DCLM DAILY MANNA DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 (DANGER OF ACCULTURATION)

TOPIC: DANGER OF ACCULTURATION

TEXT: Deuteronomy 18:9-14
9. When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.

10. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

11. Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

12. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD; and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

13. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

14. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

KEY VERSE:
“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.” – (Deuteronomy 18:9).

MESSAGE

One of the first ports of call of those who destroyed the Roman Empire was the culture of the people. As the invaders entered Rome, they wiped out works of art, books and centres of drama and sporting shows. All these formed the civilization the Romans exported to the world to make them great. Capturing the political leadership of the state without subduing their culture was dangerous as it amounted to leaving the source and ethos of their pride and spirit intact.

Long before the fate that befell the Romans, the Israelites were warned by the Lord to jealously guard their way of life as His chosen people. God described the customs of the inhabitants Israel was to displace as “abominations”. They observed the times instead of the laws of God. They fraternised with wizards and those who consulted the dead and sacrificed their children to idols.

God said He drove the Canaanites out because of this ungodly culture. They must similarly abhor these practices. Embracing their culture was the short route to their own destruction.

The devil is holding the world in its deadly grip as a result of his assault on its customs, religion, entertainment, sports, politics, corporate business, education, professions, etc. The world has left the Lord outside these platforms of human activities. Those who indulge in ungodly practices will definitely incur God’s wrath except they repent.

The Lord’s plea today, as it was in the time of Israel on their way to Canaan, is for believers to do away with “the abominations of those nations.” The call is more relevant now and strictly to be obeyed because of the subtle nature of Satan’s activities in the 21st century. Thus, we must watch over our lives so we do not slide back into the sinful practices of the world we have left.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Strive not to be a cast away.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Leviticus 8-11

DCLM Daily Manna 3rd September 2022 | Conditional Security