DCLM HIGHER EVERYDAY 17 March 2022 — Too close for comfort
DCLM Higher Everyday 17 March 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Too close for comfort
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TOPIC: TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT
TEXT: LUKE 22:54-62
55 And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them.
56 But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him.
57 And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.
58 And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not.
59 And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.
61 And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
62 And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
MEMORY VERSE: “And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them” (LUKE 22:55).
MESSAGE:
The time was well past midnight. The venue was the house of the High Priest. The occasion was solemn. The Son of God had just been arrested and was standing on trial before the chief priests, captains of the temple and elders of the people. He was standing among His worst enemies and persecutors.
And where was Peter, one of His closest disciples? He was sitting among the servants of the High Priest, warming himself by their fire! Instead of standing with his Master, he was sitting with those that hated his Lord. He was sitting in the seat of the scornful.
When a believer gets too close to unbelievers, it is called compromise. When a child of the kingdom enters into alliance with the enemies of the gospel, either in business, worship or marriage relationship, it is called unequal yoke. God hates such.
The Bible warns against it because it is dangerous. It can lead to unpleasant consequences. Peter eventually denied his Lord. A believing youth who gets too close for comfort with unbelievers will soon deny his Lord. Come out from among them and be separate.
QUOTE: Come out from among them.
CHALLENGE: God hates unequal yoke.
PRAYER: Keep me away from the company of the wicked, Oh God!
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)
