30th December 2024

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

Theme: YOU PLUS GOD

THEME SCRIPTURE: "Jesus glanced around at them and said, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."Mark 10:27 AMPC

PREPARATORY QUESTION

1. What are you willing to live and die for?

In life, every one of us will live and die for something. Some will live and die for money. Others, fame. Some people will live and die for the people they love, while others will live and die for nothing. Nonetheless, the saying is true that the greatness of a man is in the cause he lives for and the price he is willing to pay.

One valuable biography worth reading, precious one, is entitled J. B. Tidwell plus God. The thesis of the biographer was that many remarkable things can be accomplished when the resources of God are joined with the commitment of one faithful follower. That is a theme which many Christians assent to intellectually but which few are able to act upon. One person in the Old Testament who ever demonstrated this theme is Jonathan, the son of Saul, the grandson of Kish.

Jonathan was a prince. He was in a comfortable position not to risk his life, but to preserve it. King Saul had pitched his army against that of the Philistines. These two armies were separated by a rocky valley, and without the permission of his father, Jonathan decided to launch out. He set out with only his armor bearer towards the garrison of the Philistines. The act seemed so spontaneous, optimistic but also dangerous. Though Jonathan seemed to have taken the initiative to launch this dangerous mission, he was quick to involve God. He said, "Come, and let us go... it may be that the Lord will work for us"(1 Sam 14:6). In addition, Jonathan understood clearly that God can save a nation by a few hands. Thus, jointly with God, numbers do not constitute strength or advantage. Indeed, Jonathan went over to the garrison of the Philistines and God wrought a huge victory by his hand.

Beloved, this is a huge lesson for us all, to appreciate the importance of leaving our comfort zones to pursue greater and superior purposes. It is worth living to bring liberty and change for those around us.

Self-centeredness will always let us focus on our individual selves. We will care less about our next-door neighbor. But God has said, "Saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's" (Oba 1:21). Thus men and women who will be deliverers or instruments of God to bring change, hope, and transformation to many lives are coming. Precious one, O, that you are one of these deliverers; those who see beyond themselves. O, that you will become an instrument in God's hands today, to bring the salvation message to the lost. O, that you will be God's means of bringing victory, hope, and joy to the afflicted, hurting, broken, and disenfranchised.

Beloved, know this for sure—the soul that reckons on God cannot be ashamed. So, the Lord saved Israel that day, and Jonathan was the knight through whom God's victory was channeled.This morning, O reader of today's devotional, how glorious it would be if you could join your meager resources to the resources of heaven. How wonderful it would be if it is "You Plus God." Jointly working with God, He will stir in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. Jointly working with God, all things are possible.

Remain blessed.

FURTHER READING: 1 Samuel 14:1-14

Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so.

 QUESTION TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD

1. How conscious are you in doing all things with God?

PRAYER

Eternal Father, You are in me and I am in You. You are the vine and I am the branch. Without You, I can do nothing. I affirm that in You I live, move, and have my being. I would rather do all things through Christ who strengthens me or do nothing at all. Thank you, Father. Hallelujah!

ONE-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN

Job 40, Malachi 2, Revelation 19, Revelation 20