Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

On a daily basis, an average person uses several products and devices. For example, I am typically surrounded by many things that aid my work. As I make this entry of the devotional I am surrounded by a number of things in my study. I have air conditioner unit to help cushion the effect of our tropical weather. A water dispenser is a few meters away. I am working with the aid of a table and chair, not to mention the device on which I am typing. All of these items represent the productive genius of some people who I may never meet in person. However, they are contributing to my life and work in no small way. This brings us to a powerful lesson about work. Those who work legitimately contribute to human and societal development. The products that you buy and enjoy are people’s gifts and contributions to you; what you create or do that others patronize are your gifts and contributions to them.

Those who work legitimately contribute to human and societal development…It is an established fact that God works. So when we work, we imitate His nature…it is through your work that God can use you to bless your world.

This should add to your perspective about honest labour. It is an established fact that God works. So when we work, we imitate His nature. So even if work had not been a commandment, it would still have been in order to work so as to teach the world God’s nature. Besides, honest labour is the legitimate way to meet our needs with dignity. That is why you can readily pick the pride in Paul’s voice when he said “these hands have provided for my necessities” Acts 20:34. Finally, it is through your work that God can use you to bless your world.

A couple of years ago, Christianne Amanpour of CNN did a documentary on Trokosi Slave girls. It is a practice in some parts of Ghana where young girls are compelled to marry the gods ably represented by the tribal priests. Among the women and children in the harem was a seven year-old. When a priest was asked why the girl was brought, it was learned that her uncle committed adultery and the family had to volunteer her as atonement for his sin. Such girls end up as sex slaves who also work on the farms of the tribal priests.

Everybody will face up with their sins…The issue of sin has been settled; Jesus paid it for all mankind.

Jesus spoke about how the Jews made void the word of God through their customs. Peter described some conducts which have been handed down by the fathers as aimless. The Trokosi Slave wives definitely fall into this category. The practice violates the right of the girl-child as well as principles of the word of God. No one has the right to hold down another in any circumstance against their will. Again, the scripture states that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; including those tribal priests who are exacting punishment on innocent victims. Finally, we know from scriptures that God does not ask anyone to pay for the sin of another. Everybody will face up with their sins. What a relief to know that God is not asking us to pay for our sins or that of our forebears! The issue of sin has been settled; Jesus paid it for all mankind.

Those who are born of God have overcome, and have a strong assurance of victory. The victory of Jesus is one strong case for believers to claim victory. Jesus tasted suffering for the human race. Scripture tells us that He was tempted at all point as we are, yet without sin. He has been through it before. Having been broken Himself, He has become the Master at mending. And now a believer can say, “Because He lives, I shall live also”. On this note, He spoke the words of John 16:33 to His followers – “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

The victory of Jesus is one strong case for believers to claim victory…The promise given by the Master is another ground for believers to expect victory in life…With Jesus in the boat, a believer can sing a song of victory and say, “It is well with my soul”.

The promise given by the Master is another ground for believers to expect victory in life. In Matthew’ gospel, Jesus made a firm promise that He would be there at all times. “Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be)” Matthew 28:19-20 AMPC. With Jesus in the boat, a believer can sing a song of victory and say, “It is well with my soul”.

Israel encountered two problems immediately they left Egypt. The first was the army of Pharaoh pursuing them hard; and the second was the red sea before them. The first was an opposition; the other, a barrier. There was no engineering feat or a cutting-edge war technology available to them. All that God said to Moses was to tell the people to march forward! Opposition or barrier cannot stop you once you hear the voice of God. A problem remains a problem until you hear “thus says the Lord”. From that moment on what you have is prospect, possibility and progress. Great things begin to happen once the ears are unstopped.

Opposition or barrier cannot stop you once you hear the voice of God. A problem remains a problem until you hear “thus says the Lord”. From that moment on what you have is prospect, possibility and progress…Great things begin to happen once the ears are unstopped.

Hearing God holds another benefit. Recently, we learned that patterns for building life, ministry or what have you are receivable on the mountain. It is worth adding that another thing that takes place on the mountain is hearing the voice of God. The Psalmist in our text says blessed are those who hear the joyful sound. I believe the joyful sound is that which is coming from the mouth of God. Those whose ears have been circumcised and are able to hear God can beat any odds. They are the ones who can also build to fit divine patterns.

The Bible speaks expressly of the glory of God and the glory of man; but they do not mean the same thing. The glory of God normally describes the awe-inspiring presence of God. It is God bringing His weight to bear upon a gathering or upon an issue. When the glory of God appeared on Mount Sinai, the people froze in fear. On Mount Carmel, the people bowed their knees and confessed that the Lord was God when they saw the miraculous fire of Elijah. The glory of God is often associated with the manifestation of His power either to punish evil or to reward the good. The glory of God is also when His intervention brings solution to the dilemma of man as we see it in John 2 where Jesus turned water to wine.

One of the effects of God’s blessing on man is glory…A glorified man owes a debt of gratitude to God all through life.

The glory of man on the other hand often means position of influence and wealth. This is the sense in which it was used in Genesis 31:1 when the sons of Laban complained that “Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.” This is also the sense in which Joseph sent his brethren to his father, asking them to tell him “of all my glory in Egypt” (Genesis 45:13). One of the effects of God’s blessing on man is glory. Both Jacob and Joseph whose glory we read about enjoyed tremendous goodwill from God. A glorified man owes a debt of gratitude to God all through life.

In one of our past meditations, we noticed that the Bible begins a showcase of a working God. In Exodus, we saw Him as the Lord of Hosts who worked out deliverance for Israel out of Egyptian bondage. God did not stop working even when Israel settled into the Promised Land as a nation. The Psalmist also portrayed God as a worker. “For God is my King from of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth” Psalms 74:12 NKJV. God’s stock in trade is working salvation in the midst of the earth. By the way, salvation here includes deliverances and provisions.

Whatever your need, be assured that God’s ability to meet them is never in doubt. His willingness is not in doubt either. All that is required is to have your heart properly aligned to His.

Our present focus is to learn how to connect with God’s salvation. He will work for the salvation for those whose hearts are loyal towards Him. Loyalty of heart involves several things. It requires maintaining single focus on God alone. We understand from God’s word that a double minded person cannot receive anything from the Lord. Confidence in the flesh will disqualify you from enjoying the salvation of God. Jeremiah declared that those who put confidence in the flesh will be blinded to anything good. Finally, to be steadfast towards the Lord is to be blameless in His sight. Without a heart of integrity God will bypass anyone. Whatever your need, be assured that God’s ability to meet them is never in doubt. His willingness is not in doubt either. All that is required is to have your heart properly aligned to His.