Thursday, April 26, 2012

FOOL FOR CHRIST’S SAKE

MI DAILY DEVOTION
THURSDAY
FOOL FOR CHRIST’S SAKE
I CORINTHIANS 3:18-20
18- “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19- For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
20- And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”

WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY-FOOL MEANS ONE DESTITUTE OF REASON; A SIMPLETON; A SILLY PERSON; A BUFFOON; TO PLAY THE LOOK; TO TRIFLE; TO MAKE A FOOL OF; TO DECEIVE.
“Ti’s good to smile, to laugh and play, for joy-filled hearts drive clouds away, but foolish ways and thoughtless fun can lead to sin and hide the sun.” Daily Bread

Foolishness can lead to sin and pain to others. We can be fools for nothing or be fools for the Lord Jesus Christ. Or we can be fools for Satan or be a fool for God. Be a fool for the Word of God or be a fool for the sin of this world and its pleasures. We can be a fool in the sight of God or be a fool in the sight of man. If you please the world, people will say something negative or will criticize you anyways. They will do the same when you please your Lord and Master. Be a God pleaser and be a fool for God’s glory. WE ARE FOOL FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, BECAUSE WE BELIEVE ON THE GOSPEL FOR OUR SALVATION. King Solomon said: A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 6- To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:5-7

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Mi Daily Devotion- Salvation!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

THE LORD IS FAITHFUL

MI DAILY DEVOTION
THURSDAY
THE LORD IS FAITHFUL
(Revelation 2:10) 10- Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

The Lord knows that we will have sufferings one day, but He said; Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: The suffering is sure but the kind of suffering will still have to be determined or given. He suffered, we must suffer. He suffered for our salvation; we must learn to suffer in His service and for His glory. He was faithful unto death; we must remain faithful until death. The Lord knows that the devil will give us misery, trials and imprisonment, but remember God is faithful. Some of us may not be in a literal jail, but many of us are imprisoned by our own sin, self, selfishness, sorrow, stupidity, weaknesses and pride. Some prisoners were imprisoned for the crime or crimes that they committed, but many of them have been imprisoned in their own self and sin before they’ve committed such crime. We can’t be set free from our sin and misery unless we let the Lord capture our hearts, our mind and our whole being. The Lord is the true freedom and He is the Lord who is faithful and true. Jesus said: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36) We may stumble and fall along the way, but the Lord is always there for us. We need to learn to trust Him and humbly recognize Him as our sovereign Lord. Jesus promised us the crown of life. Eternal life and God’s commendation is good enough for me. I could not ask for more… I believe that one of the blessings that may have encouraged the disciples, the prophets and the martyrs to keep on keeping on in spite of the persecutions and death they were facing was the faithfulness of God. The Bible said: God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (I Corinthians 1:9)

Monday, April 9, 2012

JESUS IS THE KING OF kings, YET HE DIED FOR SINNERS

MI DAILY DEVOTION
MONDAY
JESUS IS THE KING OF kings, YET HE DIED FOR SINNERS

(Philippians 2:6- 7) 6- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7- But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

He served us and became a servant for all of us. (Philippians 2:5- 10)
Mr. Matthew Henry wrote: “The inscription itself which Pilate wrote, and ordered to be fixed to the top of the cross, declaring the cause for which he was crucified, v. 19. Matthew called it, aitia — the accusation; Mark and Luke called it epigraphe — the inscription; John calls it by the proper Latin name, titlos — the title: and it was this, Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews, Pilate intended this for his reproach, that he, being Jesus of Nazareth, should pretend to be king of the Jews, and set up in competition with Caesar, to whom Pilate would thus recommend himself, as very jealous for his honour and interest, when he would treat but a titular king, a king in metaphor, as the worst of malefactors; but God overruled this matter, (1.) That it might be a further testimony to the innocency of our Lord Jesus; for here was an accusation which, as it was worded, contained no crime. If this be all they have to lay to his charge, surely he has done nothing worthy of death or of bonds. (2.) That it might show forth his dignity and honour. This is Jesus a Saviour, Nazoraios, the blessed Nazarite, sanctified to God; this is the king of the Jews, Messiah the prince, the sceptre that should rise out of Israel, as Balaam had foretold; dying for the good of his people, as Caiaphas had foretold. Thus all these three bad men witnessed to Christ, though they meant not so. In each of these Christ is proclaimed king, in whom are hid all the treasures of revelation, wisdom, and power.” (The Bible Collection) And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelations 19:16)

Thursday, April 5, 2012

BELIEVE ON THE GOSPEL FOR YOUR SALVATION

MI DAILY DEVOTION
WEDNESDAY
BELIEVE ON THE GOSPEL FOR YOUR SALVATION
(I Corinthians 15:3- 4) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4- And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

