DCLM DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR  SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 (DOING IT THE LORD’S WAY)

TOPIC : DOING IT THE LORD’S WAY

Text: Matthew 12:22-37 (KJV)

22 Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.

23 And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?

24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.

25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:

26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?

27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

KEY VERSE: “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw.” – (Matthew 12:22)

MESSAGE

We are living in an age not too dissimilar to the time of our Lord. There were issues like epidemics that appeared intractable in the face of known therapies. There were also sceptics, religious and secular, who looked down on the best intentions to save the situation. While they could not change the dismal state of the citizens, they spoke ill of those who had the answers. They blasphemed them. It is what today’s world is also experiencing.

How did our Lord handle a destitute people who needed Him but were still rejecting Him and His teachings? Being a compassionate Saviour, He did not forsake them. So, when a man with multiple spiritual and physical disabilities was brought to Him to be healed, He did not tarry to make him normal again. He did not also hold back His doctrines. He taught them Kingdom truths that have the power to free man from ignorance and disease.

The Lord’s style of handling the unbelieving Jews and their leaders is a lesson to modern-day Christians. We should not shun those who reject our message but persistently teach the biblical way to freedom from delusion that leads to eternal death. As they come with terminal ailments they have carried about for years, we must pray for their healing in the mighty name of Jesus.

When we do things the way Christ did them while on earth, we shall have the same positive results He had. He wants us to be like Him, seeking the lost at all costs. We should ignore their hostilities and receive them with love, even as we make them understand that they risk irrevocable judgment that will send them to hell to suffer throughout eternity if they go on with their blasphemy.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To continually live in error is to perennially live in denial.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 80-84

Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM) written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi. It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.