MONDAY - 11TH AUGUST, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
NO MAN TAKES IT FROM ME! - Laying It Down Series 002
John 10:18, KJV
"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
Jesus says, "no man takes it from me." When something is not willingly laid down but forcefully collected, it means, "taken or collected from you."
Those are the two ways through which one could give his life. Either it is laid down or taken from one. When one's life is taken, it means an external cause or force impinges on one's right to defy the sacredness and sanctity of life by taking it. It means the taker of that life didn't seek the consent of the one he took his or her life, neither was approval given. For example, Cain took the life of Abel. Abel didn't willingly lay down his life. He didn't come to the understanding of something he had to voluntarily yield his life up for. However, it was snatched from him. If he were asked, he wouldn't have wanted to die. As a matter of fact, that's why his blood speaks from the ground - for justice because he didn't want to die (Gen.4:10).
Every blood shed that doesn't want to die or necessarily yield up something always cries for revenge! If you've once bullied someone before and blown their nose until blood comes out or taken the virginity of someone by force, it's the same, you're guilty of a blood you've forcefully shed and unless the blood of Jesus that speaks better things than Abel's silences that and you receive forgiveness, you're in danger of serious repercussions (Heb.12:24). Blood is sacred. It must not be forcefully shed.
The idea of "no man takes it from me" comes from murder in simple terms. "To take from one" is to collect forcefully or without approval. Consider pickpockets and thieves, they take from people without their consent or even knowledge. That is, no laying down of what was stolen. This opposes the voluntary work of dying for the sins of the whole world that Jesus did for us as we saw yesterday.
Observe that clause, "no man takes it from me." It is a statement made in violation of rights and consent. When a person is raped and the rapist are taken in or arrested, it's not because they had sex with someone but because it was done without consent/approval of the owner of the body. It would have been a different ball game if that lady agreed to it and offered her body up. That's what makes one person under law a criminal and the other absolved of the same act.
Jesus willingly died for us. He wanted to. Have you seen animals at the slaughter house before? Even they don't want to die and they'll debate that to try to secure their lives. Only that human wisdom would still sleep them to the ground to slit their throat. Even at that, you'd see the cry and the struggle. On occasion, these animals could kick their slaughterer and if care is not taken, bring him down or injure him. We've seen certain animals ready to be slaughtered escape and become wild before. Does this tell you of the scramble to preserve one's life? But then, here's Jesus who rather yields up His life for us. The Bible says in Romans 5:8, "but God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Only God knows if many of the human sacrifices done to appease lands ever were effective? Why? The fellow yielding his life didn't want to give it. It was taken from him.
Even in the garden of Gethsemane when the sins of the whole world was laid on Jesus and He was beginning to have a toast and glimpse of what it means to suffer or die for our sins, He shivered. He also wanted the cup to pass over Him and He tried it. He said, "if only this cup could pass over me" (Matt.26:39). However, He gave in to God's will. He said, "not as I will but as you will." That's the place of giving one's consent and being in agreement or else that sacrifice one wants to give would have been given grudgingly and may not be acceptable to God. God can see hearts!
Let me ask you, have you benefited from the death of Jesus Christ or it doesn't still make any difference to you? Stiff it. Ask for God's forgiveness and call Him into your heart now.
PRAYER: Lord, I acknowledge my sinfulness and Jesus' work of giving his life for me where I wanted to protect mine. Forgive me my sins and come into my heart.
BIBLE IN A YEAR
I Cor. 13; Psalms 81-83
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