What is the meaning of the word “Gospel”? According to the Bible gospel means the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Scriptures. When you believe on what Christ did on the cross 2,000 years ago for eternal life, it made it a full gospel. It means it fulfills its true meaning in people’s live as people accept it by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord. Apostle Paul wrote: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9- Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Believing in Christ for eternal life may not be a perfect doctrine for many. But that’s what the Bible says… It was because of the finished work of Christ on the cross. There will be no Christmas, Holy Friday and Easter Sunday celebrations if not for the Lord Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross. It was His love for sinners that put Him on a tree. The gospel is the result of the Holy Trinity’s umbrella of love and sacrifice for humanity. If you would imagine God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit put their hands and hearts together to cover us and embrace us all with their love and for our salvation. But notice what human race did to God; the Bible says: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. 20- For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21- Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1: 19-21)

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

THEY PIERCED JESUS’ SIDE, BUT DID NOT KILL HIM

MI DAILY DEVOTION
THURSDAY


MI DAILY DEVOTION
THURSDAY
THEY PIERCED JESUS’ SIDE, BUT DID NOT KILL HIM
(Zechariah 12:10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

God’s deliverance, power and protection are not designed for Israel, the City of David and the chosen people of God only, but were also promised to the Gentiles. We see the hands of God working in the life of Christians. The power of Satan and his followers here on earth as represented by the Nations who stand against God and His people will be destroyed. It started at the cross when Jesus shouted “It is finished”. They pierced Him, but did not kill Him because He laid down His life for our salvation. Jesus said: As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 17- Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18- No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:15; 17- 18)
Matthew Henry wrote: “In Christ’s first coming, he sought to destroy him that had the power of death, and did destroy him, bruised the serpent’s head, and broke all the powers of darkness that fought against God’s kingdom among men and against the faithful friends and subjects of that kingdom; he spoiled them, and made a show of them openly. In his second coming, he will complete their destruction, when he shall put down all opposing rule, principality, and power, and death itself shall be swallowed up in that victory. The last enemy shall be destroyed of all that fought against Jerusalem.” (The Bible Collection) Apostle Paul said: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

FAITH MEANS FOCUS IN GOD

MI DAILY DEVOTION
FAITH MEANS FOCUS IN GOD
TUESDAY
(Romans 10:17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Our faith in God comes along with obedience to God and His Word. There’s no other object of faith but in God. Faith in faith or faith in something is not the object of our genuine faith in God. When Apostle Paul met the Lord while on his way to Damascus in (Acts 9:1- 20); he was converted to Christianity when he put his trust in God. Paul did not have faith in faith; but faith in God who promised him of eternal life in heaven. You cannot separate God, faith and the Bible. We already have an idea of God and about God, but when we heard His Word, we took the genuine step of faith in a true and living God. Faith in God does not work like a vending machine where you drop some coins, you make a selection, push the buttons and what you choose will just drop down for you to pick up. Genuine faith in God is God working in you through His Spirit, by His Word and you obey.
It’s so easy for us Christians to be driven away by our emotion, intellectual ideas and selfish motives. You can lay everything down in the feet of Jesus at the throne of grace. You can trust God to help you with your sin, hopelessness, burdens and financial problem. You have to believe that God knows what He is doing. He knows what lies ahead and God knows our future. Faith is dropping everything from off your hands and your life and entrusting them to God, knowing that He is in control. It’s so easy to get disconnected with God and be out of focus when we lost faith in Him due to the cares of this world. Intensely, carefully and diligently listen to His small voice so you can stay focus to Him by faith. Notice what the writer of the Book of Hebrews said; But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Monday, April 2, 2012

THE LORD ANSWERS EVERY PRAYERS

MI DAILY DEVOTION
MONDAY
THE LORD ANSWERS EVERY PRAYERS
(Mark 11:24) Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ in our text may sounds impossible to many, but it’s the truth of the Word of God and a promise to every believer. God answers our prayer where ever we may be. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7) This is self explanatory because the focus of the verse is about prayer. The Psalmists said; O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. (Psalm 65:2) Who can refute this promise from the Word of God? And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14- If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. (John 14:13- 14) God answers to our prayers will not be bound by circumstances and time; but the timing is in His hand. It should be according to His will and His way. He wants to answer our prayer in His way and not our own way. The common answers to our prayer could be “No” “Yes” or “Wait”. It’s not just about the power of prayer or the provision that we get from praying, but the right perspective in praying. Where is the power of their prayer? What kind of power do they have? Where did they get their power from? Sin is one of the hindrances to the answer of our prayer. Doubt or unbelief is another hindrance to our prayers. I wonder what happened to the millions of prayers that were ushered in the throne of grace by every believer all over the world. I also wonder of those millions of people praying in a wrong person or gods. I was also thinking of the wrong prayers that some have practiced and use with expectation that God would be pleased. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: (Psalm 66:18) A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. (Psalm 143:1)