WEDNESDAY - 15TH OCTOBER, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola & Oreoluwa ADEJUMO
READY FOR THE TAKING! - Ready For The Taking Series 002
"All thy strong holds shall be like fig trees with the firstripe figs: if they be shaken, they shall even fall into the mouth of the eater."
This verse summarily explains ease and inevitability. I guess you might have had that experience of shaking a tree full of fruits before. May I ask what happened to the ripe fruits?
They fell! You got it right. That's the exact imagery being portrayed here. When a stronghold is like the description I've given here, porosity allows it to give way. Without much effort, entrance will be gained and the population of people such stronghold houses shall be doomed.
May our own strongholds not be like that! Ours shall withstand and abide in strength. What we pull over ourselves this morning is that our own "bow abides in strength." Even our hands are made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel) - Genesis 49:24.
When we are vexed, we shall be unshaken. We shall remain solidly like mount Zion that cannot be removed, but abides forever (Psalm 125:1). You'll therefore endure and still exist when many elements have waxed cold and passed away. Your bow, even the strength of your hands shall remain like the beginning.
Continuing from yesterday's series on Cornelius and his getting born again, I'll like to say Cornelius, his household and those he invited to hear the gospel are ripe grapes ready to fall. They only awaited someone to shake the tree.
Why did I say that? Did I see anything? Sure! God told Cornelius, "send men to Joppa to a man called Simon... he'll tell you what you ought to do" (Acts 10:6).
Did you see some sort of submission of will in that statement? God is also not in doubt of Cornelius. He knows he'll submit to whatever the said preacher says. As a matter of fact, the often prayers, alms and the fearing of God that Cornelius has been noted for all points to the fact that this is a man aspiring to know God. He wants to meet God but he doesn't know how. So, he began doing good. He began giving alms. He could have thought by the doing of all these, he'll attain the kingdom. He began praying and who knows whether one of his prayer points was, "God, if you're there, let me really meet you." That won't be a wild chase guess because we have a verse that says he fasted and prayed, only that we don't have specifics on what he prayed or waited for (Acts 10:30-31).
However, it is during that fasting God heard his prayer, sent him His angel and instructed him on what to do. We may have a reason to draw a connection between both, since God's appearance to him is an answer to his prayers.
That Cornelius thirsts after God isn't an act to be taken for granted. God might have made a pull on his heart but sure, there's a need for a minister to meet that thirst. Saying this, a Bible portion is recalled to my understanding.
"26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us."
Pay attention to verse 27 and what God says through Paul there. Contextually, Paul is preaching to heathen and idolaters in that place. They are nothing but sinners. So, it sure fits for our own context of discussion also.
Cornelius began to actually feel after God. It shows in all the religious acts he did to reach God but that's actually not how to reach God when one doesn't have a relationship with Him. But thank God that God saves those who cry to Him! Cornelius has gotten to that stage and state where he now desires to meet God and know Him. He even fasts and prays towards what may have to do with meeting/knowing God or having his thirst and longings for God met. He wants to kick start a relationship with Him but he just doesn't know how. God seeing this, that somebody is somewhere seeking His face, feeling and thirsty after Him, made His recommendations. God was bold with it, "send men to Joppa and call for one Simon... he'll tell you what you ought to do."
That's a typical example of a ripe fruit ready to fall into the hands/mouth of the preacher who'll near it. A ripe field in a person already feeling after God doesn't need much labour to be won for God. They rather wait with eagerness to see what God will command them to do. As a matter of fact, a lot of things prove that Cornelius and those with him are ripe fruits or fields. One, his estimation for the man God told him to send for. He was almost worshipping Peter who refused it and reorientated him (Acts 10:25-26). His thirst is also revealed in the preparation he puts in place and the many people he had gathered to listen to the esteemed awaited preacher (Acts 10:24). Another thing that reveals his eagerness is the fact that the Holy Spirit fell on them all while Peter still preached. Peter had not even said, "receive the Holy Ghost" but it came on them (Acts 10:44). That's because they all had an open heart. Their yearning and desire to have God or reach God is genuine. God therefore meets them halfway. He walks up to them! So, God moved mightily and came on them even without a personal invite having been sent. What a thing!
All these prove that Cornelius, his household, friends and relatives are ready for the taking. Before Peter came, Cornelius also might have rehearsed in their ears his supernatural encounter with an angel and what he instructed them to do. This one only waters their eagerness the most. The way Cornelius looks up to Peter at arrival shows a man who's ready for anything. Ministers must not use this to rob or swindle people who express reverence and genuine love for God. You're not the one they're so honouring. It's God in you. All colts who have been decorated, carrying the Master must stop thinking the jewels in clothes and tree branches that are laid on the floor are for their own honour (Mark 11:8).
God is sending you to a ripe field. You'll meet a ready soul. A soul on whom all has been made ready already. He'll only ask, "brethren what shall we do to be saved?" May you not make the mistake of saying sow into my ministry or basket at that time. Rather, may you preach Christ's love and sacrifice to him. Many are like a ripe field. Reapers should beware. Irrespective of their status, power, connection base, the Holy Spirit has encountered them earlier and made all things ready with them. He only wanted to seal it with salvation, which is why He needs a preacher through whom they can hear the gospel. For those of you contemplating and arguing whether all things are ready or not, receive your amendment in this verse.
John 4:35, KJV
"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
PRAYER: Lord, I am available and at your reach. When you need an evangelist and preacher, I shall be one.
BIBLE IN A YEAR
Hebrews 4; Jeremiah 13-15
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