

She had bled for twelve years. She was unclean and not supposed to be in public by law. Weak as she was, she purposed to go unnoticed through the thick crowd to touch Jesus’ garment. She was not only instantly healed, but Jesus drew His attention and that of the whole crowd to her, because of her faith. She blessed and sent her away in peace.

There are many who, because of their low status, feeling of rejection or inferiority or the things they have done, think they are just part of the crowd. They think so low of themselves. That may be true with people who show partiality as they despise others. But God loves and knows each of us by name. You are not just among the crowd. You are individually special to God. He knows you by name and you have a special place in His plans.

Blind Bartimaues wasn’t just a beggar among the crowd. Jesus recognised him. Men despised him, but Jesus stopped and personally attended to him. Regardless of your background, social or economic status, you are valuable to God. No one is useless to Him, because we were all created in His image. Come to Him as you are. See what Jesus did to the leper;

Mark 1:40-42 "A man suffering from a dreaded skin disease came to Jesus, knelt down, and begged him for help. “If you want to,” he said, “you can make me clean.” Jesus was filled with pity, and stretched out his hand and touched him. “I do want to,” he answered. “Be clean!” At once the disease left the man, and he was clean."

Shalom children of God.