If It Is Within Your Power: Gospel Today Devotional - 19th January, 2024

Understanding the ways of God would mean doing things very differently from the way it is done in the world. As believers, we cannot claim to belong to a kingdom different from that which is dominant in the world and do things the exact same way it is being done by those who are not of the kingdom we are from. It is expedient we know as believers that what define our lives as well as actions are the instructions given to us by God and the principles laid down for us by him as well. Glory to God.

It is possible you know what it is you should do and refuse to do it but to think of it, would you really say that you're doing something good if you do that? The answer is no, isn't it? Suppose someone comes to you for example asking for something that he needs so suddenly and you sure have what it takes to render that help, will you render the help or will you prefer to hold back the help you could have rendered to him? The question you should ask yourself at that time is what would Christ do if he were in my shoes? Christ would help and not ignore. It is something different when you do not have what it takes to render that help but as long as it is within your power to do, you shouldn't pay deaf ears or close your eyes to such needs.

Christ would never do that. Each time he had the opportunity to help people, he did. He never withheld healing from those who asked from him, he never condemned those who pleaded for mercy, and as much as it was within his ability to help for he was able to render all help, he did help. Believers should also pattern their lives after Jesus who is our perfect example. This will be the focus of today's lesson; that as much as we have the ability to, let's render the help we can especially to those who are of the household of faith. Let's see the passage of scripture below,

"Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it . [28] Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee." (Proverbs 3:27, 28).

Look at what the scripture says, it says not to withhold good from them to whom it is due. This means that you are not to deprive those who ask for your help. The scripture points our attention to the fact that good (either doing good or being good) can be withheld from those to whom it is due. However, what God desires is that we as believers do not withhold good from them to whom we are to do good. It then says something, when it is in thy power to do so. Are we following?

This means that the issue is not that we are unable to do good because we do not what have what it takes to do. The issue with many of us however is that even when we have the power to do good to whom it is due, we sometimes refuse to; we withhold from doing good. It says when it is in your hand to do it ( as long as it is within your ability to do so), do it. Do not refuse to do good when you can. It is not of God to say to a fellow brother (neighbour) to go and come again when at that moment you have the solution to his problem.

It is not of God to say God bless you when the blessing ought to come through you. Do not say you will give tomorrow while you can give today. Do not say let's pray when the answer is right beside you. What if God had said to come tomorrow or later when you pleaded for mercy? Would you have been saved? Shouldn't we live like our perfect example, Jesus who at all times, in every place, and to everyone did good and withheld not. May the Lord help us in Jesus' name. Amen.

Thought for the day: 

Dear believer, do not plan to give tomorrow while you can today. Do not say God bless you when the blessing ought to come through you. Do not withhold from doing good when you can.

Gospel Today is a comforting, exhorting, edifying and inspiring devotional published by the Delightsome Land Christian Ministry. For questions, enquiries/testimonies, please call/WhatsApp: 08174915361, 08053662272 or Email: [email protected].