Daily Manna 1 September
KEY VERSE: “Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.” – (Ezekiel 9:6)
TEXT: Ezekiel 9:5-11
5 To the others He said in my hearing, “Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. 6 Utterly[c] slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” So they began with the elders who were before the [d]temple. 7 Then He said to them, “Defile the [e]temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!” And they went out and killed in the city.
8 So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, “Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel in pouring out Your fury on Jerusalem?”
9 Then He said to me, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, ‘The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!’ 10 And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.”
11 Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, “I have done as You commanded me.”
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
In its quest to eradicate childhood killer diseases as well as reduce drastically the rate of infant mortality, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with some other corporate organisations mobilised resources for the development of vaccines to be administered to children. Although the cost of production of these vaccines is enormous, they have been made available free of charge to many developing nations where these killer diseases are prevalent. But the decision to take the vaccines for the protection of one’s child is always voluntary. Available statistics have shown however that the consequences have been fatal for parents and nations who rejected the vaccines. So it is with salvation from sin: God provides it free for those who care for it, but there is damnation for those who reject it.
The passage gives a clear record of God’s command for heaven’s judgment upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem as punishment for their sins and abomination. The order to destroy was without prejudice to sex, age and status. This reveals the fact that God’s judgment for sin, whenever it comes, is always total, without any extraneous considerations.
Only the mark of salvation which is given through cleansing by the blood of Jesus can qualify anyone for escape from the judgment of God. Regular church attendance, position held in the church and our busy activities with the work of God are not a guarantee for safety. Every believer must avoid carelessness and overconfidence in this end time and ensure that his mark of safety is intact.
Intercession for sins is only relevant now. Sinners must repent before it is too late. It is certain that once the mill of God’s judgment starts to “grind”, it will hold no brakes for the sinner, irrespective of their position or personality.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God’s mark of ownership shields from divine judgment.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 72-77
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Are You Marked For Safety – by Pastor Enoch A.
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Daily Manna 1 September 2021