DCLM Daily Manna 16 January 2025 — Martyrdom: Matters Arising
DCLM Daily Manna 16 January 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Martyrdom: Matters Arising
TOPIC — Martyrdom: Matters Arising (DCLM Daily Manna 16 January 2025)
KEY VERSE: “And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison” (Matthew 14:10).
TEXT: Matthew 14:1-12 (KJV)
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.
9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
Bishop Hugh Latimer was martyred in 1555. After being sentenced to death for his convictions, he wrote an open letter in which he declared, “Let us consider all the dear friends of God, how they have gone after the example of our Saviour, Jesus Christ; whose footsteps let us also follow, even to the gallows if God’s will be so.” He and his friend Nicholas Ridley were tied to the stake a short time later. As the leaping flames began to touch their bodies, Latimer called, “Be of good cheer, Brother Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle by God’s grace in England as I trust shall never be put out!” – Copied from The Speaker’s Quote Book, Roy B. Zuck.
Also Read: Open Heaven 16 January 2025 – Identifying The Jericho Wall (3)
John the Baptist was a burning and shining light in his lifetime and at death. Herod, the king, gruesomely martyred him because his fiery message condemned his incestuous relationship with his brother, Philip’s wife. “For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.” John paid the supreme price for fearlessly confronting the king. He lit the world with the light of righteousness that a million martyrdoms would never put out.
It has always been part of man’s depraved nature to fight or persecute the preachers of righteousness. Though John was murdered and buried, silenced as it was, the truth he proclaimed could not be buried. The question is, where are Herod, Herodias, and her daughter whose seductive dance eventually led to the king’s oath that resulted in the beheading of the Prophet of God, the forerunner of the Saviour of the world? Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and other enemies of the Church have all gone into oblivion.
Also Read: DCLM Daily Manna 15 January 2024 – The Peril Of Critics
The pattern set by John the Baptist and the apostles of Christ must challenge Christians to stand uncompromisingly and preach Christ in and out of season. Our lives and times are in the Lord’s hands. Like our Master and Saviour, we must remain faithful to the end. Like the apostles, we must resolve to obey God rather than men, not minding the loss of material gain, human praise, and recognition while standing for Christ and declaring the whole counsel of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
You cannot be a burning and shining light without attracting the fury of the powers of darkness.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
GENESIS 48-50
Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2024 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
