This devotional specifies some selected topics that can strengthen your faith in Christ and help you in your day-to-day activities.
1. God’s Promises
The first devotional is God’s promises. You can reflect that when Moses stood on Mount Nebo, God showed him the Promised Land. This promise had driven the Israelites through the wilderness for decades. Though Moses did not enter the land, he saw the breathtaking realisation of God’s covenant (promise).
We should be reminded that God’s plans and words unfold perfectly, even if we cannot see the ending picture from the beginning. Today’s passage discusses the concluding moments of Moses’ life.
Verse 4 of today’s text says, “This is the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Here, God reaffirms His covenant (promise) as our attention is being called to the past and present, and the connection from the patriarchs’ faith to Moses’ faith.
Though Moses could not cross over the land, he saw more than terrain and experienced God’s faithfulness, commitment and loyalty.
Moses’ experience teaches us valuable lessons. When we are struggling with uncertainty, God knows the way. He led Moses right; He will lead you if you trust Him. Remember, God’s promises had not been compromised; the Israelites got to the Promised Land.
Despite limitations and challenges, you will eventually get to your Promised Land. What you have to do is trust God and His power. Reflect on God’s faithfulness in your life and the lives of your loved ones.
Let the assurance and promises in the Bible strengthen your faith. As you walk with God, may today’s passage inspire your confidence in the Lord, who keeps His promises.
2. New Covenant
Another devotional is New Covenant. God’s new covenant is beautifully illustrated in Verse 17, saying, “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” This assurance underscores God’s forgiveness, made possible by Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice. Through this sacrifice, believers can gain direct access to God.
The new covenant replaces the old covenant, and offers eternal salvation and intimate fellowship with God. Jesus’ sacrifice ends the need for repeated rituals and intermediaries between man and God. We can now approach God directly and confidently as His children.
We are no longer the servants but the children of Jesus Christ. When we embrace God’s new covenant, our lives will be transformed. We shall live free from the guilt of sins and shame through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice.
With free access to God, we now enjoy God’s presence in prayer and the assurance of eternal salvation. Our relationship with God is no longer defined by rules and regulations but by grace and love.
Your sin will be forgiven and forgotten when you enter God’s new covenant. Also, through the new covenant, you will be made perfect and have direct access to God through Christ Jesus. Believers should appreciate what God has done for them through Christ Jesus by living godly and victorious lives. You should share the good news with other people.
3. Hospitality
This devotional theme is essential. Welcoming people warmly is an attribute of Christian hospitality. Christian hospitality is the act of welcoming or embracing a stranger or strangers in the name of Jesus Christ. Showing a receptive character may be extended to members of God’s family without the thought of being repaid. This kind of voluntary hospitality happened between the two Israelite spies and Rahab.
While the Israelites were camped at Shittim, Joshua sent two spies to explore the land of Jericho. When they arrived in Jericho, information reached the king of Jericho that Israelite spies were in town and were kept by Rahab.
She received the spies even though she had not had any relationship with them before. She also risked it at the cost of her life. When she knew the spies were in trouble and they could be killed if found, she shielded them on her roof until they were safe from the sword of the king and his emissaries.
How do you respond to strangers who seek your help? Do you help only those who help you or who can help in return? Though many people, even Christians, may think twice to provide hospitality or help to strangers because of the prevalent evils in our society today. However, like Rahab, you should depend on the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you on when to open your doors to strangers.
4. Faith in Challenging Times
This devotional theme is crucial. It will be amazing if a wayward person who we think cannot be reached by God’s offer of salvation surrenders himself/herself to Jesus without being ministered to, especially the people who have been deeply involved in different vices and crimes.
This was the experience of Rahab. She put her faith in the God of Israel and helped in securing the lives of Israelite spies from what would have led them to death in Jericho. Rehab narrated how God helped the Israelites defeat their enemies and the wonders He had done for them in the past.
