MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 17/03/2024

SUNDAY - 17TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

GOD DOES PUT A DIFFERENCE - Does Good Pays Series 004?

Read Exodus 11:1-7

Exodus 11:7, KJV

"But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel."

We began by looking at Malachi 3:13-18 where the saints' thoughts were heard by God for their complaint that He didn't put a difference between them and the wicked around them. However, far be it from God to suffer the righteous like the unrighteous. The One who created the ears, will He not hear? The One who created the eyes, will He not see? The one Who created the mind, will He not know? It's therefore obvious to believe and say that God knows the righteous and marks him separate from the unrighteous despite the fact that it is His own children who accuse Him of not drawing any difference between them in this part of Malachi 3.  

Today, I shall take you to Egypt to see how the Lord separates between Israel (His own) and Egypt (Pharaoh's). Occasionally, as you read, you'll see the Bible say, "and I will SEVER in that day the land of Goshen in which my people dwell that no swarms of flies shall be there (Exo..8:22) ...or and I will put a DIVISION between my people and thy people... (Exo. 8:23)."

This is the Lord speaking through Moses to Pharaoh. It means if sickness, diseases, pestilence, plague is ravaging others, a Christian can believe for his house or household. It won't just cross over because God will sever between his Goshen (where he lives) and the general Egypt where other heathens live. In the latter verse above, God also claims Israel (though in Egypt) as His own. He calls them, "my people." Indeed, when the swarms of flies came, that difference and separation the Lord did was very visible to see. His own people didn't suffer anyway. 

Further also, the Lord also severed between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt so much more that nothing dies of the Israel's (Exo.9:4). Mark the word, "sever", it means to demarcate or separate away and then between two or more things. This is a convincing picture that God cares after the economic life of a believer or any that serves Him indeed. He'll never allow the accidents of the unbelievers to happen to him. The Lord is the One watching over their experiences. He ensures He severs the believer away from the unbeliever's experience. This severing even continues in the light God provided Israel and the thick darkness that covers Egypt so much more that none rose from his place for three days (Exo.10:23). Even in the final blow God gave Pharaoh and the land of Egypt, we as well see this idea of God claiming or severing between two people. While God says, "there shall be a great cry throughout all Egypt because their firstborns shall die, He assures that no dog shall move his tongue against man or beast of Israel to the end that they may know that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel" (Exo.11:7). 

All these acts and many more that we couldn't pick to talk about prove the fact that it pays to serve God, belong or be separated to Him. God is a very rewarding God. He watches over His own and severs between them and others. He allows for a distinction in the lives of those who serve Him so that they might be envied and coveted. That may also bear down to discipline and obedience on the part of His own but He does put that difference truly. Obedience in the sense that He told them to mark their lintels and they did (Exo.12:13). If any Israelite didn't, he'll obviously share in the reward of Egypt. You see that? There's always a difference. 

If there's no difference between the heathen and the believer, why serve the Lord then? You may be living in a society where being educated no longer pays. It means the distinction between school leavers and illiterates are now closed up or the reverse is the case. However, it ought not to be. If that is, people won't want to study again. They'll say they could make it without having formal education. As such, they'll call schooling a scam. Meanwhile, I know it is not. We only tend to call a scam what we trust but which doesn't distinguish us from others who doesn't trust it. So, if you're on this side of the Lord, there are what you'll enjoy sincerely. The Lord will be your keeper and shade upon your right hand (Psalm 121:5). The Lord will be the maintainer of your lot (Psalm 16:5). He'll see to every affair of your life like an overseer or manager sees to it that a business runs well. The moment you commit to the Lord like Psalm 91:1 says, then you can say of Him that He's your refuge: your God in whom you will trust amidst believing other blessings in that Psalm.  Since Egypt is symbolic of the world and Israel, of the church, it means Christians could expect to have the happenings of the heathen not crossing to them. If you share a fence with a notorious heathen, the fire burning in his house by God's difference won't cross to yours. Though Israel and the Egyptians are in one whole piece of land, yet God demarcated and separated Goshen away from all those plagues He brought on Egypt. 

You're a son and daughter of difference. This is your testimony that you serve the living God others are not serving but Who they should serve also. Look, God will draw the difference for you. If you have committed to Him, He'll commit to you. If you're on His side; He'll side you. 

