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.
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2024
THE VIRTUE OF MERCY
KEY VERSE: “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?” (MATTHEW 18:33).
MATTHEW 18:23-35
General James Edward Oglethorpe, who founded the state of Georgia, once told John Wesley, “I never forget and I never forgive,” to which Wesley replied, “Then, sir, I hope you never sin.” The logical deduction is that those who deny others forgiveness or mercy are never entitled to the same. This was exactly the message Christ gave the wicked servant in our text.
Today’s passage narrates the story of the unmerciful servant. When he was brought before his master to account for a huge amount of money he owed his master, he pleaded for, and obtained forgiveness. It was expected that he should extend the same mercy to the man that owed him just a little. But he failed to do so. In disappointment, his master apprehended and threw him into prison until he settled his debt.
Ordinarily, mercy ought to underline the humanity of man. Unfortunately, this is not so. Mercy is absent from the lexicon of many in our society, just as it was in the ideal state postulated by Plato for the Greek Society. Family relationship was even sacrificed on the altar of loyalty to the state. The Romans interpreted mercy as a sign of weakness, “a disease of the soul.” In Italy, “Sicilians never forget and they never forgive.” For the Italian mafia, “Revenge is a dish that tastes best when served cold.”
By the time of Christ, the Jews had transformed the principle of reciprocal justice that stipulated an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus 21: 23-27) into an instrument of vengeance. Hence, James and John sought Christ’s permission to call down fire on the Samaritans who would not allow Him a passage to Jerusalem (Luke 9: 54). But this is antithetical to the injunction of the Lord. How do we model Christ’s love if we pray for the destruction of the same people we should win to Him? Those who have received God’s mercy must show compassion and practical love to others.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Mercy denied demonstrates absence of grace.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CORINTHIANS 5-7
HIGHER EVERYDAY
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2024
LOVE AND HATE CONTRASTED
MEMORY VERSE: “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 JOHN 3:14)
BIBLE TEXT: 1 JOHN 3:11-18
The word love involves attracting people and inspiring the spirit of give and take, caring and sharing. Hate on the other hand is the opposite of all these, repelling and eliciting the spirit of fear and distrust. Martin Luther King Jr. equates hate with darkness and love with light, saying, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” In our memory verse, love is equated with life while hate is equated with death. We see then that love symbolizes light and life but hate symbolizes darkness and death. More importantly, God is love. If you love, then you are born of God and you know Him. Anyone who lacks love is not God’s child and does not know Him (1 John 4:7, 8).
Friend, what passion dominates you? Is it love or hate? Chaos, wickedness, violence and killings occur in families, communities and nations where people take to hate instead of love. But where love is the ruling principle, there is peace. In Christ there is love and peace. Receive Him
QUOTE: Love symbolizes light and life
CHALLENGE: I’d rather love than hate, so help me, God.
PRAYER: I’d rather love than hate, so help me, God.
SINCERE MILK: CHILDREN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2024
GETHSEMANE
KEY VERSE: “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.” (MATTHEW 26:36)
BIBLE TEXT: MATTHEW 26:36-46
Gethsemane is described as the garden in Jerusalem where Christ went to pray and was betrayed on the night before He was nailed to the cross. It was a period of mental agony and grief. According to our Bible passage, the disciples went with Christ to pray at Gethsemane before His crucifixion, but instead of them praying, they were sleeping. Are you like that? Do you follow your parents to church and end up sleeping throughout the service? Don't forget Jesus spent quality time to pray in preparation for His death on the cross. He knew the pains and agony He would go through just to ensure that we do not end up in hell.
Remember the pains and sufferings Jesus went through for your sake and do not remain in your sins. Christ has paid it all for your salvation on the cross of Calvary. Your duty now is to make Christ happy by repenting of your sins so that His death will not be in vain in your life.
PRAYER: Lord, make me a prayerful child.
FURTHER READING: MARK 14:32-35
