SUNDAY - 5TH OCTOBER, 2025
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO
A MAN OF GOD HAS A MANNER OF LIFE - My Manner of Life Series 002
II Kings 4:9, KJV
"And she said unto her husband, Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God, which passeth by us continually."
A man of God has a manner of life. One time, I told our brethren to include in their library A.P. Gibb's The Preacher and His Preaching.
Imagine that title. It's solely based on the verse that says, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (I Timothy 4:16).
That book actually emphasizes some things about the minister. That's what I've begun to do and deal with in this series as inspired by the Lord. When you see a minister, you should know he is a minister. God's hand should be on him. It's not the knowing that basically comes by wearing a suit or having certain hair cuts. Any one can take that appearance on themselves also.
It rather is God's possession of the man. When a man is in the grip of the divine, when he is a Nazarite, when he has been consecrated and he embraces that consecration, there's a way he will begin to appear to the world.
He will no longer look beautiful to those who are lost though he'll carry weight that presses them. He'll carry conviction that makes them see their wretchedness - run for salvation or avoid him all together. That's what it means to have lived holily before people. In no time, you'll begin to convict them. People will see you and they will be smothered at heart. Some will see you and hide or flee. It's not because you're a terror but they are guilty at heart for their unrepentant lives and will avoid being brought to light by coming in contact with you.
That's why the story of this woman and Elisha interests me. We ought to ask and ask again what this woman saw in Elisha that made her gasp and say, "this is a holy man of God."
She not only called him a man of God; she qualified it by calling him a "holy" man of God. You see, she was describing what she had both noticed about his life and learnt because of divine disclosure. She could see into the character of Elisha. She could see that he's not dubious. She has analysed how he travelled all by himself or with just one aide. Nothing about him made noise as he travelled. So, she learnt this is a quiet man - a peaceful one who loves quietness rather than fame. He neither carried a money bag nor was dressed in extravagance as if he wanted to prove something. She was reading his meekness that way and indeed she was true. She had seen right into who Elisha is. A man who's only contented by what God offers. He doesn't dupe church members or fleece people because he wanted to put hand to mouth.
She saw how grave he is and how tenacious he is with his calling. He could read his seriousness, learning how established he is through his constant passage without fanfare or entourage. He doesn't indulge in the lifestyles of kings. He's rather committed to that of the prophets. She therefore opened up to her master and lord - her husband, "this is a holy man of God who passes by us continually."
It won't be good to keep missing him. As such, he suggests, let's bring him in.
Let me ask you, what do you see in people - material wealth or their calling and grace; fruits of the Spirit or mere charisma only? And then, how should men of God be marked? By their suits, large following, luxury or by the fruits they bear?
Matthew 7:16, KJV
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Answer that question and probe your life in its light.
PRAYER: Lord, I fully submit to grow in the fruits of the Spirit.
BIBLE IN A YEAR
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