DCLM Daily Manna 2 June 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Appreciate Our Vicarious Benefactor
TOPIC: Appreciate Our Vicarious Benefactor (DCLM Daily Manna 2 June 2023)
KEY VERSE: “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15).
TEXT: 2 Chronicles 5:10-21 (KJV)
10 There was nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put therein at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.
11 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place: (for all the priests that were present were sanctified, and did not then wait by course:
12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets:)
13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;
14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.
MESSAGE:
The story was told of a young man who hated his mother with passion and expressed disgust at seeing or identifying with her in the public. He was ashamed that she had only one functioning eye. It was not until she died that he learnt that his mother had one eye because she donated it to him after he lost an eye in an accident when he was young. Of course, there was no time to make amends. He lived with the shame and sorrow all his life.
Like the young man, many do not appreciate Jesus Christ for His sacrificial death to reconcile mankind to God. Contemptible, disdainful, half-hearted, hypocritical, cosmetic and mere lip service responses are unacceptable to the Lord. The only acceptable form of appreciation, which Christ the Benefactor expects in return is that beneficiaries would become new creatures. The new status bestows on the beneficiary the “ministry of reconciliation” and the status of an “ambassador”, a representative of Christ everywhere he or she goes.
Many people today live in total disregard for or willful ignorance of what Christ did for humanity. Others are ashamed of the gospel way because it does not suit their lifestyle or because conforming to the Christian life would cost them something they are not ready to let go. Many will realise the end result of their decisions too late and face the terrible consequences of their action in eternity.
It is a great privilege that Christ gave His life for humanity, especially for you. Your individual appropriation of His sacrifice to your life and appreciation of this by serving Him faithfully are what will earn you eternal life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Living to please Christ is one great way to appreciate His sacrifice.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Samuel 25-26
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.
