30/11/2020
*DAILY MANNA*
*TUESDAY 1 DECEMBER, 2020*
_It is advisable that you prayerfully and meditatively read the text first_
*POSSESSING THE MIND OF CHRIST*
*TEXT:* PROVERBS 24:1-20.
_*🔑KEY VERSE* "Rejoice not when thy enemy falls, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbles" (PROVERBS 24:17)._
One of the greatest virtues of a believer as enunciated by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the New Testament is the principle of non-retaliation. Retaliation may be by direct vengeance or sometimes by indirect method of rejoicing when evil befalls one's perceived enemy. It may also be by wishing someone, who has offended us, evil.
The text under consideration today teaches believers true wisdom and its benefits. It is evil for a Christian to go on a mission of vendetta. It is wisdom for a believer not to revenge or retaliate directly or indirectly. Neither should he rejoice when his enemy falls.
The pleasure some people derive from the calamities and mistortunes of their perceived enemy is forbidden by God. When a believer has a true knowledge of the word of God, his heart will be filled with the grace and comfort of the Holy Ghost, which will not allow him to do evil or imagine evil. The Spirit of God will make him to be at peace with everyone, including the wicked enemies, at all times.
Only people with Christ's mind will neither revenge nor imagine evil when calamities befall their enemies. Christ's mind can only be possessed through the new birth. The new birth comes upon a sinner when he acknowledges his/her sinfulness, confesses them and makes Christ his/her Lord and Saviour. This will make the grace of God to flood his heart. He will not be able to retaliate or rejoice when evil befalls his enemies.
*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* Heart circumcision is the answer.
*BIBLE IN ONE YEAR* DANIEL 9-10.
*MEDITATION*
The priceless wisdom
*1. Description of the wicked*
a. They tend to craftly, either passively or actively, destroy good things and good people, vv2,8.
b. Their lips are full of mischief and evil speaking against their neighbours, vv2,8.
c. They destroy valuables, material or immaterial, of others, including those they envy, and justify themselves, v15.
d. They rejoice at the fall of others, including the wicked, vv17,18.
*Q* What happens to the one who rejoices at the fall of his adversaries? v18.
*Q* Are you free from wickedness?
*2. Desire for wisdom*
a. Wisdom teaches how to build a solid house, material or otherwise, v3. Of course, a fool scatters.
b. Knowledge and wisdoms empower the possessor with precious and pleasant treasures, v4. Of course, a fool has every excuse to be a pauper or needy.
c. Increase in possessions, physical or spiritual, comes through wisdom, v5.
d. A wise man delights in learning from others and increase in wisdom, v6. Of course, fools don't see that need.
e. Fools scorn or do not delight or invest in knowledge and wisdom, v9.
f. Invest in acquisition of more wisdom and knowledge that will help you towards fulfilling your destiny, vv13,14.
*Q* How do you invest in relevant wisdom and knowledge that will help you to be your best?
*3. Delivering the wanderers*
a. Nonchalant attitude to those that are perishing, physical or spiritual, will be punished by God, vv11,12.
b. Giving excuses for not helping the perishing out of destruction is inexcusable to God, vv11,12.
*Q* Do you have concern for the perishing?
*Q* Do you take definite steps to rescue the perishing?
*Prayer points*
Ask God to *purge you* from every form of wickedness including those you are not aware of🙏
Seek the face of God for *wisdom and the love of wisdom*🙏
Pray that God will give you active compassion for the wanderers from the truth🙏
Ask God to purge each member of the church from "spiritualized wickedness"🙏
*HYMN* I have found the "pearl of greatest price"
