OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

Who Is Your God?
Sunday, February 14, 2010

TEXT: 2 CHRONICLES 25:11-16

"Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand" (2 Chronicles 25:15).

Some people, ironically seem to chart the path of their own destruction. The attitude of Amaziah in our text today is not only laughable but ridiculous. He had led Judah into battle against Edom and conquered. He killed up to twenty thousand Edomites. Surprisingly, however, he brought into Judah the gods of the children of Seirs (Edom) and adopted them as his God in place of the Almighty God, who gave him victory over Edom. It could easily pass for the highest form of foolishness that could be exhibited by any king on earth. If the gods of Edom were that powerful why didn’t they assist the Edomites to defeat the army of Judah?

Before you start to crucify Amaziah, examine your own life too. Are you sure you are not guilty of the sin of idolatry or ingratitude? Many today, have not only turned the benevolence of God into objects of worship, they are equally paying God back in a bad coin. All good gifts come from God, but many today worship the gifts rather than the Giver. Some who used to be fervent for God while they were unemployed have started to miss fellowship on the excuse of tight work schedules. There are some who were faithful to God when they were still looking up to Him for children. But as soon as the children came they place their interest over the service to God.

Remember, whatever takes your attention from God has become your god, and such action portends disastrous consequences. No wonder, "the anger of God was kindled against Amaziah". Worse of all, when God gave him the latitude to retrace his step, he spurned divine mercy. It is better to retrace your step now and return to God.

Thought for today: Heed the Master’s whistle.

OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

What Manner of Repentance?
Thursday, February 25, 2010

TEXT: JEREMIAH 35:1-19

"But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever" (Jeremiah 35:6).

The children of Judah and Jerusalem had been constantly stiff-necked; they had spurned at God’s invitation to serve Him only.

In His determination to show Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the manner of obedience required of them, God sent Jeremiah to test the Rechabites with strong drink. The sons of Rechab, with one voice said: "we will drink no wine . . . "

The rebellious Jerusalem and Judah had consistently disobeyed God. They had turned their ears against the call to obedience.

Many people today make empty claim of Christianity, hiding under the cloak of religion to wreak havoc and bringing shame to Christendom. The doctrine of permissiveness which has dominated the entire Christendom is so much that people now throng the popular route which, sadly, leads to perdition. Our text today teaches the need to stand alone even when all around us have decided to do the wrong. We must not follow the multitude to do evil.

We must re-assess and review the type of Christianity that we profess. Do you still maintain a living relationship with the Lord? Are you still holding on to your previous convictions or you have jettisoned them because of prevailing economic realities? Those who easily compromise their faith in times of temptation and persecution are usually people who began the Christian journey without conviction.

Today, tell God to give you the genuine salvation that can make you stand in the time of storm.

Thought for today: Buy the truth and sell it not.

Jaylone:

GOD bless u continually for enriching the souls of men

OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

Condition for Pardon
Friday, February 26, 2010

TEXT: JEREMIAH 36:1-19

"It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin" (Jeremiah 36:3).

A so-called higher critic spoke scornfully of the Bible story of man’s creation.  With a grin on his face, he said "think of God taking a piece of mud in His hand, breathing on it, and changing it into a man".   In the audience was a man who had sunken low into the muck of sin, but who was now transformed by the wondrous grace of God.  He stood fearlessly to his feet and said to the critic of God’s word: "I will tell you this: God stooped down and picked up the dirtiest bit of mud in our town.  He breathed upon it by His Spirit.  It was newly created.  It was changed from a wicked wretch to a man who now hates his former sins and loves the God who saved him.  I was that bit of mud".

The story of salvation is a wonder that can only be better experienced than merely imagined.  That a man lost in sins and trespasses, dirty and wretched can be pardoned and restored into a lively fellowship with God is a great wonder indeed.  Yet this is the story of gracious and ever merciful attribute of God.

God, in our text extends His hands of fellowship to His people promising to pardon and turn away the great anger and fury that He had pronounced on them.

The condition for pardon, peace with God is still the same: "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).  Salvation, simply put is, to acknowledge and accept your state of sinfulness, believe that Jesus died for your sins and be determined to depart from them.

Our loving God is ever ready to forgive and forget our sin on condition that we repent.

Thought for today: Repentance produces pardon.

For Details . . .

OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

Make that Marriage Work
Wednesday, March 3, 2010

TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 24:1-5

"When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house" (Deuteronomy 24:1).

The subject of marriage is not only sacred, it is also sensitive. The human nature which poses potent threat to God’s precepts often makes man to breach divine laws. That is exactly what informed Moses‘ pronouncement in our text today.

One, by his pronouncement that a man could divorce his wife if he became displeased with her because he had found some uncleanness in her was by no means an intention by Moses to change the demand or standard of God on this subject. Rather than give a command to divorce their wives, Moses merely permitted it, and the two are not the same thing.

The demand of God is that they should be together forever, for better or for worse. Jesus referred to Israel’s attitude as "hardness of heart" (Matthew 9:18) and warned that, "What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder" (verse 9).

