DAILY MANNA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 2020 – DON’T GO THE OPPOSITE WAY

DAILY MANNA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 2020

DON’T GO THE OPPOSITE WAY

It is advisable that you meditatively read the Text first

TEXT: JOSHUA 23:14-16.
KEY VERSE “Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you” (JOSHUA 23:15).

God’s laws are immutable and His words unchangeable. His decrees defy the caprices of men and His statutes transcend the variation in times. These explain why mankind has to yield to and obey His commandments without any reservation. Although the people of Israel had promises of God’s blessing premised on obedience to His commandment, they also had the unmistakable assurance of curses and woes should they disobey. The same conditions still apply today irrespective of race, age, social standing, education, wealth, position or influence of man.

The way of sin is a downhill route. Joshua states the fatal consequences of going back from the way of righteousness. As it applied to the Israelites at that time, so does it apply to all people today: the way of sin is the way of ruin. The first step usually is friendship with the ungodly; the next is getting into marriage relationship with them, doing recreation with them and a gradual emulation of their pernicious ways.

If we could cleave to the Lord, then we must always stand upon our guard for many souls are lost through carelessness. Love the Lord your God. He is faithful who has promised. We should trust in His faithfulness, love and power; ask for His mercy and obey His commandments. Conflicts may have been severe and long; trials great and many but in the end, we will be able to acknowledge that His goodness and mercy followed us all the days of our life.

✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY The downward route is a deadly one. Keep off!

COVER TO COVER ACTS 18-19.

MEDITATION

Faithfulness is reciprocal

1. Death: “The way of all the earth” dwellers v14.
a. All, including you, have an irrevocable appointment with death Hebrews 9:27. This is a truth often ignored by many. Most don’t know the time. This is God’s prerogative.
b. Only those who are alive and remain in Christ at the time of rapture will escape the appointment with death I Thessalonians 4:13-17.
c. Those saints who escapes death will have no special advantage over those who died as holy Christians. At the time of the rapture, they also will gloriously resurrect and meet with Christ at the same time with others I Thessalonians 4:15, I Corinthians 15:51-54.
d. This event, rapture of the living and the dead will happen at a split of a second that the world will not know, see or observe it until after the saints have reached heaven I Corinthians 15:51-54.
e. Death is therefore not a dread or threat to a true child of God, the important thing is to be watchful and rapturable at all times.

2. The faithfulness of God v14.
a. Joshua, after working with Moses for 40 years and leading Israel till he was 110, could only confess that God was 100% faithful to all His promises v14. Very interesting.
b. Recall that many of them perished in the wilderness for their sins, some of the land distributed to the tribes were not yet conquered. Q Why did Joshua still ascribed 100% faithfulness to God?
c. Faithfulness of God does not cancel punishment for transgression. In fact, faithfulness of God demands justice. Faithfulness of God does not cancel the need for patience at times (Hebrews 10:36). Some promises are time function. Faithfulness of God depends on man playing his part (eg Israel driving out the adversaries).
d. I King 8:55 still confirm the 100% faithfulness of God.
Check if there is any area you have not experienced His 100% faithfulness and ask: Is there any area I failed Him? Is it just a time function and I need only to be patient? Is there any area I am yet to fully play my part?

The faithfulness and the justice of God vv15,16.
a. If a spouse provide all that his/her partner needs and yet the partner keeps exhibiting faithfulness to the 3rd party and not the faithful spouse, what do you expect to happen?
b. Grace and forgiveness only make sense when there is a genuine repentance from unfaithfulness.
c. God is not a robot. He demands and appreciates our love and faithfulness to Him and His word.
God, I know the most hopeless and wretched death is that of a sinner. Don’t allow me to end up my only one life as a sinner?
I Praise you Lord for your faithfulness. Help me to see and correct any area I am not unfaithful to you?
Give me more love and faithfulness to your word?
Lord, teach your children wisdom to always remember that death or rapture, they must always be ready ?

HYMN Great is Thy faithfulness

1
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.
Chorus
“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord, unto me!
2
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
3
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!