DAILY DEVOTION

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Friday, July 4
1 Corinthians 6:1-11

WASHED, SANCTIFIED, AND JUSTIFIED
...But you were washed… sanctified…justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.  1 Corinthians 6:1-11, KJV

Paul rebuked the Corinthian believers because of some sinful acts that were prevalent among them. He criticised them of taking fellow believers to law court and advocated that believers should rather endure being cheated and wronged (vs. 1, 5, 7).

Paul considered lawsuits against fellow believers a reproach because   unbelievers are the ones that would preside over these lawsuits in the court. He then reminded the church about their exalted positions and the acts of God upon them.

As believers, we enjoy certain privileges that qualify and give us right standing before God. We are to put off all filthiness of the spirit and flesh because God has washed and sanctified us. The church is a separated community called out of the world and united with God.

Our justification therefore implies that Jesus Christ has blotted out our sins and the Spirit of God is witnessing the same to our conscience. We should live in the consciousness that these acts of God are intended to qualify us for the Kingdom promised by Christ.

Are you aware of these actions? If yes, pattern your life in line with the Word of God. As long as we remain in the flesh, the rule of sin will remain a challenge but the grace of God is sufficient for us.

• Birthday Blessing: "on Mount Zion will be deliverance…"    – Obadiah 17.

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 24, 25; Acts 8:1-25

As the heart is more washed, we grow more aware of its remaining defilement; just as we are more displeased with a single spot on a new coat than with a hundred stains on an old one. – John Barridge

DAILY DEVOTION

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Thursday, July 3
1 Corinthians 5:9-13

DISSOCIATING FROM IMMORALITY IN THE BODY
But now I have written unto you not to keep company with anyone...not even to eat with such a person.  1 Corinthians 5:11, KJV

Apostle Paul gave a godly counsel about immorality that wanted to destroy the testimony of the church at Corinth. He was conscious of the need for the church to promote the standard of holiness because of where it was situated.

Initially from chapter 5, he spoke specifically about the incestuous brother in the church but in verse 9, Paul spoke generally and encouraged the righteous in the church to show hatred for sin in a more practical way.

The only way was for them to dissociate from a professing Christian who continues with immoral acts; and has a scandalous character. This is to show to the world that the church does not tolerate sin.

He further warned them to desist from eating sacred meals that could promote their association with the world. These instructions are relevant to us today. When you associate with someone with a scandalous character, you portray that you are both of the same nature.

The time has come for you to check your life and that of those you associate with. Prayerfully decide today to have a change of attitude and identify with godly people in order to witness to others.

• Birthday Blessing: "May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion." – Psalm 20:2

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 21, 22, 23; Acts 7:41-60

We must first be made good before we can do good; we must first be made just before our works can please God. – Hugh Latimer

DAILY DEVOTION

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Sunday, June 29
1 Corinthians 1:10-17

AGREEMENT WITHOUT DIVISIONS
...That you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you.... 1 Corinthians 1:10, KJV

Today's devotion is a call to harmony within the body of Christ and an emphasis on the need to do away with all that can bring discord. God has positioned specific individuals within the church to serve as agents through whom His blessings are communicated to His people.

Many times, our human natures are demonstrated when we show loyalty to one of these and relegate the other. We take sides with the vessels God uses and overlook the Source of the grace itself.

While God is not against our giving appropriate honour to credible leaders, we must be careful not to allow dividing spirit gain a foothold in God's assembly. When the unity of the church is tampered with, the free move of God may not be guaranteed.

Paul rebuked attitudes like this among the Corinthians. This is reflecting among us today. Christ must be exalted and rated over and above all in the church so that the glory would be His alone.

Have you observed any kind of division in your place of worship? Release yourself today as an instrument to bring the desired peace into the body of Christ.

• Birthday Blessing: "From this day on I will bless you" - Haggai 2:19

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 11, 12,13; Acts 5:17-42

Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent. – Napoleon Bonaparte

DAILY DEVOTION

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Thursday, June 26
1 Corinthians 12:12-20

MANY MEMBERS IN ONE BODY
For as the body is one and has many members... 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

Paul, in this writing to the Corinthians employed the unity of the operations of the body to establish a spiritual reality about the interdependent nature of the church of God. Though there are many members but the body remains one. This is the reality of our faith in Christ.