PRAYER: I am a child of difference. I call on the covenant to put the difference now. Difference activated.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 24:1-25:18, Luke 2:1-35, Psalm 59:1-17, Proverbs 11:14

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 16/03/2024

SATURDAY - 16TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

IMMEDIACY OF JUDGEMENT - Does Good Pays Series 003?

Ecclesiastes 8:11, KJV

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

To have that society of our dream isn't far fetched at all. It all begins with being prompt with the execution of judgement. When matters are unnecessarily adjourned, you may begin to suspect if fairness will be struck at all. 

In many nations of the world today, their experience is that you can buy yourself out of any crime case. It doesn't matter how criminal it is, once you could rub or grease the palms of those at the table, it'd be settled. This act amidst the delay antics in judgement is what makes many faint or weary of good doing. Many stories of crooked men who like Barabbas continue to walk scotfree and make appearances in the society warns the citizenry even of the danger of exposing evil or serving as eye witnesses to one. Fear has now come to grip the just as they cower at what untold evil could happen to them when they seek to expose the works of darkness in their society. I'll say no society lives this way that won't deteriorate. 

Our anchor verse today warns against delayed judgement. I had said it in yesterday's devotional that if one offends and is quickly brought to book, it'll serve as a deterrent to others that crime doesn't pay. It'll also be an encouragement indirectly to the righteous and law abiding citizens to continue in the discharge of good. Delaying judgement, being unfair at judgement or not prosecuting the offender at all only encourages more evil in the society. In some society, they have perfected the art of bringing people to book. As such there's sanity and respect for sanctity of life. In others, it is not so. Therefore, the hearts of men are fully set to try evil or continually do evil.  

When that place says, "therefore the heart of men is fully set to do evil", it wasn't talking only about the hearts of wicked men being continually set to do evil but even the righteous being converted to follow after their example to do evil."

Any society that'll live in relative peace and civility must ensure that there's a distinction between law breakers and abiders. Offenders should be hunt down irrespective of where they flee to for refuge while abiding citizenry should be justly rewarded as an example of the expectation on the enter citizenry. If you protect certain offices due to the immunity of the office, you'd be fighting this principle also. It means leaders and those with status or offices could bully the less privileged. And we have seen that a lot. Such bullying ranges from forceful collection of landed properties to even violation of the human rights of the poor. In some countries, we've seen presidents serve terms in jail for offences they were found guilty of. Rule of law should indeed be upheld without an exception. It'll warn men irrespective of status of proper behavior. 

The onus of seeing to execution of judgement lies on us all at the levels we are - either at home or outrightly in government. Don't delay judgement for the offender. Strike the iron while it is hot and let him bear the justness of his actions. This way, the righteous will rejoice and do more good while the wicked will withdraw and fear the law. Without a proper rewarding system in any nation, you'd destroyed the citizenry and produce a dummy nation that switches right for wrong and wrong for right.  

PRAYER: At all stratas of our nation, we declare the justness and fairness of God as supreme. We ask for courage against intimidation to pursue righteousness and uphold the rule of law.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 22:21-23:30, Luke 1:57-80, Psalm 58:1-11, Proverbs 11:12-13

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 15/03/2024

FRIDAY - 15TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

REBELLION OF THE RIGHTEOUS! - Does Good Pays Series 002?

Read Malachi 3:13-18; Luke 15:11-32

Malachi 3:13, KJV

"Your words have been stout against me, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?"

It may eventually become inevitable but for the righteous to join the unrighteous; the obedient becoming disobedient when there's no clear cut rewarding and punishment system admnistering justice to the deeds of both the righteous and wicked. It is for this the elder sibling of the prodigal son calls the father's attention. He'd said to him, "all this while that I've been with thee, yet you've never given me even a kid to celebrate with my friend but when this waster son of yours came, you killed for him the fatted calf" (Lk.15:28-30). Forget the fact that he's beginning to be legalistic; yet he has spoken very wisely. He has a point. What he's requesting of his father is a distinction to be put between himself - an obedient son who has continued with the father till now and his younger brother - one who has wasted the father's resources and love, giving it to prostitutes. I want to ask you, "should there not be a distinction or clear cut mark of treatment between the obedient/disobedient children in our homes or the law abiders/non abiders in our society amidst the citenzenry?" There should be because when there's none, you'll be tampering with the justness of the righteous, telling them it doesn't pay to do good or abide by the law. If your second son sees that his elder brother gets away with all his disobedience act, do you think he'll act obediently? No! He'll also begin to defy you. This way, you'll have changed an obedient son into a rogue because you were too weak to enforce your parenthood. However, if you make obedience look lucrative and rewarding, he'll continue to do good. That's why I can tell you first hand that it is the society by its laws that either promotes crookedness or righteousness. If judgement is not delayed for the offenders, then no one will want to disobey.

