DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

HAND WASHING HABIT
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders
- Mark 7: 3

While ritualistic hand washing of the Pharisees was condemned by Christ, the habit of handwashing or hand hygiene is commendable. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), It is well-documented that the most important measure for preventing the spread of pathogens is effective handwashing. With the recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease, handwashing ritual became entrenched in public places, including schools. October 15th of every year has been designated Global Handwashing Day to increase awareness of the importance of handwashing. Handwashing should be performed before preparing food and after meals, after using the toilet or changing baby diaper, after blowing the nose, coughing or sneezing, after touching animals or animal wastes and after taking care of the sick. It should be performed with clean water and soap, ash, detergent or hand sanitizer. It takes about 15 seconds to wash the hands properly. Spiritually speaking, it is only the person that has clean hands and a pure heart that can fellowship with God.

Challenge: Hand hygiene is commendable.

Prayer: Lord, help me cultivate the good habit of hand washing.

Quote: Clean hands and a pure heart.

Further Reading: Exodus 30:18-21

DCLM Daily Manna

DCLM Daily Manna September 27, 2016

Topic: That Which Is Within

Text: Mark 7:24-30

Key Verse: "All these evil things come from within, and defile the man" (Mark 7:23).

Humans have the tendency to make assessment and conclusions about events, actions and personalities from what they can see from outside. Little wonder many people put up the best in their outward actions. But the passage today challenges us to probe further inside, to look beyond the outward show and demonstration of outward actions.

The actions of men have their origins in their thoughts and minds. Jesus Christ, the only Perfect God-man that ever lived on earth, the One who knows the heart of all men, asks us to go beyond mere religious traditions of outward shows. He responds to the queries of the disciples arising from the criticism of the Pharisees that they don't observe the Jewish tradition of washing of cups before using them. He argues that it is not the washing of cups that defiles a man. Rather the heart of men is the fountain from which good or evil proceeds. Sinful actions, corrupt behaviour and irreverent conducts that we see outwardly are a manifestation of what is inside a man.

An unregenerate, unconverted individual will naturally produce sinful actions. It is not what is outside a man that defiles him but what comes out of him from the heart. The question is, what is in your heart? The heart can only produce righteous actions and bear fruit of the Spirit after it has been cleansed with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. No amount of reformation or resolutions can make a man to produce good fruits when the tree itself is corrupt. Only Christ can make the difference in any life.

Thought for the day: The unregenerate heart is the citadel of all evils.

Bible Reading in one Year: Ecclesiastes 1-3

The question is, what is in your heart?  Remember, ONLY CHRIST CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN ANY LIFE. GOD Richly Bless You.

Daily Manna

Wednesday 12, November 2014

Topic: Intercessors Wanted!

TEXT: Ezekiel 22:23–31

Key Verse: “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” ( Ezekiel 22:30 ).

It is generally believed that evil will multiply when good people refuse to speak against it. Ancient cultures thrived in the activity of individuals and groups that served as mediators between offenders and the offended persons or authorities to reconcile them. Such roles are sometimes played by lawyers, attorneys and some individuals in modern societies.

The Bible also has examples of people that have stood in between two parties in conflict to reconcile them. Abraham was a good example of intercessors when he pleaded with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah. Although his prayer did not completely avert the destruction, his effort, undoubtedly, must have contributed to the deliverance of his nephew, Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom.

In the passage for meditation today, God lamented the prevalence of ungodly activities even among people who professed to serve Him and the absence of intercessors who were genuinely concerned about the situation. His divine judgment came upon the people because nobody stood against the ungodliness; nobody prayed or showed concern about the sinful state of the people and the nation.

We cannot say that the atrocities mentioned in our passage today are not present with us or rampant in our own society or churches today as they were then. God is still searching for intercessors to pray unto Him on behalf of the nation and individuals. The challenge is that we need to be concerned about the spiritual state of our loved ones, acquaintances, church members and nation. The reality of the looming judgment of God upon sinners and sinful nations should motivate us to pray. Will God count you among the number of intercessors?

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You can change the world through prayer.

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Daily Manna

Tuesday 11th November 2014

Topic: Don't Waste God's Mercy.

TEXT: Ezekiel 22:13–22

Key verse: “Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it” (Ezekiel 22:14 ).

If people are guided by lessons from history, particularly of punishment God had handed down on mankind at one time or the other, there would be less of evil practice today. For the fact that God never changes, neither does His standard vary, men should have heard of the fiery judgment of God against some forms of evil in the past, and should have done everything humanly possible to avoid incurring His judgment now or in the future.

Sinners provoke God either because they forget Him or simply because they are ignorant of His demands. Jerusalem, in today’s passage, has filled the measures of her sins. Those who give up themselves to be ruled by their lusts and those who resolve to be their own masters, should expect no other happiness than their own hands can furnish; and a miserable portions it will prove.

