THURSDAY - 8TH AUGUST, 2024
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
IN SEARCH OF A LASTING CURE - Capacity Building Series 008
Jonah 4:6, NLT
"And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah's head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant."
When God raised this gourd up, it sure knew why it was being raised. Every living thing currently obeying the law of life shall one day obey the law of death. Only that the born again man shall swallow death to live eternally with Christ (John 3:16) while his counterpart in eternal damnation. Another thing this gourd assuredly knows is its time of taking. God sets its lifespan and it's a short one for that matter. Jonah was glad having it but the gourd turns out not to be a lasting solution to his need.
Elisha once prophesies to a barren woman with a great estate saying, "about this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son..." The woman, not wanting to be deceived replies, "No, my Lord! O man of God, don't deceive me and get my hopes up like that" (II Kings 4:16, NLT). She clamours for a good and perfect gift - the kind of gift that tarries and doesn't disappear at midday or noon. Sure, according to the prophet's prediction, she becomes pregnant, gives birth to a son though the boy died suddenly.
When she saddles her ass to visit Elisha, the statement she made to him was, "did I ask you for a son, my lord? And didn't I say, 'Don't deceive me and get my hopes up?" (II Kings 4:28, NLT). I'm sure this woman has seen enough having suffered from many unfulfilled promises from those who might have assured her of hope. For that reason, she sternly asks not to be deceived. She probes Elisha as to ascertain the genuineness of his prophecy. She'll like to know if Elisha was just drunk with words because he has been well taken care of. However, Elisha assuredly speaks as God's prophet though the child still dies (but to be resurrected).
One major thing I want to call your attention to is the fact that this woman wants a blessing that'll last. Hearing such prophecy of goodness ought make her leap for joy but she didn't. She rather queries the genuineness and that's because she doesn't want to have a mist-like joy. It's better not to be comforted than to be temporarily comforted. I've heard waiting mothers who are longing for their own child say, "let me also have one even if he won't close my eyes." That's a dangerous request necessitated by wanting to prove a point to onlookers that at least I once had one.
Brethren, what sort of joy do you desire? What sort of gift are you looking for? When you're looking for the joy that lasts, you'll ascertain if the school that promises your child 9 distinctions in his exam doesn't do malpractices. When you don't ascertain that, you yourself aren't a man of thoroughness. You only want fruits irrespective of how and where it was gotten. But I can assure you, it'll be a mist-like joy. You can have it but you won't have the clear conscience that it was worked for. You can have it but you'll always be convicted of sin for having transgressed to obtain it. So, God is calling you to repentance this morning. Confess your sins to God, restitute to those you have cheated and return all goods stolen or acquired unlawfully. Then, don't make a repeat of such. Only then will you have the testimony of "better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife." (Prov. 17:1).
It's better to have little with clear conscience than have much with fear of consequences.
PRAYER: Lord, from you stems every good gift and every perfect gift. This I ask, gift me and let them endure.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Romans 11:1-24 & Psalms 79-81
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