Memorise: Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1
Read: 2Kings 5:20-27
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.
21 So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well?
22 And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.
23 And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his servants; and they bare them before him.
24 And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed.
25 But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither.
26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
27 The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
Bible in one year: Genesis 36:37, Isaiah 51:17-52: 12
AS REVEALED BY PASTOR E.A ADEBOYE IN TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL
1. Holiness is so integral to the person of the Holy Spirit that the word “holy” is attached to His Name.
2. You cannot live the Christian life without having a relationship with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9); but to have a good relationship with the Holy Spirit, you need to understand that He detests sin. Part of His assignment in this world is to liberate you from the power of sin and to help you live above it (John 16:8, Romans 8:2, Galatians 5:16).
3. Two sins entangling a lot of Christians today and fast eroding their character are stealing and lying.
4. Stealing has its origin in covetousness and it leads to betrayal. The life of Judas Iscariot, a man who walked with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is a case study of this (John 12:6).
5. Today, due to covetousness, even ministers of God are stealing from the Church purse, thereby betraying the huge trust reposed in them by God.
6. Have you been stealing from God or from men? Repent, restitute and turn a new leaf today (Ephesians 4:28)!
7. In today’s Bible reading, Gehazi lied to Naaman and received the gifts his master had rejected. Thereafter, his master sent for him and asked him where he had been. He lied again saying he went nowhere. He however did not get away with that lie.
8. There are lies you tell and it may appear you got away with them, but there are also lies you will tell that will leave their sting on you perpetually.
9. Gehazi lied to his master and his life changed negatively and irreversibly from that day.
10. Similarly, Ananias and Sapphira may have told lies in the past and escaped the consequences. However, on the day they lied to Peter, they never lived to tell another lie (Acts 5:1-10).
11. If you consider the punishment that followed the supposedly “little” lie of this couple, many people would be of the opinion that it far exceeded their offence. Why? It is because they see lying as a regular, common sin that is inconsequential if weighed on a scale with “heavier” sins like murder.
12. This is why many people engaged in it, even those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. Some people have even categorised lies by colour and size!
13. If God could bring leprosy on Gehazi and kill Ananians and Sapphira because of lies, it means that He does not take lies lightly as we do.
14. God even says He will exclude all categories of liars from the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:8, Revelation 21:27).
15. Run away from lies and embrace Jesus Christ, the Truth!
SHORT REFLECTION BY THE LIGHT POINTERS
The two examples given in today’s devotional (Gehazi, Ananias and Sapphira) clearly shows that lying is not a small sin as widely and commonly categorised by most believers. Stealing on the other hand is manifested in the lives of believers who do not know who they are, who is ignorant of their identity in Christ and not aware all things belongs to their father. When we live day in day out in the word of God, we are cultured with the help of the Holyspirit to live in God’s way and will for us. May God deliver us from every bondage of ignorance, disobedience and unholiness in Jesus name. When we submit ourselves to God, it becomes easy for us to resist the devil and he is bound to flee from us. James 4:7-Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.God bless Pastor E.A Adeboye for this great insight into the word of God. His strength is renewed in Jesus’ name.
Action Point
That seemingly harmless lie has grave repercussions that you may not see today. Ask God for grace to flee from every lie
HYMN
Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
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