Topic: A Wise Response [DCLM Daily Manna 15 May 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: Luke 11:14-28 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges” (Luke 11:19).
MESSAGE:
A renowned wise man in a community was once confronted by an inquisitive boy who was out to test the depth of the wise man’s wisdom. The boy was holding a live butterfly and wanted the wise man to tell him its state; dead or alive. Reasoning that the boy could mischievously squeeze the butterfly to death irrespective of his answer, the man simply responded, “it is in your hand”. The curious boy was so astonished and overwhelmed by the wise man’s impeccable answer that he nodded in affirmation of his exceptional wisdom.
In furtherance of His good works, Jesus Christ performed a landmark miracle of delivering a mute demon-possessed man. However, rather than glorifying God and appreciating His power, the people at the scene resorted to character assassination. They maligned the anointing of God in Him by their unwholesome and provoking remarks that “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of devils”. Instead of joining issues with them, Christ simply referred them to their own children who performed such miracles too.
Quite instructive are these wise responses of Christ to the statements of provocation and praises to men. It underscore the imperativeness of the believer’s need of the Spirit-inspired speech. In our pursuit of God’s assignments, we might be misunderstood, abused or castigated by individuals or groups. Some people might even engage us in a mischievous dialogue with a view to provoking us and defiling our priesthood. At such crucial moments the believer needs an immediate presence and power of the Holy Spirit for a tongue of the learned that produces wise responses such as demonstrated by Christ.
Thought For The Day: Wise response is a key to ministerial success.
The Bible In One Year: 2 Corinthians 5-9
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
