DAILY MANNA
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31, 2021
HARMLESS THREAT
TEXT: Isaiah 7:1-9
KEY VERSE:
“Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” - (Isaiah 7:7)
One of the common tools the enemy uses against his opponent is the attempt to weaken his confidence through intimidation and threats. He knows that once the enemy is made to bow to fear, conquest becomes very easy. As a result, he brags about what he has done in the past to defeat his previous opponents. In many cases, this form of propaganda, even though to a large extent may be mere harmless threats, has been found to work against the unsuspecting foe.
The young King Ahaz of Judah and the entire people of Judah were already reeling with fear because of the threat and confederacy of the kings of Syria and Israel against Judah. At this point, the Lord sent Isaiah to Judah to caution them against being fearful and fainthearted. He described the threats of the two enemy nations as “tails of smoking firebrands”. They were empty threats and incapable of causing any harm. All they needed to do now was to believe in order for them to be established.
It is possible that so many negative prophecies, predictions of economic depressions following the pandemic of the previous year, threats of job cuts, etc., may be looming as realities that threaten your peace, joy and life’s progress. Apart from these, there may be individuals and groups that have taken you as an enemy and ganged up with the determination to stop your progress and bring about your downfall. The Lord is assuring you today to be fearless. All their threats are empty and harmless. All you need to do is believe the Lord and have confidence in His promises for you.
Faith and confidence in the Lord are all you need to triumph over all the threats of the enemy. As long as you keep faith in Him and walk by His words, no threat of the enemy can stop you. Rather, you will see them come to shame and disgrace. Fear not; only believe!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
If you believe, you will be established!
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Matthew 6-7
HIGHER EVERYDAY
SUNDAY JANUARY 31, 2021
MEMORABLE MATRIARCH - 1
TEXT: RUTH 1:14-17
MEMORY VERSE: "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God" (RUTH 1:16).
A Christian minister wrote: "If you choose to run your life in your own way and seek an alternative to God or His methods in the days of trouble, your consecration is not deep." Ruth's love for Naomi shows the kind of consecration Christ expects of His faithful followers. In spite of uncertainties around Naomi, Ruth cleaved to her even when Orpah had departed.
Comparing Ruth with Orpah, someone wrote, "At first, both of them declared that they would cast in their lot with the Lord's people; but upon further consideration, Orpah with much grief and respectful kiss left her mother-in-law, and her people, and her God, and went back to idolatrous friends, while Ruth with all her heart gave herself up to the God of her mother-in-law. Orpah is heard no more; in glorious ease and idolatrous pleasure, her life melts into gloom of death; but Ruth lives in history and in heaven, for grace has placed her in the noble line whence sprung the King of kings." Ruth counted the cost and followed Naomi, thereby becoming a matriarch! Are you following Christ?
QUOTE: Ruth counted the cost and followed Naomi.
CHALLENGE: Orpah is heard of no more, but Ruth lives in history and in Heaven!
PRAYER: Lord, give me grace to forsake all and follow you.