DCLM Sincere Milk 23 November 2023 — Be Dutiful As The Ant
DCLM Sincere Milk 23 November 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Be Dutiful As The Ant
Topic: Be Dutiful As The Ant
Text: Proverbs 6:6-11
6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Key Verse: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:” Proverbs 6:6
Message
Many children have become successful in life through hard work and faith in God. The story of Joseph in the Bible stands out. At home with his parents, he was hardworking and obedient. He would run errands for his parents even when it was not convenient for him. When he was sold into slavery by his brothers, he never got discouraged. In Potiphar’s house, Joseph was hard working. He did his work every day and he was very faithful. Joseph had no supervisor to tell him to work, but he worked. Joseph’s mom and dad were not with him, yet Joseph did not do eye service. He did his work diligently.
In our text, the Bible encourages us to go and learn from the ant. Though the ant is a very small creature, we have a lot to learn from it. (i) The ant has no supervisor or teacher to direct it, yet it does its duty with all seriousness. (ii) The ant does not postpone what needs to be done now till another time. Many children do this. They leave the school assignment or the daily Bible reading for the day till week end. They want to do five days Bible reading in one day. (iii) The ant does not oversleep and it is never idle. Many children do not rise from the bed until mum or dad wakes them up. Nobody is there to wake up the ant, and when it wakes up, nobody forces it do its work. Are you like that? Ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you to be dutiful.
Further Reading: Proverbs 30:24-25
Prayer for today: Lord Jesus, please, help me to overcome laziness and become dutiful.
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)
