DEEPER LIFE DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR TODAY
Daily Manna devotional by Pastor Kumuyi of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry for today is here. Digest the word of the lord and pray believing.
DAILY MANNA
SUNDAY, APRIL 03, 2022
INFALLIBLE MATCHMAKER
JOSHUA 15:13-20
KEY VERSE:
“And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.” - (Joshua 15:16)
Arranged marriages are a tradition in some societies and they continue to account for an overwhelming majority of wedlock there. Though the arranged marriage tradition lacks any official legal recognition or support, the institution has proved to be surprisingly robust despite the social changes in society.
Caleb was involved in arranged marriage. He promised to give out his daughter, Achsah, in marriage to whoever took the city Kirjathsepher. Othniel, his brother took the city and Caleb’s daughter was given to him in marriage. Achsah was moved by her husband to ask for springs of water in addition to the fields given by her father as a wedding present.
The giving out of Achsah here by her father was done without her consent. First, it was a cultural norm in those days for fathers to assume absolute right over their children and especially in the arrangement of their marriages. Though some asked their daughter’s opinion, like in the case of Rebecca, generally it was the father who would decide.
This cannot be a model for New Testament believers, as it does not conform to scriptural principles. Our children should be allowed to pray to discover the will of God in marriage. We should equally avoid any reliance on professional matchmakers for advice. When children are forced into marriages, they will blame their parents for whatever challenges they encounter in that marriage. We also need to understand that God is still our Matchmaker. He knows best and we must wait for Him for guidance in all things.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God is the infallible Matchmaker.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 19-23
HIGHER EVERYDAY
SUNDAY APRIL 3, 2022
OFFENCES SPOIL RELATIONSHIPS
BIBLE TEXT: PROVERBS 18:17-21
MEMORY VERSE: "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle" (PROVERBS 18:19).
"Et Tu Brute?" (And you too, Brutus?). This was an exclamation by Julius Caesar during his assassination by eight plotters, including Brutus, his friend. As the assassins attacked Caesar, the stab of Brutus was the most heart-breaking, coming from his most trusted friend. What a betrayal from a friend!
Have you been offended or betrayed by a trusted friend? It is believed that offences from a close friend hurt most, and are harder to pardon than those from mere acquaintances, and they usually destroy relationships. Offences are common phenomena in life. Our text says "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle" (Proverbs 18:19).
As a Christian youth, you must be ready to forgive anyone who offends you. The Scripture admonishes, "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Colossians 3:13). Guard your relationships well. Avoid disagreements and offences. Remember the words of Alexander Pope: "To err is human, to forgive is divine."
QUOTE: Guard your relationships well.
CHALLENGE: Be ready to forgive offences.
PRAYER: Help me Lord, to guard against disagreements and offences.