DCLM Higher Everyday 11 November 2022 — Lose head, gain Christ
DCLM Higher Everyday 11 November 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Lose head, gain Christ
TOPIC: LOSE HEAD, GAIN CHRIST
TEXT: MARK 6:18-28
18For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
MEMORY VERSE: “And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist” (MARK 6:25).
MESSAGE:
Richard Baxter declared, “If there be glory laid up for them that die in the Lord; much more shall they be glorified that die for the Lord.” Indeed, Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary to empower all who would victoriously live for Him in this world, triumphing over Satan and all his hosts.
Living for Jesus, in turn, requires dying to self, so much so that we are willing to choose Him, who is our eternal life, over and above our transient life on earth. John the Baptist made a decision to defend and glorify Christ; and lost his head in the process, but was celebrated in Heaven.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 10 November 2022 — Longing for prepared place
The world has always been hostile to the saints and is not getting kinder today. Unbelievers are even getting more hostile to the saints as we are closer to the end of the age.
However, do not fear, Jesus said, “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28).
QUOTE: The world has always been hostile to the saints.
CHALLENGE: Just seek Jesus, at the expense of all.
PRAYER: Grant me grace, LORD, to ignore the whole world and embrace Jesus.
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)
