Topic: Call To Acceptable Service [Tuesday August 1, 2017]
Text: Ezekiel 20:39-49
Key Verse: “For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.”(EZEKIEL 20:40).
In his book, The Pilgrim’s Progress, John Bunyan tells us about a character named Christianah and her four sons who were near their goal when they met a wounded man on the street. The name of the man was Mr. Valiant-for-truth. They washed his wounds, gave him food and drink; also learned his story as they travelled onward together. Mr. Valiant-for-truth related his experiences of obstacles, yet remained resolute that he would make it all the way to the celestial city.
Those are the people that the Lord desires to serve Him. In today’s text, the children of Israel were given to idol worship, yet they pretended to be serving God by bringing gifts to Him. The Lord rejected their gifts and challenged them to turn away from their idols and serve the living God so that He could re-establish them in their own land and set up His sanctuary among them once again. Otherwise, His judgment was inevitable on them.
Many acclaimed believers today think they can bribe God with their gifts of tithes and offerings, regular church attendance, being a philanthropist in the society, religious activities, among others without serving God in the beauty of holiness, are an effort in futility. “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness” (1 Chronicles 16:29).
It is this total holiness of life that makes service acceptable to God. You cannot worship God or offer Him gifts in an unclean state. You cannot give Him blemished offerings. God is holy and He demands holiness all around Him. He demands a service of holiness from all His children. Holy and acceptable service stems from genuine repentance and forgiveness through Christ’s atoning blood. Believers must demonstrate total commitment, obedience and submission to the Scriptures as they shun all forms of unholy union in worship.
Thought for the day: Unholy life desecrates God’s altar.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Corinthians 1-4
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.
