BREAK OFF YOUR SINS
Daniel 4:19-27
Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity. Daniel 4:27
God does not encourage or tolerate sin. The effect or impact of sin may be immediate or may take a while, but it is always felt. While the king was still so proud, a powerful word came from God. King Nebuchadnezzar was in great trouble and Daniel’s advice (Daniel 4:27) shows that sin attracts consequences. God’s anger was kindled against Nebuchadnezzar and judgement was passed on him because of his sins. The Babylonian king was very proud and thought to exalt himself even above the Most High. God warned him to repent from his sins.
Today, this warning is very loud, but we seem to have blocked out its sound. Sin has consequences, one of which is separation from God and eternal damnation. Sin has no level of hierarchy. To God, sin is sin, whether pride, covetousness or lying, etc. The Bible clearly states that “The wages of sin is death but God’s gift is eternal life through Christ.” (Romans 6:23). We should not live in sin because there is provision for forgiveness and holy living. Today, God is giving us new opportunities to reflect on our lives, repent of any sin and live righteously. Break off your sins by being righteous. Jesus has made a way for you to become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Is there any sin you need to break off? Accept the salvation in Jesus today.
Prayer
Dear Father, may the conviction from Your Spirit cause sinners to break off their sins today. Help me too to break off any foothold or stronghold of sin in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 132 Judges14 -Judges1; John 7:14-44; Proverbs 11:29-31, – Prov. 12:1-7
GOD RESISTS THE PROUD
Daniel 4:28-32
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. James 4:6.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. The Lord does not delight in pride. Pride is a high or inordinate opinion of one’s dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing or conduct. One major factor that determines our success or failure is whether we are proud or humble. Pride promotes self and looks down on others, is unwilling to seek help, acknowledge errors or receive correction. Pride causes one to be ungrateful and forget God and all He has done for him or her. A heart devoid of pride depends on God, is quick to acknowledge the need for God and is eager to confess sin. A proud heart cannot be broken and contrite before God.
By nature, humans are proud, but with God’s help, humility can be attained. The sin of pride is always at war with the spirit of humility. Sometimes, achievements and positions can make one proud, but we should take Apostle Paul’s stance, who counted all things as loss for the excellence of knowing Christ. Putting our achievements behind us, we should press for what is ahead. Pride is a subtle sin we need to repent from daily. We need a humble and teachable heart in our walk with God. When you get down on your knees before the Lord and admit your dependence on Him, He will lift you and honour you (James 4:10 NLT).
Prayer
Ask the Lord to give you the grace to remain truly humble.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 133 Judges 16,-Judges 17 John 7:45-53, -John 8:1-11; Psalm 60:1-4
NEVER BY YOUR POWER
Daniel 4:33-37.
Thus saith the LORD; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. Jeremiah 17:5.
God is the source of all we have. He provides us with life, health, strength and resources to carry out our plans. In prosperity and achievements, we most times forget the source of everything and attribute our success and prominence to our efforts and hard work alone. The word of God instructs us to always remember that we were given all that we have (1 Cor. 4:7). It is man’s nature to crave and desire glory and accolades hence God’s warning to the Israelites “When all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and then thou forget the LORD thy God; … And thou sayest in thy heart, my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth”. Deut. 8:1-14,17. It is easy but risky to attribute success only to one’s input, power and ability.
When we are grateful to God for the things that seem little and for every progress, appreciating Him for the greater things will be easy. Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that it is not by our power or might but by the help of God’s Spirit. We have to learn to depend on God’s counsel and not on man’s wisdom and might. The arm of flesh fails.
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings in my life. I acknowledge You as my everlasting source.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 134 Judges 18, -Judges 19; Matt 21;18-32; Proverbs 3;21-35
THE WRITING ON THE WALL
Daniel 5:1-9
… for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 1 Samuel 2:30
God clearly stated in the Ten Commandments that we should not worship any other God besides Him or make any graven image (Exo 20:3-5). Also, the things in God’s house were to be treated with reverence. Despite knowing the God that the Israelites worshipped, Belshazzar went ahead and carried the cups dedicated for God’s use to serve himself and his guests. What a sacrilege! God wasn’t pleased and judgment was declared.
