The Oscar Ajoku Blog: Daily Vitamin Devotional

  DAILY VITAMIN  - You Are Not Wasting Your Time "For still the vision awaits its time;  it hastens to the end- it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay" (Habakkuk 2:3) The Bible tells us that Noah spent a hundred years building the ark; and we know that everything he got as a reward afterwards was a direct result of everything he did in obedience to God. And it is said that he obeyed God in all things (Genesis 6:22), and that can only lead to prosperity (Job 36:11). Anyway, here's what I want you to know: Whatever it is you are doing right now in accordance to God's instructions is not a waste of time. Its result may not have shown yet, but it will. Can you imagine spending hundred years on one project no one sees any need for? That's how Noah felt.  He spent a good century of his life building an ark to escape a coming flood when there hadn't even been a drop of rain on the earth. You can bet people mocked him as

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Let God Lead You "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God" (Romans 8:14) God wants to lead you in everything you do. And that's a truth scripture affirms, and as such can't be disputed. All through the Bible, He speaks to us as in a Shepherd-sheep relationship. And this is what is exciting about that. A sheep can't get anywhere right without being guided by the shepherd; and the moment it loses touch with this guidance, it stands a great chance of getting lost.  David said "The LORD is my shepherd: I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (Psalm 23:1-3). Emphasis is on " lead ". From this scenario, based on where this was written- the desert lands of Palestine, you'd wonder how he found green pastures enough to even lay down in rest, but there he told us how - G

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Obey God Now "Today, when you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15) Every obedience to God's instructions has its time. You can't choose to ignore it today and pursue it tomorrow; the blessing is attached to the time designated for its compliance. That's why God despises procrastination. When Jesus called the young man who opted to bury his father first, He told him to follow him immediately (Luke 9:59-60). He did so because the blessing attached to that obedience was for that exact moment. The fruit was to be reaped on that day.  The same thing can be seen in the lives of the Israelites. When God commanded them to go into Canaan and subdue it, they rejected His Word out of fear of what they assumed the enemy was. And as a result practised unbelief, because obedience takes faith, thereby procuring God's wrath upon themselves. Upon seeing what had befallen them, they prepped themselves to go but God adv

  DAILY VITAMIN - In Christ, There's Hope For The Dead "...Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelations 14:13) Jesus described those who die in the LORD as living and not dead. Their mortal flesh might have died, but their eternal spirits are alive in God forever.  Our theme scripture calls such people blessed. It says they are taken into rest and their works of righteousness do follow them. And recall what is spoken about this: He said God will never forget our works... (Hebrews 6:10). So even at death God never forgets how such lived for Him, and He rewards them with everlasting life with Him.  That's what Isaiah tried explaining. He said the just man that dies has been freed from the evil to come; he has entered into peace and shall continually walk in his uprightness (Isaiah 57:1-2). His righteousness goes with him to the throne of God to earn

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Don't Doubt God's Ability  "And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short? Thou shall see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not" (Numbers 11:23) Many times, consciously and unconsciously, we doubt God's power to do all things. Our thoughts and conversations give us away. In our theme verse, we see Moses who had the wonderful works of God in display several times still questioning if God could feed over a million people in the desert. He had forgotten that God is the same One who makes rivers and springs even in the deserts.  Anyway, he was subtly doubting God. And sometimes it would seem justifiable. The odds were highly against such an occurrence. Notice the question he asked: "Shall the flocks... be slain for them, to suffice them?" (v. 22). He was judging God through the limitations of his condition. He was evaluating God's sufficiency from his insufficiency. But isn't that what we all do

 DAILY VITAMIN  - Plead Your Cause, Not Complain "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified." (Isaiah 43:26) The Bible tells us in Numbers 11:1 that when the people complained, it displeased God and His anger kindled hot against them. The scripture also tells us that God despises murmurings, with ample evidences to show for it.  With this, it becomes difficult to discern how we should approach God when things aren't happening as we were told. But God shows us what to do: He says put Him in remembrance. Plead your cause that you may be justified.  There's a big difference between pleading your cause and complaining. For example, when Hezekiah was told he would die, what he did when he prayed was pleading his cause. Most of the psalms written also had this in clear expressions. Compare Psalm 89:19-52. You see, in pleading your cause you hinge your case on God's Word to you. For instance, "God, you said that if I s

DAILY VITAMIN  - Understanding God "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge" (Romans 10:2) These words speak of all other major religions as well. It would be wrong to say that they don't have a passion for God. It would be, because they do, their devotions show it, but not according to knowledge. The Muslim is seeking to find the true God, and so is the Hindu, or the Shintoist and so on and so forth; but while the desire is there, what they all have in common is that the way remains unknown to them.  And that is why all God has ever wanted to do is to show man His way, and not just His acts. But still many know it not, nor understand it and so continue to walk on in darkness.  However Paul reveals it: he says Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to all that believe (v. 4). That is, Jesus is where the buck stops when it comes to knowing God. You see, while many of these religions have dos and don'ts to kind of pleas

