The Daily Fountain Devotional Thursday, January 6, 2022
Thursday, January 6, 2022
(Epiphany Day)
TOPIC:
THE SAVIOUR APPEARED FOR THE SALVATION OF ALL NATIONS
TEXT:
JOHN 1:29-34
John the Baptist presented Jesus as the
Promised Messiah. John understood the messianic role
that Jesus would play for the redemption of humankind. He, therefore, announced that Jesus was the Lamb of God, the Saviour of the world.
Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Jesus is the
offering for sacrifice provided by God for redemption. In the Old Testament, the Jews were taught to offer
sacrifices for almost every aspect of life for the atonement of their sins.
Sacrificial animals included pigeons,
lamb, etc. When animals are sacrificed, the blood was thought to have a special
effect in appeasing God as a sweet-smelling savour (Lev. 2: 9). Furthermore, when a lamb is used, it is usually
without blemish - an offering for sacrifice provided by God for man's
salvation.
Today, we don't offer
sacrifices again, because we believe that Jesus
made the ultimate sacrifice in dying for us; and His blood was shed as
atonement for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2). We must appropriate this sacrificial work through faith by believing in the Saviour of the
world.
Prayer:
Dear
Lord, I acknowledge you as the hope of the Gentiles and the Saviour of the world. Please
take away my sins and make me a new creature
in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Friday, January 7, 2022
TOPIC: GOD'S LOVE FOR HIS CHILDREN
TEXT: 1 John 3
Apostle John affirms that believers' self-worth is based on I
the fact that God loves us and therefore
calls us His children. When we accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour and receive the salvation which He
offers, we become God's children.
Being aware that we are now His children gives us joy, peace and confidence. The essence of being a believer is
to please God. When we believe in Christ and love one another, Christ
will be seen in whatever we do.
Prayer: Dear Father, please, increase my knowledge and
understanding as well as growth and grace to love more. Amen.
Saturday, January 8, 2022
TOPIC: GOD WANTS US TO LIVE A LIFE FULL OF LOVE
TEXT: 1 John 4:7-21
Do you know that God loves you? If you do, do
you really believe it? The beloved disciple, John, who
wrote this knew the love of God and believed it.
This gave Him tremendous strength through all the trials he experienced. The knowledge of God's love ought to give us strength and grace to survive the world with its troubles. God is at work through the
believer's experiences. You cannot be defeated because of God's love. God is
love. Everything about God is filled with love. Heaven is full of love and so
is the earth, as far as the children of men will live in
obedience to Christ's teaching. God wants us to live a life of love
too. Love is the greatest of all (1
Corinthians 13).
The whole
commandments are summarised in one word: 'LOVE.' Love
God and love your neighbour (Mark 12:28-31). If there is love, there will be no corrupt people, murderers, suicide bombers, adulterers,
thieves and robbers, kidnappers, etc. Do you live a
life of love? If you are a believer, this is the parameter
with which to gauge your spirituality. If you are yet to appropriate the love
of God in your life, open your heart by faith and
ask Jesus Christ to come into your life.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for your love for me despite everything I
am passing through now. Help me Holy Spirit to live a life of love, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Sunday, January 9, 2022
TOPIC: THE ANOINTING OF DAVID
TEXT: 1 Samuel 16:1 - 3, 13
"Fill your horn with oil," -
Fine olive oil, carried in a ram's horn, was useful
for anointing a new king (1 Sam. 10:1; 1 Kings 1:39). Each king and high priest of Israel were anointed with oil. It was used to set people or
objects apart for God's service. The anointing oil poured
over David's head stood for holiness and consecration. This
commissioned him as God's representative to the nation
of Israel. God appointed and equipped David for his responsibilities
as the new King of Israel. God also rejected Saul's kingship, although he paraded himself as the king until his death. David was anointed to fulfil God's purpose. It was a divine initiative, not man's desire. Samuel obeyed divine the mandate to
anoint David as Israel's next king - David did not lobby to become a king. He
did not struggle to get it. He did not
overthrow Saul to become a king in Israel. God gave the throne to David, a man after God's heart. The anointing upon
his head and God's approval
upon his life made him prevail. On the other hand, Saul was disobedient to God. He disappointed
God who appointed him and the Lord abandoned him. God, therefore, replaced the disobedient King Saul with David, a man after His heart.
Prayer: Dear Lord,
anoint me with the power of the Holy Spirit and prepare me to
serve you faithfully and diligently. Amen.
