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Topic: Pointless Pursuit Of Pleasure
[DCLM Daily Manna 27 January 2020 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Isaiah 5:11-17
11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.
13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:
16 But the LORD of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.
17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.
Key Verse: “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.” – (Isaiah 5:12)
MESSAGE:
Nero Claudius Caesar (37-68 A.D.) was the most infamous emperor that the Roman Empire produced while it lasted. Nero became infamous for many reasons. He pursued and promoted pleasure with a peculiar passion. But after fourteen years of a murderous rule, he committed suicide.
Like Nero, the people of Judah treaded the path of self-destruction when they capped their backsliding and wickedness with a pointless pursuit of pleasure. They went after wine from morning till evening – till it inflamed their passions. They were so committed to pleasure, music and amusement to the point of not retaining the knowledge of God in their hearts. Prophet Isaiah warned them about this and spelt out the consequences of their misplaced priority. Their punishment would be a series of disasters including, captivity, humiliation and massive deaths arising from famine.
People have never been more “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” than the present dispensation. The entertainment industry is thriving more by the day; licentious lifestyle is at its peak and people are even shamelessly indulging in such perversions that were once regarded as socially abominable. Sinful aberrations have become matters of human rights and anyone who challenges them is called a religious bigot. But the popularization of these sinful lifestyles will not reduce the fierceness of God’s judgment on those who indulge in them.
Believers are sufficiently warned to flee from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Worldly pleasures will mar our fellowship with God and lead to spiritual destruction. There is hope for anyone who is already ensnared by sinful pleasures if he or she repents and embraces God’s grace which comes with faith in Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: More temptations are tied to pleasure than to privation.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 37-38
