Topic: Changing Glory to Shame
Bible Reading: Hosea 1-4; Jude 1.
Memory Verse: “As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.” Hosea 4:7 (KJV).
Shame is the opposite of glory and people generally like to show off their glory. In the book of Daniel chapter 4; Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king whose kingdom conquered several others and he was highly reverred but when he decided to exalt himself above God, he was debased. In Daniel 4:30 (KJV) “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” Instantly, his glory was turned to shame as he was turned to an animal who ate grass like oxen and was in the wilderness for seven years until he humbled himself and stated in Daniel 4:34 (KJV), “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:” Then his reasoning returned to him and was transformed to a human being and his kingdom restored to him. He was lucky, his shame was turned to glory again!
The people who boarded the Titanic were not that lucky. The Titanic was a ship that was built with all forms of safety and pride. It was launched on 31st May 1911 and set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912 with 2240 passengers and crew on board. The builders claimed that the ship was unsinkable probably because of the expertise of the builders and the various risk mitigants they had built into the ship. But three days after its sail, on April 15 1912, it struck an icebag and the Titanic broke apart and sank to the bottom of the ocean taking with it the lives of more than 1,500 passengers and crew! How glory was turned to shame.
Meanwhile, in Genesis 6-8; Noah, without any ship construction experience built an Ark which was on water for 150 days with heavy downpour that killed all the inhabitants of the earth and it did not sink! Dont ever take the Almighty God for granted. Whatever the position you may find yourself, do not share the glory of God; always remember Deuteronomy 4:24 (KJV) “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” Thus if God blesses you, always remember to give Him the glory for your blessing. Remember God said in Hosea 4:7 (KJV), “As they were increased, so they sinned against me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.”
Prayer point: Father, whatever I will do that will cause you to change my glory to shame, please prevent me from doing it in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero