The Light of Life Daily Devotional

Monday, 23rd May 2022

TOPIC: COMMITTED, NO MATTER WHAT 

FOR READING & MEDITATION:  HEBREWS 11:13-16

13 These men of faith I have mentioned died without ever receiving all that God had promised them; but they saw it all awaiting them on ahead and were glad, for they agreed that this earth was not their real home but that they were just strangers visiting down here. 

14 And quite obviously when they talked like that, they were looking forward to their real home in heaven.

15 If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. 

16 But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them.

MEDITATE 

The scripture for meditation today supports the point about the attitude of the early saints. Take Moses for example, he had the opportunity to become the next Pharaoh but turned it down. History reveals that civilization began in Egypt. 

Just imagine being the President of the most civilized and powerful nation of the world of your day with all the benefits you will have. Moses turned that opportunity down because he was living with eternity in view; there was an interest, as far as he was concerned, far greater than being the Pharaoh – that interest was identifying with Israel his people and seeing to it that they are free from bondage.  

The problem with many of us is that we seem incapable of seeing beyond our noses so we cannot go for things that have eternal value because they are spiritually discerned. We only go for mundane attractions which we regard as opportunities because they are carnally appealing. 

However, when you live with eternity in view, you will come to a definite conclusion that things of eternal value must have pre-eminence in your life. This is what Paul meant when he said in Romans 8:35-39 that life cannot separate him from God's love. He was saying in essence that he would not allow the enjoyment of the things of this life to separate him from God. 

There are many people today who are attending Church because they are in need of one thing or the other. This kind of people, the moment they are blessed with material things or that particular need met; you would not see them in church again. That shows you what they are living for. 

Another category would attend church only when they have “time”.  The thing here is that, you don't really know how committed to the faith you are until God prospers you.  In contrast, the early saints went literally through "hell" but remained committed to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY: "If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn't want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them” (Hebrews 11:15-16 TLB).

QUOTE: “You don't really know how committed you are until God prospers you”.

PRAYER: Lord, I repent from every cold attitude I have developed towards you. Help me to find reasons why I must live for you and your agenda alone, in Jesus name, Amen!

AUTHOR: Rev William Okoye