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Banking On The Word "Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified" (Isaiah 43:26) Our theme scripture speaks about reminding God of all His promises towards us. But how can we do this? By repeatedly crying "Remember me O Lord"? That could work since God's mercies are often independent of merits, but there's a more effective way. And that is by banking on His Word.  As you may have heard, God is not moved by tears, He's moved by the willingness to hold on to His Word of what will be regardless of what may seem to be; by those who will bank on His Word. And it literally means exactly what it says.  When you receive a cheque, you take it straight to the bank to get your cash in hand. And as long as the signature is right, it has to be honoured. Now, the same thing is applicable with God. When you receive a promise in your spirit and aren't seeing its fruits yet, you take it to the LORD, hav

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Perfectly Joined Together  "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10) In Philippians 4, Paul gave a stern warning to the Saints. He said "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord" (v. 2). Those two fellows represent the many Christians that live in strife one toward the other.  So through Paul, God wasn't just speaking to two Greeks, He was speaking to the entire body of Christ. And that's because He wants unity amongst us. Jesus said "That they all may be one, as thou, Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us... " (John 17:21). And being one was exactly what Paul described in our theme scripture.  He said that we may speak the same thing (one Gospel, with no dis

  DAILY VITAMIN - Enriched In All Things "God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing" (Psalm 23:1 MSG)  Apostle Paul, writing to the Church in Achaia, said "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 1:4-7). Did you see that? " Enriched " in everything and every way. David experienced it, and now Paul was confirming its reality in the lives of the saints; because even though times change, God never changes. It says He has enriched us in everything by the grace given us by Christ Jesus. What that means is that even if it seems like you don't have all you need, all you need to get all you would have has been imprinted upon you.  Little wonder why Paul went ahead to tell t

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Live And Breathe Dominion "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly..." (Romans 16:20) In our theme scripture, the destiny of Satan and his cohorts is revealed to be under our feet; and it says it shall soon manifest in all areas of our lives, because it has been perfected in Christ.  The scripture tells us that we were once dead in sin and darkness, but God who is rich in mercy has quickened us together with Christ and has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6). The phrases "quickened us together with Christ" and "raised us up together" reveals that wherever Christ is now is where we are also. John describes it better, saying "as He is so are we in this world" (1 John 4:17). And how is He now? In the place of glory and dominion above all else (Phil 2:9), far above all principalities and powers (Ephesians 1:21). So we are simply mirroring Chris

  DAILY VITAMIN  - God Will Not Disappoint You "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words [to you] shall not pass away" (Matt 24:35 Emphasis added)  In Luke's representation of our theme scripture, he said it is easier for heaven and earth to pass than for one tittle of the law to fail (Luke 16:17). Note that the term Law here means the Word of God as Matthew told us. In other words, Jesus was telling us that everything God says comes to be.  The Bible already told us that He doesn't lie as men do, nor change His mind; but does all He has said He would do (Numbers 23:19). This case in point makes God's Word immitifigable, immutable and impregnable. And the great part is that this includes His promises to you and I too. Scripture says they are yes and Amen (2 Cor 1:20). That is, they are assured and they always come to be.  Therefore, Jesus was saying to us that heaven and earth may fade away, but my promises to you won't. His words of hope to you won'

  DAILY VITAMIN  - God Still Does Wonders "Which doeth great things past finding out; yea, and wonders without number" (Job 9:10) After seeing the miracle of Jesus, the people exclaimed "We have never seen this kind before" (Mark 2:12). It was unfathomable to their understanding. And that is still the God we serve. The God who does the unfathomable; the never seen before kind of deeds.  Our opening scripture tells us that God is He "which does great things past finding out; yes, and wonders without number". He is a wonder working God. A lot of people sink into unbelief because they have judged their situation as unsalvageable. They have evaluated their condition - sickness and poverty, hardship and rejections, and finalized that God can't help them.  From the look of things, it may seem like they are right. The rent is due in a day and no money is available yet. The sickness is at a terminal stage with only a few days left to count. The poverty is so h

