DAILY MANNA
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 04, 2020
TOPIC: SHOW THEM LOVE
TEXT: Proverbs 25:16-28
KEY VERSE:
“If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.” - (Proverbs 25:21,22)
The law of a tooth for tooth and an eye for eye prevailed in the mosaic laws. The wrongdoer was then seen as an enemy that needed to be paid back in his own coin. He was not to be shown any forgiveness or any kind of consideration. He must be made to suffer for the ill he has done.
However, in the New Testament, the standard is higher. This was what Christ came to teach and propagate in His earthly ministry, when He said, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven... For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:43-47).
When a believer suffers unjustly, instead of reacting in bitterness and anger, he should treat the wrongdoer as a friend. In this way, the believer, through his clemency and forgiveness, proves his Christ-mindedness, love and maturity over the offender. This may make the wrongdoer ashamed, and may lead to repentance and a change of his evil ways. When a wronged believer behaves like this, the word of God says “coals of fire” are being heaped on the offender. A believer is not to avenge himself. Since vengeance belongs to God, believers are to bless and pray for those who persecute them (Romans 12:18-21).
Believers need to possess the mind of Christ. Christ Himself prayed for those who crucified Him on the cross. We must follow the example of the Master because “it is enough for the disciple that he be as his master”.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Love and forgiveness will enhance God’s purpose for the sinner’s repentance.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Hosea 5-9
HIGHER EVERYDAY
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
SEASONED SPEECH
BIBLE VERSE: Colossians 4:2-6
MEMORY VERSE: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).
The human tongue is only few inches away from the brain. That means there should be a close relationship between your speech and your brain. In other words, think before you speak! When you listen to some folks, the tongue and the brain seem to be miles apart. These are people who speak carelessly without caution. Such individuals injure people with their tongues and drive members away from the fellowship. Are you like that? Do you build or destroy the body of Christ with your speech?
Remember Miriam! As an evangelist, you have to choose your words carefully so that it will minister grace to your hearers. Remember, rash speeches can create anger in your hearers and bring about a breakdown in communication. However, those without salvation through Christ cannot manifest seasoned speech since they are not connected to the Prince of peace. If you are not born again, you need to do so now, so that you can be endowed with the grace of a purged tongue which can smoothly enhance peaceful and seasoned speech that is full of grace.
QUOTE: Rash speeches can create anger.
CHALLENGE: Watch your tongue.
PRAYER: Lord, cleanse my tongue.