In truth, if you'll look at the response of the father to this elder boy's accusation, the father does put a distinction between himself and his wasteful younger brother. Many times, when people tell the story of the prodigal son, they always superimpose the disobedience of the younger brother on the obedience of his elder brother. As a matter of fact, the message they pass is that it is good to backslide because at one's return, you'd be received in fanfare. That's true as there's much joy in heaven and even on earth over one sinner that repents. However, you must know that God cherishes His saints and those who have always continued with Him in His house above those who go and come. Who will you reward as a boss between a disloyal and loyal workers of yours who sticked all through with you? Likewise, the father (symbolic of God in this narrative) gives each of the siblings the reward that fits their deeds to him. What he said to the elder brother encourages obedience and commitment to him and warns us that the disobedient and rebel of a child won't receive like the perfect abider. How did I know they didn't have equal reward? The father said it himself when he consoled the elder sibling saying, "you're ever with me. It is meet we celebrate your lost but found brother. However, all I have is yours" (Lk.15:31-32). Did you read that in your Bible at all? Did you observe God didn't put that returnee sibling and sinner over his brother even after he had been forgiven and received back? God rewards obedience more than disobedience or backsliding? God knows those who have painstakingly followed Him. He doesn't forget our work and labour of love in that we have ministered to the saints and in which we still minister (Heb.6:10). That's why their father could tell the obedient sibling who had lived all his life in the house doing his will that "all he has is his." It means both the returnee brother and even the father would live and survive from then on the share of goods that belongs to the elder sibling only. We know that the younger brother collected his own when he requested for his share of their father's goods at the very beginning. So, what is totally left now is the elder brother's and that's what the whole family will live on. As a matter of fact, the younger sibling is at the mercy of his elder sibling from that time henceforth. 

So, looking at this story, we could learn some morals. One, obedient citizens and children in the house would feel cheated and challenge the existing system if they felt they are being unfairly treated. That's why the elder sibling in this narrative challenged his father for not for once rewarding his obedience and ever presence with him in the family business. Another lesson is that the obedient might backslide or stop the working of righteousness if they don't see or are not assured of a clear cut distinction being put between they and the disobedient. Also, we learnt how important it is for the government, parents and all who upholds the law to ensure that there's a clear cut system and law rewarding the righteous/obedient and punishing the disobedient/offenders. This way, no righteous citizen would feel communicated to or forced to switch into unrighteousness. As such, there won't be accusation, speaking against and daring of the authority or challenging it as we have in these verses of the Bible where the righteous kicked hard against God for His supposed injustice to them. Rebellion happens when people feel cheated and it is not addressed you know. May we have a just system that no citizen can fault. May we have justice in our homes so much more that the righteous children won't be able to challenge or stout their words against their parents. May our nation and that of the world put a distinction between law abiders and defaulters so that those working righteousness won't call it a bullshit and let their obedience fly off, resulting into this verse below. 

"It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?" (Malachi 3:14, KJV). 

Imagine how guilty you will look if your own child poses this statement to you because you've been hypocritical in acknowledging the obedient different from the disobedient at the home level where they co-exist. Yet, that's the exact words of many citizenry to their government nowdays. It's on the same ground such citizens even change their minds from doing good into fellowing to do evil. Why? They saw it doesn't pay to do any good at all. May we not by ourselves create a dummy system that takes effort, righteousness and obedience of people for granted. May we be just and wise leaders always encouraging the obedient to do more and the disobedient to repent. 

PRAYER: Father, help us to create a system where no sinner/offender goes unpunished and where no obedient goes unrewarded.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 21:1-22:20, Luke 1:26-56, Psalm 57:1-11, Proverbs 11:9-11

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 14/03/2024

THURSDAY - 14TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

AND WE CALL THE PROUD HAPPY - Does Good Pays Series 001?

