DCLM Daily Manna 22 June 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Addressing Our Weak Links
TOPIC: Addressing Our Weak Links (DCLM Daily Manna 22 June 2023)
KEY VERSE: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).
TEXT: Romans 16:17-27 (KJV)
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
MESSAGE:
The most vulnerable point of the huge image in Nebuchad-nezzar’s dream was its feet made “part of iron and part of clay”. The stone that pulverised the colossus did not aim at its ornate features of gold, silver and brass; it went straight to where it was weak, the base where it was incompatible with the other strong sections of an otherwise formidable statue.
It is not enough to boast of partial strength. One must strive for all-round vigour. That is the message in the concluding chapter of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. He warns them to watch against those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine they had learnt and avoid them. These doctrinal deviants would constitute themselves into destabilising influences in the body of Christ. The church, he warns, must shun the growth of such tendencies, because they would be the target of satanic adversarial forces.
Only when the church presents a united position in vision, mission and direction among all its members, without exception, would it be able to defeat its end-time challenges inspired by the devil and his agents. The only way we can achieve that is to ensure that we all, from the least to the leaders, embrace the full-orbed teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. They must not leave weak members in the assembly. We must all be on the same page.
We must cast our sights in the direction of raising an invincible army standing on doctrinal unity and stability while waiting for the imminent return of our Captain. We must not allow the young and growing believers in our midst to become the tender prey of the enemy.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Strengthening the weak is our collective task.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Kings 5-7
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