  DAILY VITAMIN  - He Chose You "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain..." (John 15:16) Do you know what that means? That above everything and anybody else He chose you?  First, it reveals that you are significant before Him. Don't let anyone make you think you aren't worth anything. If God could take notice of you, you are worth everything. It doesn't matter where you're from, if God gave everything -in Christ- just to save you (and don't belittle it because He'd still have done the same had it been for you alone), and if the price paid for a thing indicates the value it holds, then it means you are much more of great value to God than you or anyone else assume.  You may not be as perfect as you'd desire to be before Him, but it doesn't diminish your value to Him. Think about it; if He called you valuable when you were expendable in sin, how m

  DAILY VITAMIN  - There Is Yet Hope For You "Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help evil doers. Till he fill thy mouth with laughing, and thy lips with rejoicing" (Job 8:20-21) In times of trouble always remember that God promises never to leave nor forsake us (Deut 31:6). I believe that's relieving for every believer; because He tells us there that He would constantly watch over us. And we can trust in those words.  There is no risk in doing that. Every other thing is a risk, but God is constant. The scripture says He never changes; He is the same forever, and so we can be rest assured that He will always rescue us from being consumed by life's circumstances (Malachi 3:6) as our theme scripture says, as long as we keep walking in His perfect will for us.  It speaks of a perfect man; and that is simply a man who gives himself by the Spirit to walk in the perfect law of liberty that engenders such goodness at all times (James 1:25). Further

  DAILY VITAMIN  - The Key To Success In God "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word" (Psalm 119:67) It is good to make plans in life, but it is better to live in God's plan; because that's where the blessings are. The scripture says many a man make plans, but it is the Lord's that prospers; only His.  In our theme scripture, David said he was afflicted when he went astray from God's guidance; but now that he is walking in His Word everything is good. And we can tell from his words in Psalm 34. He said the strong creatures may suffer lack and retrogression, but not those who inquire of and require His constant guidance and help on the authority of His Word (v. 10 AMP). He says they shall never be put to shame (v. 22). Things may not have looked good thus far, but they will. Isaiah said "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light is the sun shall be sevenfold....in the day that the LORD binds

 DAILY VITAMIN  - A Help In Time Of Need "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1) The scriptures tell us that even in our deepest troubles, we have a reliable source of help always in the Lord (Psalm 23:4). And many times these troubles aren't a product of our mistakes, they are just there. Job said though they aren't inherent in all places, yet man is born into it (Job 5:6-7). But then he gives us a way out.  In verse 8, he says "I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause". Isn't that what God assures us of? He said "Call in the day of trouble and I will show you great things and deliver you" (Psalm 34:17). He also said "Commit thy work (ways) unto the LORD and He shall establish thy thoughts (Proverbs 16:3). And then Job tells us why we can rely on this. He says when we do this, God will (1) set up on high those that are low, and exalt them to safety (v. 11). (2) disappoint the devic

  DAILY VITAMIN  - The Name Of Jesus "Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth" (Philippians 2:9-10 AMP)  The Name of Jesus is an assurance in times of need. It has been so glorified that now it can pick us up into glorification. And in fact, it is the reason for our victory over the dark world (Mark 16:17). The scripture says that Christ Jesus has been glorified far above all entities of the worlds (Ephesians 1:21), and at the mention of His Name every being trembles and every knee bows.  In Luke 10, having experimented with it, the disciples returned with joy saying even the devils are subject unto us through thy name (v. 17). Highlight that part in your mind; get a mental note on it: the devils (all evil spirits and Satan) are subject unto us through the Name of the Lord Jesus. Plea

  DAILY VITAMIN  - Your Help Comes From The LORD "My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:2) I love the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir 's rendition of " My Help ". The soft melody reminds you of the ever sustaining truth that God is the source of all peace, and that He can be counted on. And that while the channels may run dry, but the source never does.  In the Psalm we just saw, David was looking towards the hills, perhaps  expecting some human allies to arrive for an impending war somewhat like how Aragorn did for Gandalf's arrival from the eastern hills in Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers. They were his channels of strength in warfare; but then he remembered that no they weren't, but that God is his strength in warfare. He said my help comes from the Lord.  And if he said the hills then it had to be the hills of His heavenly Kingdom, and we know he never lost an important battle (Psalm 89:20-24). And that'

  DAILY VITAMIN - You Are A Diplomat Of Heaven "For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 2:7) In our theme scripture, we are told that priests hold the knowledge of God, and through them others come to know Him. Well guess what? You are a priest. Before you get shocked because you've never wore a robe before, remember that the Bible calls you a person of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). That is one descended from the true and only High Priest Jesus Christ. And so it says you are a priest of the Kingdom (Revelations 5:10), and that through you others will be drawn into it.  You see, the entire Bible speaks of Christ, and our lives through Him. In Zechariah 8:23, the scripture having built up on the truth that many will seek to know God tells us that they will hold on to one who is a Jew (meaning the called out ones of God which we are now in Christ as believers), and