Devotionals

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Dearly Beloved,

CAN GOD USE YOU?

“...God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’” (Luke 1:26-28, NIV).

The Christmas season for the year has come and gone. Regardless of the debate of some people that Christmas is not “Christian,” let me draw out a lesson from one of the personalities of the biblical stories related to the season. The Virgin Mary was the second most important personality in the Nativity stories. God specially used her to be the vessel of the delivery of the Baby Jesus.

The virgin birth of the Messiah had been prophesied hundreds of years before it actually happened (see Isaiah 7:14). There were many virgins in Israel during the time of Mary. She was highly favoured to be the mother of the Savior. However, some qualities in her distinguished her from all virgins and women of her time. She was pious. She was virtuous. She was humble. She was faithful. She was not doubtful. She was ready to be an instrument in the hands of God, even when it seemed that such readiness would bring possible rejection from her fiancé and disgrace from the society. No wonder, she was highly favored and blessed (see Luke 1:28, 48).

God is still looking for people that He will use for His plans and purposes today. Can He find you useful for His service? Are you pious? Are you humble? Are you faithful? Are you not doubtful? Are you ready to be an instrument in His hands regardless of the seeming bad consequences this may bring you in the world?

God is ready to highly favored and blessed you. Be ready to be of good use to Him as we are about to enter another year. Make yourself available to Him. You will not regret doing so.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

NB
“SPECIAL DAYS MINISTRY”
Part of my determination to be of good use by God through the Internet by ministering to people throughout the world has made me to be identifying with people in my online ministry by rejoicing with them praying for them and sending them prayer wishes through email/e-card and SMS. I tag this aspect of the ministry “Special Days Ministry.” You also can be part of this. Just let me know your special days—birthday, wedding anniversary, the day you become born again, and other eventful days in your life that you will like me to remember you. Send your full names, email address and mobile phone numbers (include country code if not Nigeria) to me. Happy New Year (2009) in advance!

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