Devotion
Fight the Good Fight
Chipo Biti
As Christian, you should also realize that you have been sent to this earth to be a missionary. There are many lives out there that have not received Christ and the fate of their eternity is very dim. God has commissioned every single one of us to preach the gospel wholeheartedly as if the world will end tomorrow. We are to look at the world through eyes of compassion and treat the unbelievers as lost, never relenting in our mission to make sure that as many people receive salvation as possible. There is a heaven to gain and a hell to spurn. We need to let the love in our hearts compel us to pray for and preach to every single person on the earth who is yet to receive Christ.
That is the primary call upon our lives. To proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to all who can hear. To live as children of God, expressing our authority of sons of God in order to glorify the name of God. The talents and skills that we have been blessed with will help us reach out to different people in different areas, but what matters the most is that we are using the gift of salvation that we have received to reach out to other souls out there who happen to be lost.
The apostle Paul was one of the most passionate messengers of the gospel in Christian History. He sacrificed as many life luxuries as he could to ensure that as many people as possible got to hear the good news of salvation. He was always travelling. He was beaten, jailed, mocked, and betrayed but none of those obstacles every stopped him from proclaiming the gospel. He faced death on many occasions but he refused to be shaken. He experienced shipwrecks, malnourishment, homelessness, embarrassment, but he remained relentless when it came to the things of God.
He encouraged all the believers he came across and he prayed for all of the churches too. By the time his death was nearing, he confidently said that he had fought the good fight of faith - and this was true. He remained in the faith, unwavering. Nothing could shake him from his faith in God.
Paul is responsible for the majority of the epistles in the New Testament. His heart was set on making sure that as many people received salvation as possible. That is where he drew his joy from.
Prayer
We need to follow the same example as the apostle Paul. Our hearts should be set on Christ first before we consider anything else. Because at the end of the day, the work that we do for God is what will count the most.
Devotion
Give Good Example
Frances Taylor
If we ever needed a reminder of how important it is to practice what we preach, this is it. Not only are we encouraged to help others, but we are also warned about giving bad example or leading others, particularly children, away from the Lord.
I have spoken to many people who say that they became a Christian because of the example of people in their family, friends or strangers whose joy is so great they want a part of it. I also know people who have turned away from the faith they once had because they consider those who proclaim themselves to be Christian are hypocrites. Most people don't start out wanting to be Christians because of doctrine. They are influenced one way or another by people. Are you someone whose life exhibits the joy of knowing Jesus and his saving power? Am I? Do your actions give testimony to your beliefs? A person can go to church each week, Bible classes during the week and give every impression of being a devout follower of ...
Morning Prayer
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Inspiration
There is nothing at all – nothing on the earth and nothing in the spiritual realms – that can separate us from the love of Christ. No matter what any person or principality tries to do in our lives, they will never be able to quash the love Christ has for us. The love God has for us is eternal – it is here to stay for good.
Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for the love that you have for me. Thank you, Lord, that this love will never leave me and it will never forsake me. No matter what anyone tries, or whatever may come my way, Lord, I thank you that your love will always be with me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Night Prayer
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
Inspiration
As Christians, we know that we find peace in God. And today, we’re reminded that He promises peace to His people. But we have to do our part, which is listening. It’s when we turn away from wisdom and pursue foolish and selfish endeavors that peace eludes us. But when we turn our ears to His wisdom, He leads us on the path to peace.
Prayer
God, in You I have received peace that passes understanding. Speak Your wisdom to me, and teach me to not be distracted by my own foolish ambitions. Give me ears to hear You so that I may remain close to You and move in Your peace wherever I go. In Jesus’ name, amen.
