DAILY MANNA BY W.F.KUMUYI WEDNESDAY 15TH MAY 2019 .
TOPIC: A Wise Response
TEXT: Luke 11:14-28
14. And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.15. But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.16. And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.17. But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.18. If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.19. And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.20. But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.21. When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace;22. But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.23. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.24. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.25. And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.26. Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.27. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.28. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
KEY VERSE: Luke 11:19.
“And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.” – (
DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL MESSAGE FOR TODAY
A renowned wise man in a community was once confronted by an inquisitive boy who was out to test the depth of the wise man’s wisdom. The boy was holding a live butterfly and wanted the wise man to tell him its state; dead or alive. Reasoning that the boy could mischievously squeeze the butterfly to death irrespective of his answer, the man simply responded, “it is in your hand”. The curious boy was so astonished and overwhelmed by the wise man’s impeccable answer that he nodded in affirmation of his exceptional wisdom.
In furtherance of His good works, Jesus Christ performed a landmark miracle of delivering a mute demon-possessed man. However, rather than glorifying God and appreciating His power, the people at the scene resorted to character assassination. They maligned the anointing of God in Him by their unwholesome and provoking remarks that “He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of devils”. Instead of joining issues with them, Christ simply referred them to their own children who performed such miracles too.
Quite instructive are these wise responses of Christ to the statements of provocation and praises to men. It underscore the imperativeness of the believer’s need of the Spirit-inspired speech. In our pursuit of God’s assignments, we might be misunderstood, abused or castigated by individuals or groups. Some people might even engage us in a mischievous dialogue with a view to provoking us and defiling our priesthood. At such crucial moments the believer needs an immediate presence and power of the Holy Spirit for a tongue of the learned that produces wise responses such as demonstrated by Christ.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Wise response is a key to ministerial success.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Corinthians 5-9
DAILY MANNA devotional shared via www.thedevotionals.com
