DCLM Daily Manna 4 January 2023 — What is in a Name?
DCLM Daily Manna 4 January 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — What is in a Name?
Click HERE for Previous DCLM Daily Manna by Pastor Kumuyi
TOPIC: What is in a Name? (DCLM Daily Manna 4 January 2023)
TEXT: Nehemiah 1: 1-3 (KJV)
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace,
2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.
3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
KEY VERSE: “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace” (Nehemiah 1:1).
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
A character in one of the tragedies of the English playwright, William Shakespeare, wonders if there is anything beyond a name. She soliloquizes: “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” She does not appear to believe that the names of people and things reflect their being and essence. Give the sweet-smelling rose another name; it would not change its nature to be pleasant.
Also Read: Open Heaven 4 January 2023 – When God Breathes II
Not so with Nehemiah, whose name meant ‘consolation’. He lived by that appellation. He was a Hebrew who worked in exile in the royal court in Shushan. He lived in sufficiency as the king’s cupbearer. But when a delegation of Jews came to him with distressing news of the desolate state of Jerusalem and of the sore challenges the captive escapees were passing through, he lived up to his name. He renounced his comfort zone, mourned, and wept for his people and their beleaguered land. He sought the permission of the king to go and restore the dignity of God’s children.
What do followers of Christ do as we daily receive reports of increasing sinful activities bringing sorrow and despair upon humanity? We must live up to our name as Christians. We must be the Nehemiah’s of our time. We must reveal the qualities of the name of Christ in us by giving the world the comfort of the gospel as our Master gave hope, life, and light to the people. We must not be bogged down by the pursuit of worldly pleasure.
Your identity as a Christian does far more than what it suggests. It announces your loyalty to the Lord, who is waiting for you to execute His program. Therefore, if God has called you and stamped the name “Christian” on you, you must strive not to fail Him. Stay busy and active in righteous living, showing a lost world the love of God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What you are is your real name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
GENESIS 11 – 13
Also read: DCLM Daily Manna 3 January 2023 — Spiritual Birthday
DCLM Daily Manna 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)