Read Malachi 3:13-18

Malachi 3:15, KJV

"And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered."

May this not be your saying. Have you met backslided Christians before? They usually have that saying. They'd say, "what's so special in serving the Lord? We did but nothing came out of it. No reward; no special treatment - not a bit of distinction. Rather, we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered." Imagine that! Sounds like an act of great injustice or unfairness. It breaks down the wall of any just rewarding system. If any nation operates by this, crime will skyrocket in a jiffy. 

Their saying is, "these are people who ought not to have made it big or given any acknowledgement, office or reference in society. However, they are the ones having the praise and honour of men despite being scoundrels." You know somebody once lamented that those who showed no potential of a great future while in secondary school are now those who could pay the bills. They neither were brilliant or excelled in other things by which they could be predicted and marked for a great future; however, they have the materials now. While some of these said people might not have cut corners to make it, he however talks of those who did. He therefore felt cheated being a law abiding citizen when others who despise and suspend the law at will are those the same society they're ruining celebrate. Does it shock you? Same is the complaint of those for whom that verse of the Bible was written.

They were frustrated and disappointed that those who are unjust are called blessed. In all endeavours, those who are doing well and making it are those who they know to be law breakers, stubborn, disobedient to parents and even heady to God etc. That's why that place says, "we call the proud happy and the wicked are set up." Should it be? It ought not to but that became the new normal because of how the society has come to love vanity and esteem those who could deliver the cash or bring out the goods only. Meaning, if you're righteous and you can't deliver or you aren't bogus or extravagant, you'd not be celebrated by such system. How many of you have felt cheated like this before? How many of you once ruminated and called the proud happy, lucky and fortunate than your humble obedient self?

You see, indeed, the proud may be called happy by men and those that work wickedness may be set high because of the earthly goods they have acquired indecently with which men respect or defer to them, however, it should be known to you that their respect comes from men and not from God. God doesn't make mistakes with the identity of men. He abhors what men esteems at times. You may have the reputation of being good but be very evil before God or vice versa. So, while the proud may be called happy by men, God sees him as unfortunate and doomed. It is natural for those that cut corners to accumulate wealth unduly and hastily and be quickly set up or given  recognition in the society more than the righteous; however, let this be your consolation that when God shall make up His jewels, he shall separate between both of you. There shall be a mark that you have been on the Lord's side and have been contented with what your effort earns you in righteousness. It'll eventually be just, true and balanced like Father Abraham told the rich man. "You in thy lifetime enjoyed goodies but Lazarus evil. But now, he enjoys good while you are tormented" ((Lk.16:25). Even the distinction shall begin to be certain from the earth because the Bible says, "for the wicked shall not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish" (Psalms 1:5-6). God will preserve you and grant you salvation (Psalm 91:16). If any were to be taken in death or caught in evil, you can be assured it won't be you because you're God's obedient son. Any man spares his obedient son of punishment. God is not unrighteous as to be blind to your godliness. The mystery of distinction still works and it shall demarcate between the righteous and evil. 

May it not ever be your own saying that you call the proud happy and the wicked set up in honorable places while those who stick to the Lord lack the needed recognition and blessing. May you not come to this place of hurt and regret for ever serving the Lord. It's the reason why some backslided. They'd tell you that we've seen it work the other way round. The proud are called happy and the wicked set up. We too, we shall follow suit. Don't. God does put distinction between the wicked and the righteous; good and bad; obedient and disobedient. While Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, salvation was extended to Lot and his family by mercy (Gen.19:16-17). That's the kind of distinction I'm talking about. You shall not be destroyed or caught in the lot of the wicked. "A thousand may fall by your side and ten thousand by your right hand, but it won't come to you", says the Lord. "You'll only see with your eyes the reward of the wicked" (Psalm 91:7-8). Mark that phrase, "the reward of the wicked." It means their getting paid justly for all they have done. Look, the wicked shall not escape his just recompense. Only that you might still argue for justice unknowingly to you that he has been justly paid. To do good and stick to God in obedience pays. I tell you as God Himself says. It pays!

