The Oscar Ajoku Blog: Daily Vitamin Devotional

DAILY VITAMIN - Living How Jesus Lived "By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]." (John 13:35 AMP) A lot of people cannot comprehend the words Christ spoke at specific moments, as did the crowd that followed Him from city to city. They do not comprehend these words of His not because He spoke with ambiguity, but rather because they find it hard to understand the dexterity underneath most of His instructions. In fact, the human mind and reasoning cannot decipher a logical explanation for such statements; but thank God we are not mere humans, but children of God; not of the world, but of the Spirit: and as Paul said 'they (the words) are spiritually discerned'(1 Corinthians 2:14). So, in Him, we do understand. For instance, Jesus said 'Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who despitefully use you'(Luke 6:28). Note, Jesus didn't concern Himself to encourage them to

DAILY VITAMIN - Speak Encouraging Words "Help others with encouraging words" (Romans 14:19 MSG) One of the most interesting kind of literature and tale is the Fiction; of which we have heard a bit of, or at least imagined when we put ourselves in other men's shoes. And funny as it may seem, these stories often time inspire us even more than those we clearly watch in reality through the lives of men. For instance, there's the story of a young eight year old girl - Kasey, a lass who lived with so much great enthusiasm as though daytime never ceased. At the interesting stage of her infantile life, Kasey was diagnosed with Leukemia; and therefore was bed-ridden far away from the stars she'll did love to sit under the nearby sycamore tree as she watched them glare in their enviable magnificence. But that wasn't the most awful part. Other than being bed-ridden, her surrounding mates, and familiars never gave her any sense of hope, as they all carried their sobb

DAILY VITAMIN - What's God's Presence Worth To You? "I have asked for one thing; one thing only do I want: to live in the Lord's house all my life, to marvel there at his goodness, and to ask for his guidance" (Psalm 27:4 GNB) To a lot of people, the presence of God is just a myth, an unreal imagination, an abstract....but for those who have been in situations where they needed a presence to count on, and found His, to them it's a privilege they are never willing to let go forever. Like they say,once you have taste honey,there's no going back. God's presence is more than honey. The Psalm calls it a brewer of joy and pleasures (Psalm 16:11); meaning that you can have it and think of anything better. And so he gives us a hint for how our need for Him supersedes even that for honey when he depicted Him as a savoury delicacy that can't be resisted. He wrote "Taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). Why did he say that? What me

DAILY VITAMIN - Can You Be Trusted? "I gave my brother Hanani, with Hananiah the ruler of the castle, charge over Jerusalem, for Hananiah was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many." (Nehemiah 7:2 AMP) If the entire world depended on it, could you be trusted? Before you answer with great enthusiasm and self-belief as Peter did, when he told Jesus he could never deny Him, I want you to know that this is not meant to judge you but to help you become more of whom God expects us to be. Alright then, let's start with this: One virtue that is beginning to become extinct on earth is trustworthiness. Even Jesus said that on that day family shall betray each other, not to even talk of friends; but the most astonishing part is that these set of people who are not trustworthy are not so because they got possessed by a demon, but because they got over-possessed by the ambition of self so badly that they forget its them and others on earth, and not just them alone. The

DAILY VITAMIN - Live Above Fear "...Do not be afraid; I will help you" (Isaiah 41:13 GNB) In almost every Bible translation, the statement 'FEAR NOT', or something that connote that appears 365 times: that is one for every day of the year. But for the ordinary everyday man, he asks 'Why would God so all powerful concern Himself with this constant daily instruction for mankind to impede the hold of fear?'. The truth is that God constantly reminds us since He sees it wise because He has shown us from instances that all He has prepared for us is right there before us, but except we take it, it will remain untaken by us; and as if that's not bad enough, it might even remain that way from cradle to grave. He has also shown us that it's not just enough to believe, we must also act out our belief: and this portion of life's activities-action-is what fear fights the most in us, and from us. It is certain that all of our faith is destined to culmin

DAILY VITAMIN - Living Beyond Me "This, however, is not the way it is among you. If one of you wants to be great, he must be the servant of the rest" (Mark 10:43 GNB) One epic reason why men do all they do to have all they will to have is for the sake of self-justification. They want to be known and be heard- an ideology that's primarily centered on them alone. Yet, while this reason might seem totally flawless in their sight, it isn't and shouldn't be for the man who has chosen to be an Arch- a principal instrument in the fulfillment of God's purpose on the earth, or rather was called to be one; because for this set, all they do is for the sake of edification. Some might argue, asking, "Why?"; but the cycle of the cosmic elements teaches us the answer to that question. The sun, for instance, shows us that it doesn't just pop out to shine for the sake of being seen, but to provide light for the children of men, giving them a means of guida

DAILY VITAMIN - Putting Your Life To Proper Use "Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a peck measure, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house." (Matthew 5:15 AMP) If I were to ask you a question concerning your present state, I'd like to presume that I will receive a fortunate response. Like for instance, if I were to ask how many times in a year you cry yourself to sleep, a good number of us would respond with a resounding less than one answer. That is, 1 or less in 360+ days a year. But unfortunately that is not the case for some others who hit the everyday mark. That is, some folks around us are so laden with problems that they cry everyday to sleep. A typical philosopher would, at this juncture, argue that if there was a God, why would this set suffer such; but nevertheless the issue here is not the problem, but the effectiveness of the solution provided - in which case today I want you to know that you are. I can hear someone say "Wh

