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Topic: Abused Privilege [DCLM Daily Manna 11 October 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Jeremiah 12:7-17 (KJV)
7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
8 Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest; it crieth out against me: therefore have I hated it.
9 Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird, the birds round about are against her; come ye, assemble all the beasts of the field, come to devour.
10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.
12 The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness: for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land: no flesh shall have peace.
13 They have sown wheat, but shall reap thorns: they have put themselves to pain, but shall not profit: and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD.
14 Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours, that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit; Behold, I will pluck them out of their land, and pluck out the house of Judah from among them.
15 And it shall come to pass, after that I have plucked them out I will return, and have compassion on them, and will bring them again, every man to his heritage, and every man to his land.
16 And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people.
17 But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Key Verse: “I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies” (Jeremiah 12:7).
MESSAGE:
For any relationship or league to be permanent and for the privileges and benefits in such a relationship to be continually enjoyed, the terms and conditions agreed must be continually upheld. Once a party betrays the relationship and tends to take the privileges for granted, he ultimately loses the privileges.
The children of Israel must have thought that their place and privilege with God was irrevocable. Thus, they treated Him with contempt and gave themselves over to licentiousness. God was no longer going to bear with them. Though He had regarded them as His house, heritage, beloved and His richest portion; yet, all these did not prevent Him from becoming their Judge.
Christians must always bear this truth in mind. God is loving and eternally unchanging. He is faithful and ever consistent with every promise He has made. He regards the Christians as the apple of His eyes, peculiar people, a chosen generation, His dearly beloved and bride and has given them unlimited access to His provisions. His ultimate plan is to have believers spend eternity with Him. But all these are premised on a simple condition of obedience to His word.
There is no way a Christian can take God for granted, abuse the privileges given to him by living in outright and flagrant disobedience to Him and still hope to continue to enjoy His favour and blessing. No one, no matter his acclaimed spiritual position or standing is eternally secured unconditionally. Get it right; God loves you and wants you to keep enjoying all the privileges He has given you but you must ensure you don’t abuse this in anyway. Daily obedience to His word will keep you secured in His blessings.
Thought For The Day: No condition is permanent.
The Bible In One Year: Isaiah 22–25
