22 November
The evil of unbelief
2 Cor. 6: 14-18
Unbelief is a damnable sin (cf. Rev. 21:8). God hates unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:17-19).
Those who persist in it remain objects of His wrath (see Heb. 3:17-19). Unbelief
and faith have nothing in common with each other (2 Cor. 6:14-18). One either
believes or does not. There is no middle way between unbelief and faith (2 Cor.
6:14-18). Believers must not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
Unbelief serves no useful purpose. On the contrary, it is a mighty barrier between
God and His blessings on the one hand, and the unbeliever on the other. In fact,
anyone who persists in unbelief cannot receive anything from God (see Matt. 13:58;
Jam. 1:6-8). The consequence of unbelief goes beyond this present life. According
to the Scripture, those who persist in unbelief have no share or place in God’s
Kingdom (Rev. 21:8). The only solution to the sin or life or unbelief is to turn
from it to God (see Ezek. 18:30-32; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please deliver and keep me from unbelief all the days of my life.
23 November
God’s own peace
Jn. 14:27
Peace is one of the blessings of God to His children (Ps. 29:11; Ps. 147:14;
Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7; Jn. 14:27). Everybody needs it for himself, his family
and his community. No one can do without it. Its absence means chaos, wars, violence,
terrorism, etc. Since peace is God’s reward to His children, we can contribute
to our own peace and that of our community by living faithfully unto Him (Ps.
119:165; Prov. 16::7; Is. 32:17-20). Peace promotes good health (Prov. 14:30).
God’s peace is unavailable to those who do not belong to Him or live for
Him (see Is. 48:22; Is. 57:21). Unbelievers must first return to God before they
can enjoy His peace (see Acts 3:19-20). It is important to state that only God
can grant real peace (cf. Jn. 16:33; 1 Cor. 14:33). No one can find true peace
elsewhere than in God. But there is a better peace, an everlasting peace that
God also makes available through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1-2; Col. 1:20). It is
enough to have earthly peace. One must seek and obtain eternal peace as well.
PRAYER: Father, please give me your own peace here on earth and in eternity.
24 November
Opening our spiritual eyes
Ps. 119:18
Our physical faculties are not adequate for understanding spiritual things (see
Rom. 8:6-10). Like the Pharisees of the time of Jesus, we may claim to see whereas
we are terribly blind with regard to spiritual matters (cf. Jn. 9:31-41). Jesus
had to open the two disciples’ eyes before they could recognize Him, although
they saw Him and were talking and walking along with Him (Lk. 24:31-32). We need
our spiritual eyes to be opened so that we can understand spiritual matters.
Unless our spiritual eyes are opened, we remain babies and novices in spiritual
affairs. As Christians, we cannot afford not to have our spiritual eyes opened.
Like the Psalmist (Ps. 119:18) and Paul (Eph. 1:18-21), to pray for our spiritual
eyes to be opened is an indispensable and worthy prayer (Ps. 119:1; Eph. 1:18-21).
PRAYER: Father, please open my spiritual eyes.
25 November
Forgiveness
Col. 3:13
Many Christians find it difficult to forgive others. Yet Christians are commanded
to forgive others (Col. 3:13; cf. Matt. 18:21-22). In fact, according to the
Scripture, it is a divine duly for Christians to forgive others (Col. 3:13).
God Himself is forgiving in His being (Exod. 34:6-7; Num. 14:18; Neh. 9:17-18;
Ps. 86: 5: Dan. 9:9; Lk. 23:34). The fact that our God is forgiving obliges us
to forgive others (see Col. 3:13). Having been forgiven by Jesus Christ, we His
followers have no reason whatever not to forgive others as He forgave us (see
Col. 3:13). Forgiveness is not an exercise in futility. It is beneficial to the
one who forgives. It is when we forgive others that we open the door for our
own forgiveness by God (Matt. 6:14-15; Mk. 11:25; Lk. 6:37). On the contrary,
God withholds our own forgiveness when we fail to forgive others (Matt. 6:14-15;
Mk. 11:25; Lk. 6:37). Forgiveness must be from the heart, otherwise it is no
forgiveness at all (Matt. 18:35). Forgiveness is not optional for Christians
(see Col. 3:13). Our unwillingness to forgive hinders our prayers (see Mk. 11:25;
Matt. 5:23-24).
PRAYER: Father, please make me forgiving, like you.
26 November
Remember how much Jesus suffered for us
Matt. 27:26-44
Jesus suffered so much for us mankind. He was flogged (Matt. 27:26). He was stripped
of His clothing (Matt. 27:28). He was given a crown of thorns (Matt. 27:30).
He was struck on the head with a staff again and again (Matt. 27:30). He was
insulted (Matt. 27:39-40). He was crucified (Lk. 23:33). No one has ever suffered
like this for another or others (cf. Rom. 5:7-8). But the question is, what have
we done for Him in response to how much He suffered for us? Do we live our lives
for Him? (Phil.1: 27-28). Do we tell others about His love for all mankind? (Matt.
