15 September
Who Jesus really is
Lk. 9: 18-22
Jesus once asked His disciples who they said He is (Lk. 9: 20). Peter
answered correctly on behalf of his colleagues – The Christ of
God (Lk. 9: 20). The word Christ means Messiah. This means that Jesus
is the Messiah whom God promised. This is who Jesus really is. This is
His mission (Matt. 1:21). Jesus confirms Peter’s answer by speaking
about His passion (Lk. 9:22). Numerous passages confirm that this is
who Jesus really is (Lk. 2:8-11; Jn. 1:29; 3:16; Rom. 5:8; Gal. 4: 4-5).
It is of utmost importance to know Jesus for who He really is. Who we
think He is determines our relationship with Him. Our personal salvation
depends on who He is to us. It does not really matter what the crowds
say (Lk. 9:18-19). Let the crowds say whatever they like, as is often
their nature. What really matters is who Jesus is to you personally.
If your opinion of Jesus is different from that of Peter above (Lk. 9:
20), then you are holding the wrong opinion about Him. Your opinion of
Jesus is the right one of it is the same as that of Peter above (Lk.
9:20).
PRAYER:1.Father, I take Jesus as my Messiah.
2.Father, I hereby renounce every other Messiah.
3.Father, please let Jesus’ work as Messiah be fully realised
in my life.
16 September
Some benefits of being God’s true children
Jn. 1:12-13
The Scripture states quite clearly that we become God’s true children
by believing or receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour (Jn. 1:
12-13). But what benefits do we derive from becoming God’s true
children? There are several, but there we will mention only a few of
these benefits. First, we have new life (2 Cor. 5:17). We become a new
creation (2 Cor. 5:17). Second, we become God’s friend. The enmity
that existed between us and God on account of our sin is removed (Rom.
8: 7-8). Third, we become led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). Fourth,
we receive eternal life (Jn. 3:15-16). Fifth, we become entitled to God’s
special care and provision (Phil. 4:19; cf. Ps. 1:1-3), Sixth, we become
entitled to God’s protection (Is. 54: 14-17; Ps. 91: 1-16; Matt.
10: 29-30). Seven, we become endowed with spiritual power (Jn. 14:12).
And lastly, we enjoy God’s abiding or permanent presence (Matt.
28: 20). Again, these benefits belong only to God’s true children
(Jn. 1:12-13). They do not belong to those who reject Jesus (Jn. 3:36).
These benefits can readily become ours once we believe or receive Jesus
Christ asour personal Saviour (Jn. 3:36).
PRAYER:1.Father, I receive Jesus as my own Saviour.
2.Father, please bestow on me all the benefits of being your own child
in Christ.
17 September7
The reward of giving
Lk. 6: 38
Jesus taught that there is reward in giving (Lk. 6: 38; Mk. 9: 41). The
reward is most certain (Lk. 6: 38; Mk. 9: 41; 2 Cor. 9:6). The reward
is proportionate to the measure we give (Lk. 6:38; 2 Cor. 9:6). This
is not how many believers understand giving. Many believers do not see
giving in the way Jesus our Saviour saw it (Lk. 6:38; Mk. 9:41). As His
followers, we have no option but to bring our understanding in line with
His own. As He taught, it is when we give that we enjoy the reward (Lk.
6:38; Mk. 9: 41; Prov. 11: 24). When we fail to give, we forgo this reward
(Prov. 11:24). Therefore, according to our Saviour’s own words,
our acts of giving are not vain but rewarding exercises (Lk. 6: 38; Mk.
9: 41; Prov. 11:24). Once we put His word into practice, He will do His
part by bringing to pass what He has promised (Lk. 6:38; Mk. 9: 41; Prov.
11:24). His promises never ever fail (see Jos. 23:14).
PRAYER:?1.?Father, please enable me to give.
??2.?Father, please take away whatever hinders me from giving.
18 September, 2017
How to gain entrance into God’s Kingdom
Jn. 14:6
Living with God in His Kingdom is one of the privileges of God’s
children (Jn. 14:2). But how does one gain entrance into this Kingdom?
