19/08/2022
DEEPER LIFE DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR
SATURDAY 20TH AUGUST, 2022
Tmo USEFUL BEAUTIFUL GARMENT
TEXT: ISAIAH 52:1-8
KEY VERSE: "Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean" (ISAIAH 52:1).
An author wrote, "Unused money devalues, unused talent diminishes, unused time dies and unused knowledge becomes a burden. The tragedy of life isn't the ultimate death but the resources that die within you when you are still alive." Our world is littered with unused talents and resources. As the author rightly observed, many useful talents and ideas eventually go waste when not used on time.
The children of Israel were looking for external help when all they needed had been provided. So Isaiah challenged them to wake up to their responsibility. They must put on their hitherto unused beautiful garment and their strength. They must also awake from their despondency and distrust, break away from their slavery mentality and look unto God that was working for them hitherto. The prophet pointed out that they sold themselves cheap to the enemy and the Assyrians took advantage of them. God then promised to deliver them if they would return to Him.
Christians today are busy carrying out many good causes, but neglecting the primary task that Jesus gave them. We have all that we need but many are still waiting for a more convenient time to do the work of God.
The tragedy of unused garment or talent is that they soon lose their usefulness. The promised restoration of Zion would be a mirage if Israel would continue to sleep instead of making their ways right with God. Delay is dangerous for every saint and unused garment might soon be unusable by God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Use what you have before it decays and loses its usefulness.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 1-2
A day is coming when God will make Himself known to all nations through His awesome deliverance of His people.
The gospel proclaims liberty to those who were bound with fears and makes it their duty to take hold of their liberty. Let those who have been weary and heavily laden under the burden of sin, finding relief in Christ, shake themselves from the dust of their doubts and fears and loose themselves from those bands; for, if the Son make them free, they shall be free indeed.
The talents, however few, are to be put to use. The question that most concerns us is not, How much have I received? but, What am I doing with that which I have? The development of all our powers is the first duty we owe to God and to our fellow men.
Remember that of every Christian the Lord requires growth in efficiency and capability in every line. SHALOM