One of the things that sin does is that it makes us move far away from God to the point that we lose our fear and reverence for Him. Remember the story of the man who took a Midianite woman into the tabernacle? (Numbers 25:6-8). He took the strange woman in with no fear at all and he was judged instantly. Be careful not to become bold in your sin. It’s not a thing to be proud of; it’s a sign that judgment is at the door. The king was surrounded by so many guests and wanted to impress them, which led him to end up displeasing God. Take heed! Never please humans and end up displeasing God. Sin attracts God’s wrath and judgment. Honour God and the things that have to do with Him. It is dangerous to be too familiar with God.
Prayer
Lord, cause me to be tenderhearted and to serve You in fear and reverence. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 135 Judges 20,-Judges 21; John 8:31-59; Psalm 61:1-8
THE INTEGRITY OF OUR MESSAGE
Daniel 5:10-17
Then Daniel answered and said before the king, let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. Daniel 5:17.
Belshazzar, the King, had just dishonoured God and treated the vessels taken from the temple with contempt. On doing this, a hand was sent from the Lord to write the judgment against him on the wall. The king was greatly troubled by this mysterious event and Daniel was brought in to explain what had just occurred. Daniel knew that the king had dishonoured the Lord by using the vessels brought from the house of the Lord in Jerusalem to serve his guests and concubines. Although the king promised him promotion and gifts if he read and interpreted the writing on the wall, Daniel understood that the name and dignity of the Lord were at stake. He told the king to keep his gifts to himself or give them to someone else. Daniel did this to make the king understand that his gifts and promises would not alter the message to be delivered.
People who persist in doing evil always seek identification with the church or God’s servants to appear righteous. Some dishonour God with their actions and business but donate to the church as a way of appeasing their conscience. Some politicians will seek the blessings and prayers of the church but disobey God’s word during elections and while in office. The church and its ministers are not to be influenced by gifts in declaring the word of the Lord. Gifts and monetary inducements should never determine the message we preach.
Prayer
Lord, cause us to maintain the integrity of our message and testimony notwithstanding the pressures to compromise. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 136 Ruth 1, Ruth 2, -John 9:1-34 24; Proverbs 12;8-17
THE TERRIBLE FALL
Daniel 5:18–31
He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. Proverbs 29:1.
Proverbs 16:18 tells us that “pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction.” Nebuchadnezzar was a proud king and he was humbled, as we can see in his testimony in Daniel 4. Here we see his descendant, Belshazzar, following the same path. This is what Daniel said, “And you, his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart (mind), even though you knew all this.” Daniel 5:22. He knew about the mistakes of the father, yet chose to do the same. The father’s offence was just exalting himself but he went farther and took things from God’s house, used them for himself and worshipped idols. First, He exalted himself above God, breaking one of God’s commandments. This was the same offence that caused Lucifer to be thrown from Heaven (Ezekiel 14:12-17). Then he committed idolatry by worshipping the creature instead of the creator. This action led God to proclaim instant judgment.
There are so many instructions and lessons for us to learn, both in scriptures and in the lives of those close to us at home, in church or in society. Let’s not overlook these lessons. If Belshazzar had learnt from what happened to his father, he wouldn’t have ended up in that state. There is a saying that whoever fails to learn from history is doomed to repeat it. If you also don’t learn from the mistakes of others, you will make a bigger mistake which will, in turn, attract a stricter punishment. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap”. Galatians 6:7.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I ask that You help me learn from the mistakes I hear and read. Cause me to make the right choices in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 137 Ruth 3,- Ruth 4; John 9:35-41 John 10:1-; Proverbs 3;21-35
FAULTLESS IN CHARACTER
Daniel 6:1-5. Philippians 2:15
Then said these men, we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Daniel 6:5
Daniel, a captive from Israel, rose to become a ruler in Babylon. He carried out his duties without any fault. Nothing could be used to accuse him. He was perfect in all his ways. However, this is not the case with many believers today. We are unfaithful in our places of work, our school, business and even in the service of God. A lot of us cut corners and compromise despite professing to be children of God. We are to be shining lights in our society. People should emulate our positive standards.
Apostle Paul, while admonishing the Corinthian church, said, “Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2). Faithfulness is a Christian virtue and we all should exhibit faithfulness in all areas of our lives. We should not render service out of pretence and deceit. We should strive to be faultless so that when our accusers try to bring us down, they will find no loophole in our attitude or service, just as Daniel’s accusers found no fault against him. Are you faultless and faithful in all areas of your life?
Prayer
Lord, help me to be faultless before the world so that my character will never bring reproach to Your holy name in Jesus’ name. Amen.
ONE YEAR BIBLE READING
DAY 138 1 Samuel l,-Sam 2; 1-26,- John 21;18-32; Proverbs 3;21-35
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