28:18-20). Do we obey Him fully? (Jn. 14:15, 23-24). Do we give generously to
Him and His cause? (See Acts 4:32-37). Do we speak or stand up for Him and His
cause? Do we even remember that He suffered so much for us? We owe Him an unfailing
duty to love Him back by obeying Him fully (Jn. 14:15, 23-24), by living all
of our lives for Him, including suffering for Him if and when necessary (Phil.
1:29-30). We owe Him an unfailing duty to remember and take account of how much
He suffered for us in all our affairs. One of the worst things to happen to anyone
is to forget how much Jesus suffered for him.
PRAYER: Father, please enable me to remember always how much Jesus suffered for
me.
27 November
Never deny God
Matt. 26:69-75
Anyone can deny God, his years in the Christian Faith notwithstanding. Peter,
one of the pillars of the early Church, did (see Matt. 26:69-75), even after
vowing that he will never do so (Matt. 26:32-35). He repented of it immediately
(Matt. 26:75). We may claim that we have never denied God. But we have denied
Him in several ways. We deny Him when we fail to identify or associate with Him
and His cause. We deny Him when we refuse to speak or stand up for Him. We deny
Him when we refuse to carry out His commands. We deny Him when we serve or worship
other gods than or in addition to Him (Matt. 4:10). We deny Him when we refuse
to live in complete holiness and faithfulness to Him (see Heb. 12:14). Anyone
who denies God becomes an apostate or an unbeliever, unless he repents (see Matt.
27:1-5; Acts 1:18-20). And the one who denies God forfeits or forgoes his status
with God as well as God’s favours and blessings (cf. Deut. 28:15-68; Matt.
27:1-5; Acts 1:18-20). To deny God is a terrible sin. The solution to it is to
repent immediately and return to God for forgiveness and restoration. This is
exactly what Peter did (see Matt. 26:75; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please enable me never ever to deny you.
28 November
The believer’s strength
Ps. 29:11
Every Christian needs strength to live the Christian life from the beginning
to the end. There is no aspect or moment of the Christian life that strength
is not needed. Our frail human nature underscores this need. But where can our
strength come from? God Himself is the strength of His children (Exod. 15:2;
Ps. 18:1; Ps. 28: 7-8; Ps. 29:11; Ps. 46:1; Ps. 59:17; Ps. 118:14). His strength
has always been the secret behind the successes and victories of His children.
Therefore, believers must find strength in Him alone (Ps. 105:4). His strength
alone is unfailing (see Ps. 127:1). With His strength believers can accomplish
all things (Phil. 4:13). There can be no success or victory for the Christian
without God’s strength (cf. Jn. 15:4-5). The strength of man is helpless
and worthless (Ps. 108:12).
PRAYER: Father, please strengthen me.
29 November
The evil of unbelief
2 Cor. 6: 14-18
Unbelief is a damnable sin (cf. Rev. 21:8). God hates unbelief (cf. Heb. 3:17-19).
Those who persist in it remain objects of His wrath (see Heb. 3:17-19). Unbelief
and faith have nothing in common with each other (2 Cor. 6:14-18). One either
believes or does not. There is no middle way between unbelief and faith (2 Cor.
6:14-18). Believers must not be yoked together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14-18).
Unbelief serves no useful purpose. On the contrary, it is a mighty barrier between
God and His blessings on the one hand, and the unbeliever on the other. In fact,
anyone who persists in unbelief cannot receive anything from God (see Matt. 13:58;
Jam. 1:6-8). The consequence of unbelief goes beyond this present life. According
to the Scripture, those who persist in unbelief have no share or place in God’s
Kingdom (Rev. 21:8). The only solution to the sin or life or unbelief is to turn
from it to God (see Ezek. 18:30-32; Acts 3:19-20).
PRAYER: Father, please deliver and keep me from unbelief all the days of my life.
30 November
God’s own peace
Jn. 14:27
Peace is one of the blessings of God to His children (Ps. 29:11; Ps. 147:14;
Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7; Jn. 14:27). Everybody needs it for himself, his family
and his community. No one can do without it. Its absence means chaos, wars, violence,
terrorism, etc. Since peace is God’s reward to His children, we can contribute
to our own peace and that of our community by living faithfully unto Him (Ps.
119:165; Prov. 16::7; Is. 32:17-20). Peace promotes good health (Prov. 14:30).
God’s peace is unavailable to those who do not belong to Him or live for
Him (see Is. 48:22; Is. 57:21). Unbelievers must first return to God before they
can enjoy His peace (see Acts 3:19-20). It is important to state that only God
can grant real peace (cf. Jn. 16:33; 1 Cor. 14:33). No one can find true peace
elsewhere than in God. But there is a better peace, an everlasting peace that
God also makes available through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1-2; Col. 1:20). It is
enough to have earthly peace. One must seek and obtain eternal peace as well.
PRAYER: Father, please give me your own peace here on earth and in eternity.
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