Bible Reading: 1 Samuel 10-12; Luke 13:22-35.
Memory Verse: “And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” Luke 13:30 KJV
Familiarity breeds contempt. When people get used to you generally, they tend to take you for granted. This is the situation with a number of Christians. When they give their life to Christ, they are usually very fervent but after a while, familiarity with God tends to creep in. Thus they get used to the ways of God and they do not see anything that should arouse their interest anymore. A story of a believer in South West Nigeria was told that when he gave his life to Christ, he was very fervent and God used him so gloriously that special miracles were performed through him. In fact, he was said to have raised at least three dead people back to life. Then suddenly, pride crept in; when there are Bible studies, prayer sessions, he would not attend rather he would be asking who is the preacher? How many dead people had he raised? This was how he degenerated in the Christian race such that he ended becoming a madman! Imagine!
What is the state of your relationship with God? Do you still spend time studying the word, worshipping him, interceding for others and praying to him? How well do you hear from him? When last did you hear from him? How much love do you show to your neighbours?
Doing self examination, will you say you are still having a good relationship with him? Like it was stated yesterday in our word meditation, you might have made a pronouncement on behalf of God without getting clearance from him and maybe he did not back you up and you are now lackadaisical about God. Remember Mark 13:13 (KJV), “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” So what you have done does not count much but what you do till the end! This is why those who started well but ended poorly will not make it. Jesus said this much in Luke 13:30 (KJV), “And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. “
How then do you renew your strength to end well. It’s by keeping a regular appointment with God on praise and worship, studying his words and examining yourself regularly on how close or far you are to/from Him. You further renew your strength by recounting those things He had done for you in the past. And there is a song which says “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings see what God has done, ….“
Prayer point: Father strengthen me continually and let me end well in Jesus Christ’s name.
Bro. Buodun Oyapero