A Devotional Life

Matthew 5:1-12. [Series on: The Blessed] How would you describe a blessed and happy life? One of my friends believes there’s only one happy person each week, the lottery winner, and the rest of us just have make-believe happiness. Maybe you share my friend's view or have your own picture of happiness. The Bible also has its own picture, and in this short series on the Blessed we'll see who are the blessed of Scripture. In today's passage, Jesus gathers His disciples to the mountainside, away from the crowd and teaches them what a truly blessed and happy life—beatitude—looks like. Jesus shows that a blessed life is the life of a disciple, those who are: Poor in spirit (v3, Psalm 42:1; 63:1): who depend on God in everything. Mourning (v4, Isaiah 61:2-3): who seek God’s rescue/forgiveness by repentance. Meek (v5, Psalm 37:9-11): who humbly wait ...

1 Peter 5:1-14. Despite its fleeting nature, the allure of worldliness can be powerful. The world presents a supposedly better way of life accompanied by trendy hashtags like #yolo, #choplife, and #softlife. How appealing such worldly invitations would have been for Peter's audience in the face of stern trials, the thought that switching sides to the worldly alternative could relieve their trials. As Peter ends this first letter, he encourages believers to remain in the fold—in the family of God, in Christ's sheepfold—because those who are in the fold will share in Christ's glory (vv 1, 4, 10-11). So, remain in the family of God by continuing to... Be shepherds (v1-4). If entrusted as a shepherd or leader, faithfully serve those under your care with exemplary living as one accountable to God (1-3). This is how you will receive a crown of glory from ...

1 Timothy 6:3-8. (ESV) "We'll make Lasagna today", my flatmate said. So we got Jamie's recipe book out. There was a list of ingredients; we got that bit right. Alongside the list were measurements, when to put what, i.e. the instructions. But along the way, we began to miss and make up some steps. We finished making the Lasagna quite all right, but the taste and look of that thing. It went straight into the bin. Lesson learnt, follow the recipe! In the book of 1 Timothy, Paul begins to give Timothy some doctrines (like godly recipes) for Christian ministry and living. And in our passage (in v3), he identifies in summary what makes up a godly recipe (which is also how to tell wrong teachings): Agreement with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ Agreement with godliness (instructions from God's Word) In v2, Paul asks Timothy to teach and insi...

Colossians 4:2-6. I recall my first meeting as a student back in Edinburgh with my program leader. I walked into his office and greeted him. And he responded ‘...Are you Nigerian? It's the way you bowed your head when you said Good morning.’ There's something about culture that's very central to uniquely identifying people. Some core aspects of culture are part of who we are to everyone. Very obvious ones are language and accent. Paul in writing to a young growing church in Colossae encourages them on Christian living: Be ‘devoted’ to Prayer - commit to prayer, be watchful (i.e. alert to the things of the Spirit) and thankful. (v2-4) Be ‘wise’ in how you live - so that your life can be a signpost to draw people to God. (v5; Matthew 5:16) Be ‘graceful’ in speech ... towards everyone (v6). So this is not just an evangelistic aim. Ra...

Matthew 20:20-28. Question: Would you want your mum to visit your workplace? And if yes, would you be happy for her to meet your boss? Thoughts that come to mind: Would she mention that weird childhood habit I had?... Or would she tell my boss off for my workloads and demand a salary raise on my behalf? Getting close to the end of Jesus' earthly ministry, a mum visited her sons' workplace and had a word with the boss, as seen in the passage. She unhesitantly requested (in paraphrase, v21): I want my two sons to be next to you in command. (James and John Zebedee must be proud that mum kicked off a favourable conversation.) But Jesus, being the true servant boss, did not say "put in the hours, meet the KPIs, put yourself out there - people gotta see what you're doing, and gradually you climb the ladder and eventually you become everyone's boss." Rather, ...