DEEPER LIFE DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY
Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi is a daily devotional sets out to provide spiritual nourishment for the believers who truly seek God and would walk closely with Him.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2023
TOPIC: HOLD YOUR TONGUE
KEY VERSE: “Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!” (2 Samuel 6:20).
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 6:12-23
On a windswept hill in an English country churchyard stands a drab, grey slate tombstone. The quaint stone bears an epitaph not easily seen unless you stoop over and look closely. The faint etchings read, “Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young, Who on the twenty-fourth of May, began to hold her tongue”.
From the passage, David and all the house of Israel brought the Ark of the covenant to the city of David, Jerusalem. David, the king, leaped and danced before the Lord with all his strength. Michal, his wife was not pleased as she viewed the procession from her window. When David returned to bless his household, Michal derided the king and called his public dancing shameless and vain. David’s reply was a rebuke to his wife, Michal – the dancing was before the Lord who chose him as a replacement for her father. Michal remained childless till her death; for speaking irreverently to her husband.
The consequences of wrong use of our tongues can be both devastating and destructive. Michal’s speech betrayed the thoughts of an uncircumcised heart.
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Physical injuries can heal, but the injury caused by the tongue lingers long. We are not to speak out everything our eyes see, or what our ears hear. Be more ready to hear than to speak. Even a fool, when he holds his tongue is regarded as a wise person (Proverbs 17:28). Hold your tongue and use it wisely to speak words of grace seasoned with salt.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Control your tongue to stay happy.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ZECHARIAH 1 – 5
HIGHER EVERYDAY
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2023
FROM GRACE TO GRASS
MEMORY VERSE: “The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter” (Lamentations 4:2)!
TEXT: LAMENTATIONS 4:1-5
To fall from grace to grass is a metaphorical term used to describe the state of someone who experienced a decline in status, prestige or favour. It means a downward drift from a state of affluence, comfort and privilege to a decadent and deplorable state. It describes a state of backsliding and declension. Lucifer was the first casualty of such a decline. He descended from a burning and shining Cherub to a most abhorrent fiend. He was banished from the stones of fire to the regions of darkness. It is also exemplified by the precious sons of Zion described in our text. A people as illustrious and highly esteemed as fine gold were eventually degraded to earthen vessels! They lost their value through sin and compromise.
A believer is precious in the sight of God. He is a jewel of the Almighty and regarded as the apple of God’s eye. But when the child of God permits and condones sin in his life, he becomes contaminated and polluted. And if he does not repent, he loses privileges and heaven. He falls from grace to grass.
QUOTE: Lucifer was the first casualty.
PRAYER: Oh God, help me to retain my position in Christ.
CHALLENGE: Sin leads to loss of favour and patronage.
SINCERE MILK
TUESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2023
IN ALL WEATHER - HOPE
KEY VERSE: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter Day upon the earth:" Job 19:25
TEXT: JOB 19:25-27
Hope is a feeling of trust, expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen - Oxford dictionary. We often hear people say "that's a hopeless case". For men, it can be true, but with our God, there is no hopeless situation. Have you thought about the case of Lazarus in the Bible? Someone who died and had been buried for four days. Humanly speaking, his case was hopeless. Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer Who lives forever stepped in, and the situation turned around. The hopeless situation turned into a new spring of hope and every tear was wiped away.
The situations in our lives can never remain the same when we give Jesus a chance to come in. If you are still living in sin, you need to give up the life of sin and allow Jesus into your heart today. Confess all your sins to Him, ask for forgiveness and pardon. Surrender your heart and every affair of your life to Him, and promise Him you will not go back to your sins again. Then tell Him about the hopeless situation in your life. Watch in faith as you experience a total turnaround.
PRAYER: Dear Father, I trust in You, turn all hopeless situation around in my life for good.
FURTHER READING: Romans 5:1-5
