MEMORISE : Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind; 1 Peter 5 : 2.
READ : LAMENTATIONS 4 : 1 - 5.
1 How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the
stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
2 The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they
esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!
3 Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their
young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the
ostriches in the wilderness.
4 The tongue of the sucking child
cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask
bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
5 They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : EZEKIEL 33 - 34; PSALM 73 : 18 - 28.
Our Bible reading for today is a grim lamentation of Prophet Jeremiah.
It concerns both the spiritual and physical state of affairs of the
people of God of his time. This state of affairs sadly reflects the
current state of affairs of God’s people in our time. The Bible says
that all these were written as examples for those upon whom the ends of
the world are come (1 Corinthians 10 : 11). This state of affairs is
therefore indicative of the times we live in; these are the end-times.
Let us learn one or two lessons from this lamentation to deliver our
soul from impending doom. In this end-time, many pastors and preachers
are no longer building with precious stones on the Sure Foundation –
Jesus Christ. Rather, they are building with rubble, i.e. the philosophy
of men and modern ideologies in order to make Christianity
“intelligible” to a 21st century audience. Even the sea monsters draw
out the breast and give suck to their young ones, but the teachers of
God’s people have become cruel – denying the flock the sincere milk of
the Word, not even when sincere seekers of truth demand for it.
Many modern day pastors and ministers of the gospel of all categories
are failing to live by the injunction of the dying Apostle Paul to
Timothy, his son in the Lord, and by extension, to all ministers of the
gospel in 2 Timothy 4 : 2 & 5 :
“Preach the word; be instant
in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
The
Bible warns ministers of the gospel against negligence or dereliction of
duty in Ezekiel 3 : 18 - 21. Ezekiel was also told not to consider the
unfriendly countenance of his audience but rather to deliver the word as
he was asked to (Ezekiel 2 : 6 - 7). The reason we have worship centres
all over the place without godly impact is because God’s watchmen are
not doing their duty right. Some pastors don’t consider if members of
their congregation are heaven-bound or not. In as much as they keep on
bringing their offerings, “all is well”. This is not right. As a
Christian parent, you need to take today’s message as yours as well.
Your home is your God-given flock. It is for you to nurture in the fear
of the Lord. Are you a shepherd or a wolf? Think about this, and may the
Lord grant you understanding in Jesus’ Name.
PRAYER POINT :
Pray for all ministers of the gospel around the world, that God will
grant them the grace to preach the gospel without fear or favour.
AUTHOR : Pst E . A ADEBOYE.