God had revealed how He had ‘smitten’ His hands at “thy dishonest gain which thou has made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee,” following up with detailed threat of how He will still punish the same erring persons. What God did to those who sinned in times of old, He is still able to do to sophisticated sinners of contemporary time.

Israel, compared with other nations, had been as the gold and silver compared with baser metals. But they were now as the refuse that is consumed in the furnace, or thrown away when silver is refined. Sinners, especially backsliding professors, are - in God‘s account - unfit for heaven. When God brings His own people into the furnace, He sits by longer than is fitting and needful. The dross shall be wholly separated, and the good metal purified. Let those who suffer pains or lingering sickness as a result of sins take warnings to flee from the wrath to come. The trials may just be sanctions to cleanse their hearts and hands from sin. Keep yourself holy and pure.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Run from God’s wrath!

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Daily Manna

DAILY MANNA

SATURDAY 8th November, 2014

Topic: Nothing To Celebrate

TEXT: Ezekiel 21:1-17

Key Verse: “It is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth? it contemneth the rod of my son, as every tree” ( Ezekiel 21:10 ).

It would be completely unthinkable and absurd for any one to throw a party and make merriment in the face of a raging disaster and calamity. This is why sensitive presidents of most countries cancel their engagements at home or abroad in order to identify with their nations in moments of crises. If it is thought inhuman and insensitive for people of the world to rejoice, make mirth when there is an obvious danger and calamity, then it will be completely unacceptable for Christians to make fun of a looming calamity coming upon the world.

Prophet Ezekiel in our text paints a gory and terrifying picture of an approaching judgment upon the nation of Israel. The judgment will be so massive and terrible cutting across the whole land and leaving no one. Seeing this terrible vision, the prophet called for weeping and mourning. He saw no reason to rejoice or make merry. The only appropriate thing to do at such a time is put aside all merry making, take up sackcloth, sit in ashes, mourn and weep in repentance.

As Christians today, this calls for real sober thought. Can we say that we have not heard of the impending judgment and calamity that will sweep across the world, leaving no one out? Can we say that we are ignorant of an eternal lake of fire awaiting all unrepentant sinners at the end of their lives on earth? What has been our attitude to these realities? Do we ignore them, pretend they are not serious issues and just go our way and engage in merry-making? How does our attitude show that we really believe what we read and preach? Can we say we are concerned with our less emphasis on eternal issues and playing-up of temporal, material well-being and success? Are we not making mirth instead of weeping and pleading for mercy? How then will the world take our message serious and believe what we preach?

The Lord expects that like Ezekiel, we weep and mourn for the unrepentant, do all we can and spend all we have to make sure they escape.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: We only mock the truth when we make light of it!

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Daily Manna

DAILY MANNA

Friday November 7, 2014

TOPIC: GOD CALLS IT ABOMINATION

TEXT: Deuteronomy 22:1-12

Key Verse: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 22:5 ).

“It doesn’t matter”, is a very familiar refrain in the present generation that is bent on pulling down all long cherished standards. It goes beyond a mere expression – it is an attitude. This attitude becomes more disturbing when you find that it is more prevalent among professing Christians who are supposed to be the “light of the world” and “salt of the earth” – custodians of godly standards. Unfortunately, most of the things that come under the “it-doesn’t- matter” verdict today actually matter to God who pays attention to details.

Can God be concerned about strayed cattle and lost articles? Is He bothered about human oppression against animals? Does it matter to Him if women wear clothes meant for men? Does He consider cruelty meted to common little birds? Does He care about harmony, decency and propriety even with regards to plants? In today’s text, it is clear that God is concerned about these seemingly trivial matters as much as He is with weightier matters of the law. These are not mere ceremonial laws but moral laws. God expects us to be humane in all we do to our fellow human beings and even in our treatment of defenseless creatures.

For the woman to wear that which pertains to a man and vice versa is here considered an abomination to the Lord. In our day, this precept is flouted with impudence. Many professing Christians who indulge in this abomination advance all sorts of arguments to justify their practice.
Some maintain that it is a dispensational matter and as such modernity renders it irrelevant; others assign cultural connotation to it. But all arguments fall flat in the face of divine verdict. This scripture means what it says.

Are there some divine precepts that you consider trivial, even in the mind? Do you know how much damage “little foxes” can inflict? Do you know that the Lord, who searches the reins and hearts of men, is a God of details? Think again and resolve to comply with revealed details of God’s precepts.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is consequence for every action.

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INSPIRATIONAL WORDS

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." 

-- Plato 

"Love doesn't make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile." 

-- Franklin P. Jones

 "When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love." 

 -- Marcus Aurelius