DCLM Daily Manna 11 December 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Deadly Desertions
TOPIC: Deadly Desertions (DCLM Daily Manna 11 December 2023)
KEY VERSE: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).
TEXT: 2 Timothy 4:9-22 (KJV)
9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:
10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.
11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.
12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.
13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:
15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
16 At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.
17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.
18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.
21 Do thy diligence to come before winter. Eubulus greeteth thee, and Pudens, and Linus, and Claudia, and all the brethren.
22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
MESSAGE:
Those who start a race on a high note do not get the laurels if they fail to end on a correspondingly high note. They would not be remembered for a flying beginning not sustained to the final lap of the competition. The record book would only mark them for a dismal finish while it awards prizes to those who begin well and conclude without dropping their zeal.
We have the picture of these two contrasting classes of runners in our passage. It tells us of Demas who started virtuously, but “hath forsaken (the way of Christ), having loved this present world”. He exemplifies a deadly desertion from the path leading to heaven. On the other hand, we are told of Paul who stuck to Christ till the end, and had the assurance that the Lord “will preserve [him] to his heavenly kingdom”.
In the race to heaven, after the Calvary encounter, the believer must pray for the grace of God to live a holy and unspotted life for consecrated and sacrificial service to his Master. We need the sanctification experience to wholeheartedly love and continue with the Lord without compromising with the world. We are also guided by the comfort of the Holy Spirit as challenges arise.
The pearly gates do not admit those who needlessly fear for their lives and desert the Lord in the midst of storms. They are also not for those who, in anticipation of challenges, refrain from preaching the gospel of Christ. Entrance into the Kingdom is for saints prepared to go all the way: starting strong with the Lord and finishing strong with Him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Stay with the Lord from the beginning to the end.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
1 John 1-5
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.
