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Forgive!

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  When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” ... But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?” Genesis 50:15, 19, NIV Forgive Think about Joseph. Because of his brothers’ betrayal, Joseph spent thirteen years in slavery and prison in a foreign land. One day, after Joseph was made the prime minister of Egypt, the brothers stood before him trying to buy food in a famine. This was his chance to take revenge. These brothers had taken his freedom and were responsible for him losing years of his life, being away from his family, not following his dream. In a sense, he had a right to get even, but Joseph had already learned that he needed to forgive people who didn’t deserve it. He forgave the people who tried to ruin his life. Because Joseph showed God that He could trust him to do the hard thing, to forgive and be good to people who weren’t good to...
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Relationship: The Key Component to a Fruitful Life!

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  Relationship: The Key Component to a Fruitful Life Scripture: Romans 6:11 “ So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus. ” (Romans 6:11) This is an incredible statement to be making to the believer in Jesus Christ. By his sacrifice Jesus Christ has made us dead to the power of sin. We see this reality take place in our life when, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we put to death the misdeeds of the body. Sure, the old nature lurks around, always trying to re-assert itself (which it does, if the Spirit is not in control of us). We are God’s offspring and are to be responsive to his working in us. We are talking about  relationship here. Our task is to make sure we do nothing to short-circuit the power of God working in our life. Paul reaffirms the relationship concept, writing, “ So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raise...
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Refuse to Be a Victim!

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  The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9 Refuse to Be a Victim Oluwafemi, we all go through unfair things, hurts, offenses, and bad breaks. The question is, Are you going to be a victim or a victor? The enemy will try to convince you to be the forever victim who lives bitter and in self-pity, always giving you a reason to not move forward. “You weren’t raised right. Your teachers put you down. You have an illness. You lost a loved one.” But that will keep you stuck in the pain because you’re giving the enemy permission to keep you defeated. Being the victor starts in your thinking. You have to make God your refuge and stronghold. Refuse to play the role of a victim; don’t give way to self-pity and bitterness. What happened to you is not who you are. It may have been meant for your harm, but if you give it to God, He’s going to turn it to your advantage. If you turn it over to Him, you’ll find the strength to live out of a place of w...
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Glory Belongs to God!

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  Glory Belongs to God Scripture: Psalm 44:3 “ For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, because You favored them. ” (Psalm 44:3 ) From a human perspective it is difficult for us to understand that God is the source of all life. Why? Because the world elevates many self-made individuals. Many of these people bask in the glory that is given to them by the world. The verse in Psalms shows believers that we are not self-sufficient people who can claim any of our successes as being of our own making without help from above. When the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land, the Lord made it perfectly clear that it did not come by their own doing but only through Him. The possession of the land was brought about by the right hand of the Lord, his arm, and the light of his countenance. He favored them! Therefore, all glory should go only to God. This pri...
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Jeremiah 16:14-21!

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  Introduction Jeremiah 16:14–21: The prophet Jeremiah lived during the latter part of the seventh century and the first part of the sixth century B.C. He warned Israel of the catastrophe that was to fall upon the nation because of their idolatry and sin. He lived to see this prophecy come true when Jerusalem fell in 586 B.C. during the reign of the Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar. Along with the destruction of the city and the Temple, many of the people were dragged off to Babylonia. In today’s reading, Jeremiah supernaturally foretells the people’s return from exile and the nation’s restoration, along with the punishment that will precede this return. Today’s Key Verse: Jeremiah 16:21b GNT [The LORD said:] “Once and for all I will make the nations know my power and my might; they will know that I am the LORD.” Read 14  The Lord says, “The time is coming when people will no longer swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egyp...
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Fix Your Eyes on Christ!

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  Fix Your Eyes on Christ Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 “ Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ” (Hebrews 12:2 ) Most of us have issues to face while we are living in this world. Problems, challenges, and changing circumstances just go with the territory. One of the most difficult lessons to learn for us as believers is to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ instead of only focusing on the problems facing us. Constantly fixing our eyes on problems is debilitating. It leads to depression. In fact, we can make idols of our problems if that is all we think about. Jesus did not focus on the cross, its shame, or the humiliation from the soldiers and crowd. He focused on the joy, the forgiveness, and the eternal reward that would come from what he was doing. We have the promise, “ I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel y...
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Daniel 9:119!

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  Introduction Daniel 9:1–19: The book of Daniel recounts a time when a Babylonian king attacked Jerusalem around 586 B.C. and took many people into captivity to Babylon. Among those captured was Daniel, who remained faithful to God amid hardship. In today’s reading, Daniel prays for the people now living in exile. Today’s Key Verse: Daniel 9:4b GNT [Daniel prayed:] “Lord God, you are great, and we honor you. You are faithful to your covenant and show constant love to those who love you and do what you command.” Read 9  Darius the Mede, who was the son of Xerxes, ruled over the kingdom of Babylonia.  2  In the first year of his reign I was studying the sacred books and thinking about the seventy years that Jerusalem would be in ruins, according to what the Lord had told the prophet Jeremiah.  3  And I prayed earnestly to the Lord God, pleading with him, fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes.  4  I prayed to the Lord ...
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