PRAYER: Lord, open your book of remembrance and put distinction between me and the disobedient. Reward my righteousness. It is the Lord who fight for me, so I hold my peace. The Lord is the keeper of my lot.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 19:1-20:29, Luke 1:1-25, Psalm 56:1-13, Proverbs 11:8

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 13/03/2024

WEDNESDAY - 13TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

SOWING BEGAT REAPING

Luke 19:21, KJV

"For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow."

That's a principle being highlighted in that verse. If you have not sown, you ought not to reap and if you haven't laid down, why take up? First of all, memorize that so you won't begin to anticipate where you've not scattered. You may wonder, who does that? Yet, there are people who expect from where they have not given. 

If this verse be true (which it is), it means its reverse will also be true. He that sows must reap. It's on this wise the master of this servant is vindicated over him. He has sown and he should reap. I only wonder why this uncommensensical servant couldn't see that the deposit with him is His master's seed or investment to him. While the master settles accounts with others and with favourable responses on their proves of yield, this one has nothing to present. He rather accuses his master, calling him an austere man. Do you know the meaning of that? It means, "hard" or "brutal." He accuses him of expecting to reap where he has not sown. Who does that? If that were true of his master, that would have made him a truly hard man. It's only an investment you have not put down you shouldn't expect a dime on. If you do, you're simply a robber and a rebel. As a matter of fact, you're the most difficult man that ever be. 

However, this servant out of blindness refuses to see. Envy of others huge talents could have made him bury his. He probably accounted his to be too little or depressing to do anything. However, the master knows their capacity and as a gentleman that he is, he won't request of them when he has not given them at all let alone ask more than he has entrusted to each. That's why his reply goes thus. "22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?" (Luke 19:22-23, KJV). You see, what's the master proving with him? That he has sown to him and he ought to reap an interest in what he has given? On this wise, he's justified over him. 

God has given to us all. We might not have been endowed equally but this is also a prove that we won't be expected from equally. All of us are meant to live a purposeful life with God's investment, talent, gift, anointing, inspiration on or in us. A day of reckoning will come when you'll give account of your stewardship. May you be found faithful. May you not give a lame excuse seeking to accuse God for not endowing you obviously like the stars or superstars of your day. May you live life to the fullest at your level of endowment - knowing that God is not an austere man who doesn't request where He has not given and who doesn't request more than He gave. 

PRAYER: Lord, may I not be stupid and churlish in business. May I always seek to bring profit and glory to You who has created and endowed me.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 12/03/2024

TUESDAY - 12TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

NO REGRETS

John 4:34, KJV

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

After discovering what to live for, your next big responsibility or target is to ensure you live it out and to the fullest. You don't want to regret at old age or departure that there are extents not reached. Many time, we focus on discovering the will of God and living it as we are preoccupied but haven't taught ourselves or congregation the need to finish all written or allocated to us to do by God. You're not the one who determines the extent of your work or elasticity of your calling. God does. For John, his assignment was to identify the Messiah and testify of Jesus as he did (John 1:29-34). He identifies Him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. For Jesus, it was to die for the sins of the whole world and He sure got there as well (John 19:30). For you, you must find out. You'll know if there's still more to cover by the feeling of discontentment you'll often feel in you. God is the One who supplies any called fellow with a sense of purpose. So, you'll always have an experience of whether you're on the right tasks or you've fulfilled all.  

You see, you'll still be a failure of a type if you couldn't complete what God allocated to you to do. On this note, we have to give effort to see that we do the will of God and finish His works before we are cut off. It is this reason that fuels Jesus into saying, "He must work the works of He that sent Him while it is day, for night comes when no man can work" (John 9:4). You see, even if you don't want to stop; you'll be eventually stopped by old age or death. You can not always bear the zest and youthfulness of your youth. It is true of all things that night will come upon you. Night as a moment of importunity is one thing that hinders people from "finishing God's work" which they have found. Many may start, go all the way to do some but may not finish. Not finishing is where the danger is. Imagine if God had to look for another man to finish or bring to completion the very assignment He gave to you to do. 

The very sure way to beat night or time of importunity like sickness, old age or death which may hinder you from doing the will of God that you have known (which is your purpose) and finishing it is to have started earlier and apply diligence on daily basis to fulfill your calling. Once you sense God's call on your life for a certain kind of life to be lived, it is wise to depart once and for all to it without contemplating how you'll make ends meet. Dillying-dallying is a robber of time - your most essential time. Starting early gives you more time in your hands to dedicate to your calling or life's purpose. Any who did something of importance laid the foundation in his youth when his body could bear the burden or shock of the work. As I write to you now, there are different men especially Scientists and Inventors who spend up to 14 - 16 hours daily seeking to make discovery or finish a product. No aged fellow could give such much time. 