DAILY VITAMIN - The Father's Love "...He had always loved those in the world who were his own, and he loved them to the very end" (John 13:1 GNB) How can one describe the love of Christ for us? With what extremity or degree can it be depicted or compared with to the understanding of men. What vocabulary will best explain it? And what models will best measure it? With what can it be preferably juxtaposed with? Perhaps as the love of a mother for her child, No! for though that may stand a while, but when far away from the toddler in the fire, it avails little. Or maybe perhaps as the bee's for the honeycomb? But, No! again, for when the southern winds pull all combs down the tree, the bee finds another home. Yet again maybe as the love you have for your closest friend? Yet no again, but rather greater than that, for in death one cannot save even his closest. But Christ, when death had engulfed you and I, He substituted in exchange His life for our death that we may

DAILY VITAMIN - Living The Life Most times when I wish to describe the Christian life, I like to use the  picture of the Flock and the Nomad. You see, a nomad may be outnumbered by his flock, but regardless of what he does to them, they don't retaliate. Does that tell you anything? Okay, let's see.... No matter how hard the nomadic fellow strikes the cattle, it never turns to strike back, rather it continues as it was directed to move. It obeys the unwritten order until it gets to where it must. Little wonder why Jesus lived, as according to Isaiah, as 'a sheep led to the slaugther'. The sheep could decide to run away, just as the cattle could choose to plunge the nomad beneath the fifth rib, yet they choose to do nothing, because they live to serve purpose. They obey even though they have the power to pull off a successful rebellion. In the same vein, the Christian no longer lives as himself, rather he lives the Person of Jesus to the world around him, so that even

DAILY VITAMIN Am I The Judge? "DO NOT judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves". (Matthew 7:7) Have you ever seen a family scenario where one of the 'tykes' did something appalling, and instead of correcting him, every single one of the unit fumes up in vexation, and cancels the little one out of every one of their minds? Have you ever seen that? Well, the truth is that if that child doesn't have someone to put him back on track, how do you think that child would end up? Distraught, I guess. Well, the same thing applies to our everyday life as Christians and as people in general. Let me show you: As Christians: One day Jesus was walking through the corn field with His disciples who plucked off the corn which they ate while on through the field they walked. The Pharisees saw them commit this felonious act according to the law since it was the sabbath, but instead of calling them discreetly t

DAILY VITAMIN - Judged To Live "And when I passed by you and saw you rolling about in your blood, I said to you in your blood, Live! Yes, I said to you still in your natal blood, Live!" (Ezekiel 16:6 AMP) A man's action isn't measured by what he did, but by what he could have done and didn't do. By juxtaposing what was done with what could have been done and wasn't, the true value of his work is revealed. In the same way, the level of love is measured not by what was shown, but what could have been shown and wasn't. However, as for Jesus, we know that He acted in all the colours of love- no shade left unexplored; for the Bible He loved us His disciples to the end (John 13:1). But what did He really do for us? In scriptures, Isaiah prophesied of the coming Messiah 'who shall show judgment to the Gentiles' (see Matthew 12:18). As you keep pondering about this, you would realize that if God was to judge the Gentiles in their undone state, hell wo

DAILY VITAMIN -Hands Made Useful "Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it". (Genesis 2:15) It is an appalling feat how this present world has lazily decided to sit back and do nothing, and yet still expect their desires to rain upon them. That may appear religious, but it's definitely not God's way of effecting results. It may seem funny, but it's true. Many have turned waiting on God into an excuse to remain entirely  passive in life, but it isn't suppose to. It sort of like tickle the minds of individuals to think up unimaginable things they don't deserve, and upon this are not even willing to work for, to expecting it to just drop and add up to their list of possessions; and furthermore they even justify their thoughts with that innocent word 'Grace' that so many now abuse. To their ignorance, they count this as having faith. Faith does not despise work. In fact, faith is proven by works (James 2:

DAILY VITAMIN - Living For Purpose "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you". (John 15:16 AMP) One of the most popular phrases we might have heard, perhaps from our favourite movies or the episodes our life depicts on a daily basis, is the question..''What do you live for?''. Someone once mused that he loves living; but as much as that is great, what's greater is knowing what you live for, and living for that exact reason. While addressing Timothy in his concerted letter, Paul said '..saved, and called....not according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace...' (2 Timothy 1:9). Note, the word 'work' in that verse can be likened to feelings, emotions, pers

DAILY VITAMIN - Great Men Are Made Not Born The story is said of a group of individuals who took a trip to a deserted town, and on meeting the hoary comptroller of the town, they sought to inquire how many great men were born there, and the old man replied saying 'None, only babies'. Note, he didn't say no individual from that town was great, but clearly stated simple biology that men aren't born, only babies are. This statement, I believe, can address the wrong mentality of many who feel the other guy is better because he was born to be better, because it's a wrong ideology. Though it's true that every baby born might have different gifts and virtues, but it's also true that every gift found in babies no matter how minute is enough to make him great if he so desires.....no one cheated. Little wonder why God saw all He created and commented 'very good', because He had looked at those before time, those at the present, and those beyond the presen