Today, however, divorce is rampant as people do for every reason, a situation akin to the practice during the time of Jesus when the Pharisees demanded to know from Him whether it was right to divorce for every cause.

Love, temperance and forgiveness which are necessary to keep marital relationship till the end have taken flight in many homes and this has broken many marriages. Some other couples are merely patching up their relationship. The will of God is that your marriage should remain solid forever, and you can make it work; you must make it work.

Thought for today: Love and forgiveness will keep your marriage.

For Details . . .

OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

Maintain Family Integrity
Sunday, February 28, 2010

TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 22:13-30

"If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel" (Deuteronomy 22:22).

After the fall of the world’s first earthly parents, human race became depraved. Ever since, man had become exposed to all forms of evil and vile affection. It is this unclean disposition that compels the necessity of divine (and to some extent, human) legislation. At the root of this is God’s desire to ensure and preserve moral purity in the family and sanctity in the marriage union.

The Almighty God in His divine wisdom and knowledge included these laws to govern proper sexual conduct and maintain purity and the sanctity of virginity. Due punishment and penalties had been prescribed for all forms of illicit sexual behaviour because sins involving intimacy cannot be described as innocent involvement in fleshly pleasures.

Paul, the great Apostle, spoke about this in his epistles. He recognized the importance of strong rules about intimacy for true children of God as immorality has the potential and power to destroy the church, the family and the nation. Six laws of chastity are given as basically fundamental to family integrity; and violations were to be punished by stoning violators to death.

As Christian believers we must avoid all sexual impurities either by thought or action. We must ensure that the family unit is not destroyed by avoidable acts of sexual misconduct.

Thought for today: God has not called us to uncleanness but unto holiness.

For Details . . .

OLAADEGBU:

Daily Manna

Holiness: Condition for God's Blessing
Monday, March 1, 2010

TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 23:1-14

"For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp, to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee" (Deuteronomy 23:14).

A pathetic observation one notices these days is the content of the prayers of many professing Christians who claim the benefits of the kingdom in their prayers without corresponding piety and righteous living. To them, God is like a magician; the name of Jesus, a magic wand which, on being uttered, yields up a basketful of blessings and grants their wishes.

We see the true nature of God from the passage for consideration today. God Almighty listed out conditions for His blessings upon the children of Israel. He expressly declared that He would walk in their midst, deliver them and give up their enemies on condition that they keep their camps holy.

God is a moral God, who created a moral world and set up moral laws to regulate relationship between Himself and the world. God has not and will not abandon this cardinal principles and allow the sons of men to trample upon His laws and still expect to receive His blessings. That is why Paul the apostle wonders how men can continue in sin and still expect the grace of God to increase in their lives.

God intends to bless His children. In our relationship with God, it is we, not God, that benefits. He has everything that pertains to our life and godliness – pardon, peace, power, prosperity, provision, protection, preservation and eventually, paradise. What we need to do to benefit from His goodness is to fulfill His conditions. With the grace of God in our lives, those conditions are not grievous to carry out.

Thought for today: God’s faithfulness to His Word is unquestionable.

For Details . . .

OLAADEGBU: Daily Manna
15.03.12

Responsible Stewardship

TEXT: NUMBERS 18:20–32

"And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it the best of it: neither shall you pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, lest you die" (Numbers 18:32).

Biblical records reveal that Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah, was the ancestor of the priest of the tabernacle. Jacob was not happy with Levi and Simeon and he pronounced them dispersed among the people of Israel for their violence and cruelty to the men of Shechem. The situation changed later when the tribe of Levi submitted their lives entirely to the service of God. Moses in his farewell speech, praised the tribe of Levi for being faithful to the covenant with God and for teaching the people to obey God. God always rewards faithfulness and responsible stewardship in every generation.

Our text today outlines the principle, pattern and portion of the Levites in discharging the duties assigned to them by God. The priests and the Levites were to have no earthly inheritance, for God Himself was their portion and inheritance. They were to be focused and dedicate their ambition, strength and resources for the service of the tabernacle. Levites were to live on the tithes of the children of Israel, while they in turn should pay their heave offerings unto the Lord. It was to be used to support the work of the tabernacle. The Levites must then be very careful and ensure that they handle the things of God with reverence. Neither should they pollute the holy things of the children of Israel, otherwise they die.

Giving something back to God in appreciation of what He freely gave us is the responsibility of every heaven-bound pilgrims especially because the principle of tithing is still very much relevant today. Believers must see their time, talent and resources as gifts to be dedicated to God who is the Supreme Giver. Gifts dedicated to God must be treated with respect and reverence. As responsible stewards of God’s resources, Christians must channel their lives and resources as holy and acceptable service unto God.

Thought for the day: "Dedicated life unto God is a duty and debt we all owe Him"

For Details . . .

Numbers 18:21

18:21 for an inheritance. The Levites were not to be given a portion of the land in Canaan, once it had been conquered, such as the other tribes would have, and neither were the priests (Numbers 18:20). However, the Levites were to receive a tithe of all the increase of the other tribes, and they in turn were to render a tithe of their income for the support of the priests (Numbers 18:26-27).