Words of Devotion

Hello Ladies,

This is Celia C. Tillman bringing you greetings and encouragement from the Honey-Comb of Praises. Our lesson for this month is WORDS OF DEVOTION. The word DEVOTION is a noun, meaning love, loyalty or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or a cause. However, many times we fail to give devotion to God first and to thank him for the many blessings that he has so richly bestowed upon us. Even for the little things we take for granted, like the wind blowing upon our faces on a hot summer day; wakening from a good night sleep to be blessed to see a brand new day. We should be thankful for our ears to hear the birds chirping and making their melodious sounds, and to see with our eyes, the ants that are workers who are busy gathering food for the queen ant; the rain after a hot summer day, the sun that brighten the day; the stars that glows so beautifully on a clear night are all manifestation of who God is. The Psalmist David said, “Let everything that hath breathe praise the Lord,” (Psalm 150:6).

The book of Psalms is a book of devotions. It contains more chapters than any other books in the Bible. It ranges from the longest to the shortest chapters. However, in Chapter 148, David is saying that everything God created should come before him with thanksgiving because they were created by his command which is in heaven and on earth. Even man who was created in God’s own image should bow down before his creator because he was so fearfully and wonderfully made as quoted by the Psalmist David in (Psalm 139:14), the word FEARFULLY, means awesome, filled with admiration. However, in this same text, David used the word MARVELOUS was the work of God and he knew it right well because he knew him when he was in his mother’s womb, (the wonderful way you made me Psalm139:13).

Ladies, there is none other like God because he knew us before we knew ourselves, and David testified this truth in the long ago. However, by faith, when we read, (Genesis 2:7), “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.” However, after God had made man there was not found a help meet for him, (Verse 20); “God caused cause a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept. He took one of his ribs, closed up the flesh,” (Verse 21). With the rib which God had taken from the man he made woman and brought her to the man,” (Verse 22). And Adam said, “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman because she was taken out of man,” (Verse 23).

David instructs the people to sing and give praises to God because the Ark of the Covenant had been brought back to Jerusalem. They celebrated and worshipped his holy name, and his mighty power to never forget his agreement that he had made with them. They praised him because he was good and that he should be praised forever, (I Chronicle 16:7-36). Also David called the Lord his shepherd and he didn’t want for anything because his shepherd protected him from danger with his rod and made him feel safe, (Psalm 23:1-6).

As it related to the devotion toward God, Paul in (Acts 17:23-31), noticed that the men of Athens were very religious, yet very ignorant of God’s knowledge. However, he had noticed an inscription printed upon the altar TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, and he provided a model for communicating the Gospel of Christ to them.

Paul proclaimed: “This God made the world and everything in it. He is the Lord of heaven and earth and he doesn’t dwell in temples built by human hands. He doesn’t need help from anyone. He gives life, breath to all people and things; have made from one blood every nation of men to dwell upon all the face of the earth. God has done this so that man would reach out and find him (obey).”

Ladies, all of us should be devoted enough to thank God for sending his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for the entire human race. He paid the price, not with silver and gold but with his precious blood. However, for those who have not accepted Christ, they must follow THE PLAN OF SALVATION: (1) Roman 10:17, “Faith comes by HEARING THE WORD of God, (2) Hebrew 11:6,” For he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that He is and that He rewards those that diligently seek Him,” (3) Luke 13:3 and 5, “I tell you Nay (no) accept you REPENT you shall all likewise perish,” (4) Matthew 10:32, “Whosoever CONFESS me before men I will CONFESS before my Father which is in heaven; if you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven,” (5) Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16, “He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTIZED shall be saved but he that BELIEVETH not shall be damned.”

Life A Special Gift (By Yahone L. Tillman)

Life for us is a special gift that was given to us by God. His love for us is ever clear

We came from earthly soil that formed our being which man exist by his will God’s love

is shown, but one thing for sure, where wisdom is true peace; joy our home. But evil

Distaste a happy place and withers from its vine. Its branches the reapers gather

And burn with fire.

As Saints adorn in righteousness and in spotless white attire, from days of old still present told

Our souls the Lord require.

So henceforth this day, our daily bread, let us flee from evil’s mire; and as he bore the pain

And our shame, man’s faith in him a long life test.

Through work we sweat, each goal is met with diligence we persist; our faith unshaken on

Solid ground and his word foundation bliss.

He giveth and he taketh his power we co-exist.

Word List for Devotion

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSIONS

In your own words, how does God expect Christians to worship him? Explain
Who are we first to give our devotion to? Explain
What are the little things we should be thankful? Explain
What did the Psalmist David say in Psalm 150:6? Explain
Why is Psalms a book of devotions? Explain
What does the word fearfully and wonderfully made mean? Explain
How did God make man and woman? Explain
What does God expect out of Christians? Explain
If someone asked you what is true worship what would you tell them? Explain
In the poem, what does it mean where wisdom is true; peace and joy our home? Explain