DAILY DEVOTION

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Friday, July 11
Romans 14:1-6

HONOURING AND GIVING THANKS TO GOD
…He who eats meat eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. Romans 14:6, NIV

God's Spirit, through Apostle Paul, gave us the best approach to handling disputable matters in the body of Christ today. The first approach is to thank and appreciate God for the privilege we have to know Him as much as we do.

He also wants us to honour Him in the lives of other Christians by accepting them as they are as we make efforts to help them become better Christians. Again, Apostle Paul warned the Roman Christians, as God is warning you and I today, to desist from "passing judgment on disputable matters" (v. 1), but to accommodate other Christians whose faith in Christ may not be as strong as ours.

Friend, do not condemn any more, but like Jesus did; teach, rebuke, correct and train others in righteousness (John 8:1-11; 2 Timothy 3:16). Stop castigating other Christians on disputable matters because you may not necessarily have superior spiritual knowledge and understanding on the matter.

Always remember that, "the man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him" (Romans 14:3).

• Birthday Blessing: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" – Matthew 11:28

Read Bible Through Passage: Ezra 3, 4, 5; Acts 12

We must rejoice in God but still with a holy trembling. – Matthew Henry

DAILY DEVOTION

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Sunday, July 6

1 Corinthians 6:12-20

GLORIFYING GOD IN YOUR BODY

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body…. 1 Corinthians 6:20, KJV

The human body is mortal and it would surely suffer corruption after death. We are custodians of our body and have responsibility to cater for, and nourish it for a healthy living. We cannot separate the body and the spirit for there is a strong interplay between them. It is not possible to dedicate your spirit to God and handle your body the way you like. God requires that we glorify His name both in the spirit and in the body. The body has been described as the temple of the Holy Spirit and as such must be kept holy (1 Corinthians 6:19).

There is a foundational reason that should motivate every believer to live a distinguished life since Christ bought us with His precious and sinless blood. To glorify God in your body, you must yield your body and all her members; your soul and all its faculties, as instruments of righteousness to God. God's call is for us to devote and employ all we have to Him as a sacrifice to His glory. Examine your life today and make adjustments where necessary on the use of your body. Are you yielding your body as an instrument for sin or as an instrument of righteousness? Reconcile with God and henceforth, glorify God in your body.

• Birthday Blessing: "In famine he will ransom you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword" – Job 5:20

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Chronicles 29, 30; Acts 9:1-25

They tell me a revival is only temporary; so is a bath, but it does you good. – Billy Sunday

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