Topic: Taking Him For Granted?
Daily Personal Confession
The Lord is my hope therefore nothing can render me hopeless. Jehovah is my light because He is the light that shines in darkness and darkness cannot comprehend it. I am above every opposing power or force. I am blessed in all areas and the Holy spirit guides me daily. The book of the law will not depart from my mouth and I will continue to meditate on it each and everyday so that my life will be lived according to the will of God and never subjected to the will of man in Jesus’ name. Amen!
Memorize: But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. – Matthew 8:12
Bible Reading : Luke 7:36-47 (KJV)
36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.
37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Message:
“11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” – Matthew 8:11-12
The words above were spoken by Jesus when He saw how great the faith of the Centurion was. He attested to the fact that He had never seen such great faith in Israel. This man was considered an unbeliever, yet he had faith that was greater than that of everyone Jesus had met.
A chronic unbeliever who has an encounter with Christ would likely hold on to Him fervently. On the other hand, the one who has been a Christian for a long while, especially since childhood, has a great tendency to begin to take Jesus for granted.
In our Bible reading for today, Jesus dined at a Pharisee’s house, but the man did not even offer to wash His feet, he took such an august visitor for granted because he had known Him for long.
Many Christians are fervent in the first few months or years after they encounter Christ, and then begin to relent, this could be because the memory of their salvation experience is beginning to wane or they may have seen other Christians slipping and still looking holy.
Beloved, it is very dangerous to forget your salvation encounter with Christ, very dangerous to take examples from people who are not as fervent as you; rather, take examples from those who have gone higher than you in the faith.
Hold on to Jesus for dear life! When He gives you an instruction, obey immediately. Always go early for Church services; if you are a worker in the Church, serve to the best of your ability.
Make Him a priority in your life; increase your commitment to His Kingdom rather than reducing it. I pray that you will not be replaced in the kingdom of God in the mighty name of Jesus.
Key Point:
Never take God for granted.
Prayer Points
HOLY SPIRIT, manifest Yourself daily in me: guide my thoughts, utterances and give me direction each ans everyday, in the mighty name of Jesus
HOLY SPIRIT, erase everything that keeps me feeling less than You have created me to be, in Jesus’ name
FATHER, please help me not be replaced in the kingdom of God because of my carelessness, in the mighty name of Jesus.
FATHER, take me beyond the level that has been set for or against me by any oppressor in the mighty name of Jesus
Bible Reading in One Year: 2 Chronicles 28; 2 Kings 16-17