Topic: Preach, Anyway! [DCLM Daily Manna 30 January 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Isaiah 6:9-13 (KJV)
Key Verse: “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10).
MESSAGE:
Polycarp, who lived in the first generation after the apostles, was born in Smyrna and later became the bishop of the city. He was the last survivor of those who had talked with the eyewitnesses of Jesus. As a very old man, he was arrested, tried and condemned. When asked to renounce his faith in Christ, he replied, “Eighty-six years have I served him and he hath done me no wrong. How can I speak evil of my King who saved me? He was set ablaze. But the flames refused to consume him, he was killed with the sword and then burned.
Isaiah was commissioned to a spiritually insensitive people, a people who were dull of hearing. They were dull of hearing because they had no interest in hearing the word of God preached. Thus, the prophet voiced his frustration because of the futility of the mission.
Despite the desolution determined against the people for the dullness of their heart, the Lord God promised that “the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.” The desolation of the people for their stiff-neckedness would be almost complete. But out of the stump, the promised seed-line given to Abraham would be continued through the Davidic seed-line. The remnant would emerge and remain. From that remnant, one would come forth who would be a blessing to humanity.
Naturally, the heart of man is unyielding and wilful. Despite God’s warning through His faithful servants, they take His word for granted and continue in their evil ways. Although their hearts are hardened, the Lord wants His servants to continue to reveal His mind to them.
The attitude of the world to the word of God will not change His plan. Therefore, believers will not change His plan. Therefore, believers should be faithful in dispensing the Word of Life to sinners and backsliders, their disposition notwithstanding.
Thought For The Day: ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can’.
Bible Reading In One Year: Matthew 4-5
