DCLM Daily Manna 31 January 2024 Devotional
Read DCLM Daily Manna Devotional 31 January 2024 , Wednesday Deeper Life Daily Devotional written by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
TOPIC: NEEDLESS RANCOUR
READ: Acts 15:36-41 (KJV)
KEY VERSE:
“And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus; And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.” – (Acts 15:39,40).
MESSAGE:
In Japanese custom, there is what is called the pillow talk. When two children fight, each child is brought into the front of a pillow on a table in a room. The child will lay his hands on the pillow and say, “I am right, and I am wrong.” He, thereafter, moves to the second side of the pillow and says, “My friend is right, and I am wrong”. He then moves to the third side and says, “Both of us are right and both of us are wrong.” Finally, placing his hands on the fourth side of the pillow, thoughtfully, he says “I am partly right, and my friend is partly right.” The two will discover they have fought a needless fight.
After their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas decided to pay a follow-up visit to the converts in the cities they had preached the gospel. It was a great decision. However, a disagreement arose between them on whether John Mark who worked with them in their first missionary journey should accompany them in the second trip. The feud became so sharp that the duo had to go their separate ways. While Barnabas took John Mark with him, Paul chose Silas.
Many crises are caused in the world today due to needless rancour and disagreements between those who ought to be best of friends. Most of these conflicts are results of differences in perceptions and understanding of actions, situations and intentions. In many instances, such differences are taken to the extreme, culminating in conflicts that cause protracted hatred and wars.
In all, God’s purpose must be the chief consideration for our stand on decisions, not our personal preferences. As long as Christ’s precepts are not violated, no personal philosophy or ideology should be allowed to hinder the work of soul-winning and follow-up.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The great commission is too important to accommodate any form of distraction.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Romans 13-16
About Author – Pastor W.F. Kumuyi
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer.