DCLM Daily Manna 8 March 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Never Be Caught Unaware
TOPIC: Never Be Caught Unaware (DCLM Daily Manna 8 March 2024)
KEY VERSE: “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not” (Luke 12:40).
TEXT: Luke 12:32-48 (KJV)
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
41 Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?
42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;
46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.
47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
MESSAGE:
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) usually warns Americans of looming volcanic events. One of such was in 2009 during the “Redoubt Eruption” in Alaska. All businesses and people were encouraged to display warning and preparedness signs that indicate that a volcano may erupt anytime soon. Communities and the people were warned of the risk ahead and to be ready for any emergency. Due to these series of warnings and enlightenment, safety and mitigation strategies were put in place to reduce the impact of the volcano.
In our text, the Lord reveals the important elements of believers’ readiness for the kingdom of God at the end of time. Part of the preparation is constant watching, being occupied with His business, faithfulness in service and complete obedience to His will. He also cautions against complacency, unpreparedness and dereliction of duty. Finally, the Lord reminds the disciples that there is severe punishment for the unprepared (Luke 12:47,48).
Believers who fail to prepare for Christ’s return, despite all these warnings, will be caught unaware. Those who choose to remain in sin, hypocrisy and backsliding and fail to appropriate the sacrifice of Christ to escape eternal damnation will have no excuse before God. Like the foolish virgins, they knew that the Lord’s coming was imminent but chose not to provide enough oil for their lamps.
As believers, we should be wise enough to prepare and meet our Lord and Saviour either in rapture or in death and eventually reign with Him. To do this, we are to be awakened to righteousness, conscientiously serving the Lord and bringing sinners to Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Knowledge of Christ’s coming is useless if it does not make you prepared.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Jeremiah 10-12
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.
