SU DAILY GUIDE DEVOTIONAL READING
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6th March 2023, SU Daily Guide Devotional Reading for Monday. Read SU Daily Guide Message
TOPIC: The Day of the Lord
OPENING PRAYER: Lord, I pray that you lead me into your truth as I meditate on your word in Jesus name.
Introduction to the Book of Joel
Joel (‘Jehovah is God’ or ‘The Lord is God’) prophesied to Judah during the reign of King Joash. The key theme of the book is “The day of the Lord” (See 1:15; 2:1, 11, etc.), a reference to God’s imminent judgment. Joel’s prophesy has two main emphases: judgment of God on people and nations through various catastrophes due to disobedience and other sins and the hopeful promise of the future, including the outpouring of His Holy Spirit. In between these two emphases is a three threefold call to lamentations, repentance and expectations of God’s restoration following repentance. Joel prophesied before a terrible plague of locusts devastated the nation. He called for repentance with fasting and mourning because the day of the Lord was approaching. His prophecy came true when the plague of locusts devastated the whole land with dire consequences for people.
SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Joel 1:1-20
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTIONS
• Q 3: Is there any command for me to obey?
• Q 5: Is there any warning for me to heed?
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6th March 2023 MESSAGE
The message of prophesies in Scripture are not just words of the prophets but of the living God who sent them to speak on His behalf (v.1). The message of Joel is not just for one generation as we can see from v.3 (read it). We can bear in mind that the message is also for us. What is so important about this message that it should concern us? V.4 paints a picture of great devastation through the invasion of plagues. This is not just imaginary. The plague of locusts came to pass. While one cannot conclude that it is for the same reason, we are familiar with devastation of crops and livelihood that locusts can cause as recently experienced by some East African countries.
The day of the Lord (v.15) is not a calendar day as we know it but reference to whenever God judges His people in various ways. The message of Joel for Judah as a nation called for repentance and he was specific about what to repent of. Read v.5 again. The sin of the nation is not limited to drunkenness. There must be other things to repent of. Vs.6-12 paint a picture of complete devastation and distress. This was to call people to repentance. Repentance must begin with acknowledgement of sins and being sorry for them. This is what lamentation is about. These things are written in scripture for our benefit. Let us examine ourselves, repent and return to the Lord.
• Any new insight or reinforcement of what you already know?
CLOSING PRAYER
To you, O Lord, I call. Have mercy upon my beloved nation and our continent of Africa.
Offer a prayer of faith in line with Exodus 3:12
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Numbers 3, 4, Psalms 35, John 18.
NATIONAL PRAYER BULLETIN – Mon, 06-Mar-2023
PRAYER FOCUS
SUPB – MERCY LORD
I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works…
– Psalms 9:1
THANK GOD FOR:
► His protection over our staff, especially the drivers as they drive along the roads.
► His presence, provisions and protections for the MD, his team and especially the guest houses, that He has not allowed robbers or any form of attack.
PRAY FOR:
► God’s continued sustenance and provisions for SUPB, for more open doors and increased patronage of their products and guest houses.
► Divine wisdom for the management to continue to lead the company aright. For also the E-publishings and the E-notes, to become popular and massively patronised.
► God’s protection and strength for all the staff, the press as they prepare the DRN and COFO as they produce and distribute.
► The expansion of Okigwe and Enugu business units and for God’s care for every staff in those branches.
PRAY AGAINST:
► Equipment break downs.
► Bad government policies that might affect the SUPB operations.
Scripture Union Daily Guide 6th March 2023. Scripture Union is an international, interdenominational, evangelical Christian organization. It was founded in 1867, and works in partnership with individuals and churches across the world. The organization’s stated aim is to use the Bible to inspire children, young people and adults to know God.