WEDNESDAY - 1ST FEBRUARY, 2023
HAPPY NEW MONTH!!!
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
SIDE ATTRACTION IS DISTRACTION - Helpmeet Series 005
Read Judges 9:7-15
Judges 9:8, KJV
"The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the... tree, Reign thou over us."
There's one thing I have found effective to put men of great calling in trouble. It can like a rudder turn their ship to stray from its cause. It's what I've called "side attraction." The devil would flash it as attraction but in reality it is "distraction."
There's no reason to envy anyone to the extent that you forget your usefulness to picking theirs. Mature people know they're not made for every occasion. So, they stay their hands from going into what their creation, calling, equipping or training have no function for.
I know a brother who rarely forgets the birthdays of people and other special days. He'll make a good "Visitation/Welfare Coordinator." This brother would visit and visit you. He'll call and strike a conversation with you tirelessly. And for this, men would acknowledge his having being there. I know and have heard a great deal about people he has comforted just by this. Now, it would be foolishness for another to say he'll be this brother when he has not been dealt the measure of this brother's grace to look unto the ways of others in such an unselfish manner and degree. You may like the fact that people are indebted to him but you shouldn't hastily pick that assignment up if you're not allocated or graced for it. Meanwhile, if you'll find and stick to your assignment also, you shall also have commendation of men and importantly, acknowledgement of heaven. This is what makes us parts in the body of Christ. We are many with different functions. If your hands covet being your nose and they do, you'll immediately become endangered. Staying and not breaking rank is what preserves humanity (I Cor. 12:12-27).
Jotham gave a parable. The trees needed a king and approached some reputable trees to reign over them. On each occasion that each tree is proposed to, there's a decline of the offer because each of them has already found their life long assignments. It's this they daily give themselves to. For short, they have commitment and that's the strong argument these trees used to excuse themselves from distraction.
Judges 9:9,11,13, KJV
"9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"
"11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?"
"13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?."
Who don't know being a king avails one certain rights, power and privileges? That's a covetous position but none budged despite how tempting the offer was. They wouldn't succumb. Rather, each of them keep reminding their world of the need to stay in purpose - what they have found as lifelong commitment like the apostles said, "it's not reason that we leave the Word of God and serve tables... but we'll give ourselves to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:2,4). This discovery then fills their minds with enough energy, focus and vision for their assignment.
Nowadays, people don't care. They'll call it an opportunity; they'll call it the new land God is calling them to take; they'll call it the taken over of the wealth of the Gentiles. Those trees are clear. It's always "how I can leave my fatness, sweetness and cheering wine to be promoted over the trees?" How can I leave purpose to vainglory? God, affect us on our inside. Teach us that we may not be tossed to and fro by every wind of what looks attracting, interesting, promising or even intimidating but which is not our calling or ordained purpose. May we know that by our calling and purposeful life with which we've been cheering (delighting) God and have (affected, impacted) men, is our reward. May this mind always be in us that it's when we stay in/with our purpose we won't lose relevance but rather constantly hear testimonies that by us, "they honour God and men." How can they praise our Father who's in heaven unless we shine that light first of all? I pray that men shall have cause to say, "praise the Lord" for you. By the time they look back to recount what God has used you to do or touch in their lives, it would always be, "for by him" we're encouraged and this helped. It's by his usefulness we're cheered as humans and God is praised and glorified. However, only those who discover purpose, do it and continue in it ever hears that testimony. That one is a consequence of the "so shine a light." So, let your light so shine in what you have found as purpose so that words may go out on you that by your contribution has your world being touched (and that to God's glory).
Bear in mind that distraction would come. For the apostles, it camouflaged as a duty but they rather found it delegated to the deacons in order to have time for prayer and the ministry of the Word. This wisdom is what those trees also apply. Their not accepting kingship means, "the offer is kindly delegated." Find whosoever is less busy to take it. If you know your lane, you can't be called into another. It's those who are not sure and haven't seen the results of their calling (as to be well established in convinction) who gives attention to every voice that beckons to "make them king" even when they have a purpose the world is already dying for or awaits on tiptoes. God, enlighten and open our sights and hearts.
PRAYER: Lord, let me see distraction and false calling for what it is no matter how carefully disguised and wrapped.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 13:17-15:18; Matthew 21:23-46; Psalm 26:1-12; Proverbs 6:16-19
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