Spiritual Growth – Page 29

THE FURIOUS FOUR

28th January 2023

“Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry.” Nehemiah 4:7 REFERENCE: Nehemiah 4:1-9 The enemies of the Jews came together to form an unholy alliance. They planned to frustrate their project so it would fail and never be completed. In life, whenever you embark on a worthy cause, a myriad of issues arises to dissuade you. The furious four – Sanballat, Tobiah (head of the Ammonites), Gershom the Arab, and the Ashdodites, opposed Nehemiah's mission. The...

WHEN IT IS TIME

27th January 2023

“That night the king could not sleep. So, one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” ~ Esther 6:1 REFERENCE: Esther 6:1-10 When we say, “It is time,” we refer to a set time, an appointed time in which something is to happen. It marks the start of a meeting or an event, and when it is time, things go into motion. Nothing will happen in a particular setting except it is time. We are often between our waiting time and our appointed time – when it is time...

A MAN OF HONOR

26th January 2023

“So, Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor!” ~ Esther 6:11 REFERENCE: Esther 6:6-12 Most men seek honor amongst men. They want to be respected, regarded, and remembered as great personalities. But who is truly a man of honor? Who deserves such high esteem amongst men? Those who seek it? Those who scheme for it? Or those to whom God gives it? Honor is high respect and great esteem. It is...

A BRAND-NEW MAN

25th January 2023

“So, when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”– Acts 28:4 REFERENCE: Acts 28:1-6 Often, people will name you by your past experiences and expect you to suffer for an offense of the past. However, God is not like that; He can take the worst of men and turn them into the best of men. He can turn a terrorist into an evangelist; He can so remove a man from...

BE DOERS OF THE WORD

24th January 2023

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 REFERENCE: James 1:22-25 Obedience is of great value before God. It endeared Abraham to God because he promptly acted whenever God spoke to him. It is good to read, study, or listen to the word of God, but it profits us nothing if we do not do what it says. James counsels, “Be doers of the word.” Nothing substitutes obedience in the eyes of God, not giving, singing, dancing, charity, etc. If a man wants to please God, let him tremble at His word, acting...

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH: THE LANGUAGE OF FAITH

23rd January 2023

“And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” ~ Luke 8:24&25 REFERENCE: Luke 8:22-25 In the last devotional, we understood that life would often throw us into circumstances where the only appropriate response would be faith, nothing else. When we get daunted and crushed by these challenges, Jesus asks us, as He did His disciples, “Where is your faith?” When Jesus asked His disciples...

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

21st January 2023

“…Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. But He said to them, “Where is your faith?” ~ Luke 8:24-25 REFERENCE: Luke 8:22-25 Scripture tells us twice, “The just shall live by his faith.” It is because life will often put us in circumstances that require our faith response. There will be a likelihood of distressing news, sicknesses, financial obligation deadlines, battles against negative thoughts, etc. As He asked His disciples, Jesus will ask you at such times, “Where is your faith?” Life put the disciples of Jesus Christ...

FORGIVE HIM

20th January 2023

“…If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” – Luke 17:3 REFERENCE: Luke 17:1-4 Jesus said, “It is impossible that no offenses should come.” That is true. As long as we relate with other humans, we are bound to rub one another wrong or say things out of turn. We have been told what to do when a brother offends or sins against us – forgive him. Forgiveness is a rich concept that runs through the whole bible. It is at the root of Christianity. Romans 5:8 says, “…While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Without forgiveness,...

THE IMPORTANT LEAST

19th January 2023

“Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind because three days ago I fell sick.” ~ I Samuel 30:13 REFERENCE I Samuel 30:9-20 It is easy to ignore certain people: the poor, servants, cleaners, refuse collectors, or the gatemen in the office. Most often, these people are at the bottom of the ‘food chain’ in society or organizations; we tend to overlook their usefulness, but they are the 'important least'. David lost everything he had,...

EYES FIXED ON JESUS

18th January 2023

“Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.” ~ Luke 4:20 REFERENCE: Luke 4:16-21 Amidst the culture of hero-worship that permeates today’s society, believers can get distracted and soon turn their attention to false gods. There are great orators, singers, actors, social media influencers, talk show hosts, entertainers, and musicians, many of whom have very many followers. However, a child of God must be careful to have his eyes fixed on Jesus all the time. What you keep looking at...

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