Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

In matters of possession, there are two extremes to avoid. The first is to think that our life is measured by them. If we think having great possessions is what makes us and we gloat over them, we are in error. Jesus put paid to this when He taught that the life of a man does not consist in the abundance of things he has. The second extreme is to think that possessions are outrightly evil. Our text of scripture will take an exception to such submission. God promised Israel that they would come out of serving Egypt with great substance. He does not tempt anyone with evil. If possessions were evil, it would be out of place to give a promise of same to His people.

What might be evil with possession is the way people go about acquiring it…Another thing that may be evil with possession is if it takes hold of the heart of the owner.

What might be evil with possession is the way people go about acquiring it. Jacob began his journey to great substance through a dubious means. He lied and swindled his brother out of his inheritance. That would haunt him many years later. Ahab also acquired a vineyard after his wife had gruesomely murdered its owner. Both the king and his wife had a shameful end. Another thing that may be evil with possession is if it takes hold of the heart of the owner. In this case, the possessor is possessed by a strange spirit called mammon. No one can serve God and mammon together. If we take care of this and other dangers associated with possessions, it can be a great means to serve God and minister to the needs of the hungry and the homeless.

When they were 99 and 89 years old respectively, Abraham and Sarah laughed off the offer of a child from God. That was not the first time that God made the promise; but it had been so long in coming that they closed the chapter. In any case they had found a palliative alternative in Ishmael. God’s reiteration of a child to Abraham and Sarah was first greeted with laughter of unbelief. The reason why they could not take the offer was their dead situations. Abraham’s body was dead as was Sarah’s womb. From those seemingly dead bodies came multitudes of people, as innumerable as the sand by the sea shore. What happened? God simply administered some anti-aging procedure on this couple! This was not the only place that God’s anti-aging treatment was applied. Naaman also got that treatment. After he dipped himself in Jordan water seven times as the prophet stipulated, his skin came back fresh like that of a baby!

they shifted their focus from what their body was telling them to what God was saying. Make the switch today; focus on what God is saying in the face of other contrary opinion.

Caleb was 85 when he testified that he still had the strength of a 40-year old and was ready to fight and take his mountain of inheritance. I believe God can preserve your body from undue decay, keep you strong and alive until you possess what has been earmarked for you. Beyond this, God can reverse every wrong entry in your life. What is required is a heart that can take God at His word. Though Abraham and Sarah first laughed at what they considered preposterous, they soon kissed their unbelief goodbye and embraced the promise of God. From that moment on, they shifted their focus from what their body was telling them to what God was saying. Make the switch today; focus on what God is saying in the face of other contrary opinion.

Nagging is a compliment, only in a negative form. It is a leading cause of instability in relationships, particularly marital ones. Nagging could be frustrating; even God found this so. The children of Israel found every ground to complain, and it displeased the Lord. God would rather want them to be grateful. Sure enough, there were enough reasons to show gratitude. They were supernaturally delivered from Egyptian bondage of 400 years. They received miracle bread on a platter. They were shielded from the scorching sun in the desert, and lots more. Despite all these, their compliments to God were only negative. Their complaints provoked God’s anger; and His fire consumed some of them.

Nagging is a compliment, only in a negative form. It is a leading cause of instability in relationships, particularly marital ones.

Everyone of us is liable to the same temptation; and we must fight this tendency. One way to do this is to consider the unwholesome consequence for those who murmur against the Lord. In their case, murmuring destroyed them; but for us though we may be alive physically but that attitude will eat up some aspects of our lives. Think of it in another light: murmuring in itself does not change the condition. If we go by human relationships, that can actually harden someone’s stance against his or her spouse. Finally, to fight the temptation to murmur, consider all the good things God has already done in your life; and give Him thanks.

On a couple of occasions, Paul mentioned that he was hindered from getting to some places or having some things done. To the Romans, there was no explanation other than the claim that he was hindered. “For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you.” Romans 15:22 NKJV. When he wrote to the Thessalonians, he was more specific. “Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us.” I Thessalonians 2:18 NKJV. From here, we can safely assume that it was Satan who hindered him from going to the other place as well. The good news is that the hindrance was not for ever. We know that he eventually carried the gospel to Rome, and he finished on a strong note as he testified in his epistle to Timothy.

In reality, the works of the flesh do the groundwork for Satan’s ultimate onslaught…individuals have to take deliberate steps to rid themselves of them.

The key lesson for us is that if Paul encountered some hindrances, Satan will not spare anyone. He will try to hinder us from our purposes in God. The additional lesson is that it is not only Satan that can hinder us, the works of the flesh are also hinderers. In reality, the works of the flesh do the groundwork for Satan’s ultimate onslaught. In our text, we have a sample of the works of the flesh – bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, evil speaking, and malice. The more they are prevalent in a life the less effective that person becomes in the things of God. These works of the flesh and others that are not mentioned here do not expire on their own; individuals have to take deliberate steps to rid themselves of them. In this regard, we all need the Holy Spirit to circumcise us.

The death and resurrection of Jesus brought so much blessing for us. Apart from forgiveness of our sins, we also have access to the Father both now and for all eternity. The atoning work of Christ is the crowning hope of every believer. Moreover, Jesus’ work provided victory over death. The Book of Hebrews puts this well – “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Hebrews 2:14 NKJV. Satan used death to terrorise humanity before Jesus came. However, Satan has now lost his hold on this instrument of torture – death.

The atoning work of Christ is the crowning hope of every believer. Moreover, Jesus’ work provided victory over death.

Apostle Paul was versed in this secret. He was not in doubt of the eternal state of his soul after his earthly sojourn. If he lived, he would use his time to serve the cause of his Saviour and bring many to the way of salvation. And if he died, it would be gain, for then would he have been liberated from the limitation that the flesh imposed. Whichever was the case, he found himself in a win-win situation. That was why he could be joyful in whatever state he found himself. It is inspiring to know that this is not a peculiar advantage for Paul. All of God’s children are in win-win situation, no matter what happens. This is the right belief that should fuel our joy. While we have our being, we should employ every opportunity to spread the cause of Christ. When the curtain is drawn on our activities, there will be no occasion for regret.

At a recent Restoration Seminar in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, I spoke on repentance among other issues. I found a particular definition of repentance intriguing. It is not just remorse for wrongdoing, it is also a return to the starting point. I believe this is apt for the entire Body of Christ. There is a hymn by Fredrick W. Faber that can help us appreciate the type of faith exhibited by first century Christians. He titled it FAITH OF OUR FATHERS. Here is the first stanza – “Faith of our fathers, living still/In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword/Oh, how our hearts beat for joy/Whene’er we hear that glorious word!”

The fathers of faith were able to maintain steady walk with God in spite of jail, fire, and sword…The only thing that can return Christianity back to its glory days is the faith of the fathers.

The fathers of faith were able to maintain steady walk with God in spite of jail, fire, and sword. They kept the spiritual discipline of prayer and other duties even at the risk of their lives. That is why their brand of faith could overcome the most heinous program that hell could invent.  That was the kind of faith Paul operated in. By it, he could give thanks and pray despite his bonds. Of additional interest was his focus in prayer, seeking for the welfare of the church he had helped found. Most people in his condition will not pray at all; they would probably be bitter against God and man. The few who would pray will be too pre-occupied with their own deliverance from the gulag than to think of what is happening to other people. Here we see Paul exemplified the Master who even on the cross was praying for the salvation of mankind. The only thing that can return Christianity back to its glory days is the faith of the fathers.