However, if you're a latecomer like Paul the Apostle, you may need to take the handle of diligence to beat even your predecessors in the same profession. Apostle Paul while speaking says, "but by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (I Corinthians 15:10, KJV). You see, labouring more than others can hasten your steps and put you into equality with those who already left you behind. It not only made Paul to catch up but it even made him surpass all the other apostles. He laboured more than them all. He started by giving himself away to solitude even at the beginning (Gal.1:16-18) and making his time count daily by giving it to calling henceforth and not frivolities. Peter also talks of "applying diligence to make one's calling and election sure" (II Peter 1:10). Establishment and reknowness of your calling comes through diligence or else you might not be taken as having the call as you profess. Unless by diligence men sees the works or products of your calling, it may not be clear to them that you're called. 

Therefore, let it be in your mind not only to be a good starter but finisher. There are those who'll regret on their death bed by the time God shows them their report card. By the time He shows them expanse that still needs coverage, they'd not be happy at all. Let it be your motivation to finish all as well. If orphanage, university, hospital, NGO, business etc is in your calling, ensure they all come out. If you're a minister and God intends you preach to many and bring them to salvation and sonship, then your thirst must be the thirst of Paul who says, "he's indebted to the Greeks and the Barbarians... and he must share the gospel with those in Rome also" (Rom. 1:14-15). What we have all started, may we see to an end. 

PRAYER: Give me the wisdom, initiative and energy to fulfill my purpose in its entirety. My strength is renewed; my understanding is enlarged.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 11/03/2024

MONDAY - 11TH MARCH, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

HUMANITY IN ALL OF US

Acts 28:2, KJV

"And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold."

The word "barbarous" has been variously explained in the dictionary as, "uncivilized, uncultured;

mercilessly impudently violent; cruel or savage." One thing is observable, because this island is very much far from the civilization of people, its people could have remained very much unchanged or refined. If this is not, they could have refused change all together like the Piraha of the Amazon jungle in Brazil. They might have made of none effect the contacts of people with them. Though uncivilized, they however acted contrarily to that. They showed civility and humanity to Paul and all others who escaped the peril of the sea. They kindled fire for them and housed them.

Humanity is in everyone of us including any dubbed uncivilized or aggressive among us. It is God who puts it there. He is love (I John 4:16) and we are products of His love. Because we are, we are to model after God, the ultimate Love. As such, no matter how hard, violent or unapproachable someone may be, yet we know there's bowels of compassion (I John 3:7) in him that can be triggered or called to act humanly. This barbarous people could have acted otherwise and lived up to the label put on them but they seemed to have proven everyone wrong about their being barbarous. Who knows what myths have been formed round them? Who knows whether it was once noised that they were cannibals and should be avoided? However, we see their heart in such timely help they gave to those shipwrecked on the sea.

While there are those whose bowels of compassion might have been perverted, yet we ought know that all humans inherit the capacity to love and be loved from God. He's counting on us to give love and show a heart of compassion to many that'll come our way in our capacity and at our levels. 

I John 3:17, KJV

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"

This way, we'll be bringing down his kingdom as we model it to men. Love and kindness are languages that any hears or sees. As you speak it by acting it, you may win some wars without fighting and win people without preaching. Yes, just by observing you.

Humanity is in all of us. We are bound together by that rope and we pray that we'll be more human to each other even as the day are hard. Humanity brings tolerance and a strive for peace in our society. It could make two factions even live peacefully as one. May I continually see you as my brother and neighbor. May I do unto you just like I'll like you do unto me. May we all find acceptance in strange lands and with strange people. Irrespective of where you'll arrive at, no matter the strangeness of the land, you can trust God who delivered Paul out of the mouth of the lion to redeem you from violence and make people favourably disposed to you (II Tim.4:17). They'll see you and be tempered. They'll see you and come as friends. 

PRAYER: Teach me more matters of civility, kindness and exercise of human compassion to others.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 11:24-13:33, Mark 14:22-52, Psalm 52:1-9, Proverbs 11:1-3

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