The Scripture presents Jesus as the only means of gaining entrance into
this Kingdom (Jn. 14: 6; Acts 4:12). According to the Scripture, there
is no other means than this (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4: 12; Jn. 10: 1-8). Therefore,
every other means are false, illegitimate, and ineffective. And everyone
enters only by this one entrance regardless of nationality, race, colour,
culture, tribe, language, clan, or any other consideration. You and I
can only enter through this one means. There is no need whatever to look
for another means to enter God’s Kingdom. Since there is no other
means than Jesus Christ (Jn. 14:6; Acts 4:12; Jn. 10:1-18), trying to
enter God’s Kingdom by some other means is an exercise in futility.
PRAYER:1.Father, I take Jesus as my Saviour.
2.Father, please give me a place with you in your Kingdom as you promised.
3.Father, please take away everything that can deprive me of a place
with you ??in your Kingdom.
19 September
God delivers His own
Dan. 6: 19-23
Daniel was thrown into the den of lions after being found praying to
God against a decree that was deliberately and hastily put together to
frame him up for doing just that (Dan. 6:16). Daniel was unhurt by the
lions (Dan. 6:21-22). No wound was found on him (Dan. 6:23). According
to the Scripture, God sent His angel to shut the mouths of the lions
so that they could not hurt Daniel at all (Dan.6:22). God rescued him
because he belonged to Himand trusted in Him. The decree of the king
and his kingdom stood (Dan. 6:12, 15), but not before or against God
(Dan. 6:22). Daniel’s fate was sealed by men (Dan. 6:17), but their
seal amounted to nothing at all before God. As God did for Daniel, He
is able and ready to do for all His children today. Nothing whatever
is impossible with Him (Lk. 1:37). He is able and ready to do anything
to protect His beloved children (see Exod. 14:19-22). No creature of
any kind can determine or seal the fate of God’s children, without
His authorisation (see Matt. 10: 29-31). Like Daniel, God’s true
children can count on His protection and keeping.
PRAYER: 1.Father, please enable me to trust in you alone for my keeping
and ?protection.
2.Father, please deliver me from all evil.
20 September
How to serve the Lord with faithfulness
Jos. 24:14
When Joshua renewed the covenant with the Israelites near the end of
his career, he called upon the Israelites to serve the Lord with faithfulness
(Jos. 24:14).This is what God requires of all His children. But how can
this be done? The answer is given in the passage (Jos. 24:14). All other
gods must be thrown away (Jos. 24:14). Only the Lord God must be worshipped
and served (Matt. 4: 10). This is the central requirement of God’s
covenant with His children (Exod. 20: 1-7). By His nature, God does not
tolerate any rival. He admits of no other either equal or in addition
to Him (Is. 45: 5-6). To serve Him with all faithfulness is to acknowledge
no other than Him in all aspects of our lives. When we fail to acknowledge
Him in all areas of our lives, we cannot claim to serve Him with all
faithfulness. To serve Him with all faithfulness we must acknowledge
Him alone in everything that has to do with us. This is the only scriptural
understanding of what it means to serve God with all faithfulness (Jos.
24:14).
PRAYER: 1.Father, please enable me to worship and serve you alone.
2.Father, please take away whatever hinders me from worshipping and
serving you alone.
21 September,
How to be a real Church member
Acts 2: 42-47
Real Church membership is not a matter of Church attendance or enrolment
in the Church register. It is not a matter of taking part in Church activities
or making financial contributions to her ministry. This passage explains
how one becomes a real Church member. A real Church member is one who
has been saved from sin (Acts 2:47). If one is not saved from sin, he
is not a real Churchmember. One must be saved from sin to become a real
church member. In the time of the New Testament Church, membership was
made up of only those who had been saved from sin (Acts 2:47). It does
no one any good to be on the Church register without being saved from
sin. Jesus came primarily to save from sin (Matt. 1:21; Jn. 1:29). The
Church is made up of all those whom He has saved (Acts 2:47). Therefore,
salvation from sin defines real Church membership. Anyone who is not
saved from sin is never a real Church member. Anyone who desires to be
a real Church member must be saved from sin. Salvation from sin will
take place once one accepts Jesus as his own Saviour (Jn. 3:16; 1: 12-13).
PRAYER: 1.Father, I accept Jesus as my own Saviour.
2.Father, please make me a real member of your Church.
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