WEDNESDAY - 8TH JUNE, 2022
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
FORM WITHOUT POWER; LEAVES WITHOUT FRUITS
Read Mark 11:12-14
II Timothy 3:5, KJV
"Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away".
Form without power! Take some time out to think what it means. Have you seen a very beautiful vehicle before until you discover it's under repair and has no engine? If you had tried starting it, it wouldn't have kicked or moved an inch.
"Form of godliness" is simply a deceptive appearance that any could carry. "Form of godliness" is not godliness itself. Form of godliness is what makes some appear as Christians afar off but upon closer scrutiny, they're revealed as no Christians because they don't live what they project out. He might have been Christianized while bearing John, Janet and professing same. He might put on the cross, tuck in or covers her head often only to discover that these forms that attracted you to him aren't leading to any life to substantiate the appearance you've seen. He may be the greatest liar, fornicator or adulterer of all seasons. In today's reading, Jesus journeys with the disciples and was attracted by a fig tree with plenty leaves from afar. When Jesus saw it, He humanly thought the tree would have fruits - figs. On that basis, he walked in hope of fetching fruits from this fig tree only to discover that this fig tree has been living a deceptive life and using same to command attention to itself. It poses as one with fruits yet without fruits. Its having much leaves and looking very much decorated from up down would convince anyone from afar to hope fetching a thing from it. However, only a form is what this fig tree shoots out. The main thing that it should have - for which Jesus (who was at that time hungry) and many others would have set out after was absent. Fruits were lacking. It therefore denies the power thereof because it has failed to meet expectation on what is really being sought. There be many Christians like that.
Check if you're not being described. Do you look like it somewhere but you're not it? You look like reality but you're pseudo. Brass also looks like gold you know but ain't gold! When that place says, "having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof", it was nailing having a form of godliness and intentionally crafting to put on the sheep skin when one is a wolf. In life, you must know what is substance or wheat being sought after different from the chaff being rejected or to be jettisoned. Many times in the Bible, vivid and lucid examples were given to draw lines of distinctions between the wheat and the chaff. The wheat is the real eatable substance that anyone retains from grains or cereals while the chaff is what we let go. The chaff is so empty and light that a little breeze of air would carry it off. That's why a place in Psalm 1 says these:
Psalms 1:4-5, KJV
"4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous".
Have you seen how incapable chaff are in resisting the wind even naturally? They can't but be driven away since they lack the substance that could make it difficult for the wind to drive them off as mere particles. As distinctive the distinction between wheat and chaff is, so is the distinction between "form of godliness" and "its power thereof". If you have a form of godliness, repent from using that to make people feel at home with you before being taken aback [though you might have used them or had your way with them before their discovery]. Thirst after its power thereof - which is a life of Christ. Let corresponding characters or fruits of the Spirit be proofs [Gal.5:22-23].
PRAYER: Lord, let me meet expectation and requirements. May I resemble You and not be a bastard professing to be Christ's. Does the foundation of the Lord not stand sure? The Lord knows His.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 10:1-2
Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Share with others in English, French, Arabic, Swahili and Chinese. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com, morningwingsministryplus@gmail.com or Facebook @ Morning Wings Ministry & Blog @ www.morningwingsministry.blogspot.com