DCLM Daily Manna 17 March 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Enemies Of The Cross
TOPIC: Enemies Of The Cross (DCLM Daily Manna 17 March 2024)
KEY VERSE: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Philippians 3:18,19).
TEXT: Philippians 3:17-21 (KJV)
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
MESSAGE:
It is understandable to have enemies from outside attacking the gospel and faithful preachers of the pure gospel. It is even worse when ‘the enemies of the cross’ are among those who profess to be so-called Christians or preachers whose lives and conduct contradict their professions or testimonies of having any semblance of relationship with Christ.
In today’s passage, Apostle Paul warned against the activities of religious libertines who claimed to be Christians, but their careless conduct belied their profession. Earlier in the chapter, the warning was against religious legalists who would impose the rituals of Judaism upon Christians. Such religious legalists claimed that salvation by faith in Christ must add circumcision to it. But the apostle insisted that believers in Christ are free from legalism. At the other extreme, however, are those who reject all forms of self-control, self-denial, and self-discipline, even though they claim to be Christians. Such people are the enemies of the cross because they oppose everything it stands for. They are entangled in carnality and not ashamed of their evil deeds.
Modern Christianity, as practised by many nominal Christians today, ignores and avoids the discipline, consecration and controlling power of the cross of Jesus over their lives. If we profess to be Christians but still live in sin, enslaved to evil habits and selfish desires, we will be displeasing God and constituting a hindrance to others from getting saved. People who profess to know God but deny Him by their lousy conduct do not belong to Christ.
Genuine believers are conscious that they are aliens and pilgrims on earth and are mindful that the Lord will soon return to take them to heaven at last.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Beware of those who deny the Lord in deeds and words.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Jeremiah 36-38
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.