Though different in personality, but we are saved by the same grace. Like the human body, although they are many, yet they all unite in one harmonious whole.

The unity of the body of Christ is best portrayed as many members having similar pursuits in favour of the kingdom of God. As such, no distraction must be allowed to divert the view of the church from her commission in spite of the obvious difference.

From today's inspiration, it is advised that each believer take the stand of a crusader for the unity of the body in pursuits and purpose. From this, we would get the desired result to change the world for Christ.

Begin to pray to love the unlovable today. Also, you must follow up your prayers with actions. Give gifts to the unlovable; visit them and fellowship with them in truth. As you do so, you would ignite the fire of unity once again.

• Birthday Blessing: "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." - Isaiah 40:1

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 4,5; Acts 4:1-22

The business of our lives is not to please ourselves but to please God. – Matthew Henry

DAILY DEVOTION

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Wednesday, June 25

Ephesians 4:1-6

MAINTAINING THE UNITY OF THE BODY

...Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:2-3, NIV

We have the responsibility of maintaining the Spirit's unity. The unity of the Godhead is proven above any doubt in the Scriptures. The desire of Christ is for the Church to demonstrate this unity in her relationship as a testimony to the world that the Father sent Christ (John 17:21).

When Paul admonished the Ephesian Christians to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, he was emphasising the need for them all to be in perfect agreement; a kind of agreement that is bonded by the Spirit.
There is no doubt that the Church at Ephesus was composed of converted Jews and Gentiles. Because of their different backgrounds, there might be frequent causes of frictions. Indeed, the Jews, though converted, might be envious that the Gentiles were to share the same privileges with them, without sharing in the yoke and burden of the Mosaic Law. Churches today harbour great sentiments towards one another.

We must unite to restore the move of the Spirit in our midst. Let the miracle begin from you. Put aside all differences and allow the bond of peace through the Spirit.

• Birthday Blessing: "Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accom-plished" – Luke 1:45

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 1, 2, 3; Acts 3

I have never known the Spirit of God to work where the LORD's people were divided. – D. L. Moody

DAILY DEVOTION

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Tuesday, June 24
1 Corinthians 12:4-11

EMPOWERED BY THE SAME SPIRIT
All these are the works of one and same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.  1 Corinthians 12:11, NIV

The Scriptures affirms that the Spirit of God is one. The fact that the church shares spiritual things in common is supposed to guarantee our collective unity in spite of the obvious differences.

There are many people in the church demonstrating different gifts according to the will of the Spirit. Interestingly, no matter how public or private any of the gifts may be, each of them is powered by the same Spirit.

The church as a centre approved by God should be a place where His power is experienced by all who approach Him. All spiritual gifts are powered by the Holy Spirit to extend the testimony of the church about God and the promised kingdom.

For an effective ministry, you must daily rely on the Spirit to instruct and guide you so that the results would bring glory to God's name. Pray for the renewal of your gift(s) and Spirit today.

• Birthday Blessing: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" - Zephaniah 3:17.

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Chronicles 29; Acts 2:25-47

Jealousy is a feeling of anger or unhappiness that comes up as a result of an inward feeling that you wish you had something that somebody has or showing interest in someone else's possessions. – Anonymous

DAILY DEVOTION

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Saturday, June 21
Hebrews 10:19-24

THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23, NIV

The truth of the Gospel is the acknowledgement of Jesus Christ as the only Saviour. Any confession other than this is an aberration. The hope professed by the Christians of old was the resurrection of the body and everlasting life. These people looked forward to a future with God and this influenced their living.

For hope to be hope, it must be kept alive by a believing heart. You have a duty to protect your confession of hope until it materialises in physical terms, delivering the dividends to you.

Hope disappears when there is no fertile ground for it to blossom. Hope must be nourished daily in prayers and reaffirmations. You are what you confess and your life is driven mostly by the confessions you make.

This is why what you hope for must reflect in your speech and life in general before they become actualised. Keep on confessing it and pray through till the desire translates to testimony.

• Birthday Blessing: "…Do not be discouraged…the battle in not yours but God's." - 2 Chronicles 20:15

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Chronicles 23, 24; John 21

A man can no more take in a supply of grace for the future than he can eat enough for the next six months. We must draw upon God's boundless store of grace from day-to-day, as we need it. – D.L. Moody