She believed that God had handed over Jericho to the hands of the Israelites and therefore sought to strike a deal for safety and security for herself and her family members. This may have been the reason Rahab was numbered among the heroes of faith in the Book of Hebrews 11:31. Such a commitment was very rare among non-Israelites.
You must remember that God does not disappoint those who put their trust in Him. When your faith remains in God, He will also go the extra mile to honour you. No matter how difficult the situation is, do not doubt the power of God. He is ever faithful and will always give victory.
5. Worship
Another devotional theme is worship. The people in a small village wanted to honour their king with a festival, where some of them wanted to copy the strange customs of their neighbouring villages, such as dancing wildly. But the elders of the village reminded them that the King had told them that the celebration should be simply joyous in such a way that it would give respect and honour to God.
God instructed the Israelites to reject unworthy worship of pagans, such as child sacrifice and bloodshed in worship to their gods and remain faithful to His commands. God warned them that they should not imitate the worship of the surrounding nations, which are corrupt, idolatrous and morally degrading.
He continued that the Israelites were free to eat meat in the town only as regular food, but not as part of any pagan ritual. He also said, “They must not eat the blood of the meat because blood is life, and it shows respect for life and obedience to God’s commands. They are to bring their sacrifices to the place of worship chosen by God. They must obey God’s instructions without adding to or removing from them.”
Christians should know that true worship must align with God’s specific instructions. Is your worship of God by His instructions? Avoid any form of worship that dishonours Him and leads to spiritual corruption and crisis.
God desires sincere and pure worship that reflects His holiness and righteousness. You are encouraged to shun all forms of ungodliness in worship and serve God with an acceptable heart that reflects holiness and righteousness.
6. Nothing is there
This devotional theme is essential. Imagine you invest your life savings in a mirage, only to discover that it is just an illusion. This imagination will be accompanied by overwhelming disappointment and despair. Similarly, idolaters invest their lives in worthless idols, devoid of reality or power. These empty pursuits promise fulfilment, but they deliver only emptiness.
The book of Isaiah 44:9-20 exposes the futility of idolatry with scathing honesty. The prophet mocks idol makers and highlights their foolishness in crafting lifeless deities. He then describes the idol’s inability to see, hear, or act, and underscores its powerlessness.
The passage drives home the devastating consequences of idolatry and spiritual blindness. In daily life, we must recognise the emptiness of worldly pursuits and idols. We must acknowledge that wealth, status, and worldly pleasure are fleeting illusions. When we turn from vain worship to the living God, it means that we invest in eternal realities.
As we renounce idolatry, we discover the liberating power of worshipping the one true God. Our eyes, once blinded by deception, now see the radiant glory of God. Our hearts, once enthralled by empty promises, now beat with purpose.
May we learn from Isaiah’s prophetic words: there’s nothing in idolatry – only emptiness and despair. But in God, there’s everything – life, hope, and eternal fulfilment.
7. Through His Prophets
This is an important devotional theme. God has been consistently communicating, guiding and directing His people through His prophets. In the book of Amos 3:1-7, we can see how God is willing to reveal His plans to those who listen to His instructions. This divine dialogue explains the significance of prophetic voices in shaping our understanding of God’s Will.
The book of Amos 3:1-7 emphasises God’s sovereignty in human affairs. The passage highlights Israel’s unique relationship with God (vv. 1-2) and the consequences of their disobedience (vv. 3-6). It also underscores God’s commitment to revealing His plans to His prophets and ensuring that His people are informed and accountable. Through the prophets, we receive God’s guidance, correction and encouragement.
Today, let’s understand that God still speaks to His people. Ensure that you listen to His voice through Scripture, prayer and the guidance of spiritual leaders. Believers should be attentive to God’s voice and avoid any distractions.
Seek God’s guidance when you want to make a decision, and do not solely rely on your wisdom. May you hear God’s gentle whisper and guide you on your spiritual journey and shape your thoughts, words, and actions.
You can read further about the similar devotional post on this page.
