DCLM Daily Manna 8 July 2023 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — How To Make Heaven
TOPIC: How To Make Heaven (DCLM Daily Manna 8 July 2023)
KEY VERSE: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).
TEXT: Matthew 5:3-11 (KJV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
MESSAGE:
Although heaven is God’s abode, He has made provision for man to spend eternity with Him. Man can be in that Kingdom only if he meets the conditions of our Lord. What we know as the Sermon on the Mount (the Beatitudes) forms the essential teachings of Christ on how to respond to God’s love and make it to heaven ultimately.
The Beatitudes do not form a legal code meant for human carnal analysis and interpretations. They are imperatives to be obeyed by grace if we truly love our Creator and desire to enter His kingdom. The repeated opening with the word “blessed” is a reference to the unspeakable joy that awaits those who mindfully imbibe the teachings. They are attitudes to adopt for heaven-seeking pilgrims who are poor in spirit, meek, holiness-hungry and not proud in their relationship with God.
No one can tell us about heaven and what it takes to access it better than Jesus who came from there and is back there preparing a place for His faithful followers. The prerequisite for heaven, which He gave the huge crowd that attended His sermon session at that time is still relevant to us today. The standard is still complete purity, inward and outward, obtained by grace.
God will not shift ground to lower the standard and the criteria for righteousness, just because men are unwilling to change and obtain the required spiritual experience for making heaven. The canon is, “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”. The Lord adds that no unholy thing shall enter His abode. We start that journey to the Kingdom as we shed the garment of unrighteousness at salvation and abandon the world of sin for a lifetime of absolute surrender to God, His will and word.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
No holiness, no heaven.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
2 Kings 16-17
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.
