Anglican Devotional 14 October 2023

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 14 October 2023 – Consequence Of Covetousness And Pride

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TOPIC: Consequence Of Covetousness And Pride

READ: Micah 2:1-13(NKJV)

  1. Woe to those who devise iniquity, And work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, Because it is in the power of their hand.
  2. They covet fields and take [them] by violence, Also houses, and seize [them.] So they oppress a man and his house, A man and his inheritance.
  3. Therefore thus says the LORD: “Behold, against this family I am devising disaster, From which you cannot remove your necks; Nor shall you walk haughtily, For this [is] an evil time.
  4. In that day [one] shall take up a proverb against you, And lament with a bitter lamentation, saying: ‘We are utterly destroyed! He has changed the heritage of my people; How He has removed [it] from me! To a turncoat He has divided our fields.’ “
  5. Therefore you will have no one to determine boundaries by lot In the assembly of the LORD.
  6. ” Do not prattle,” [you say to those] who prophesy. So they shall not prophesy to you; They shall not return insult for insult.
  7. [You who are] named the house of Jacob: “Is the Spirit of the LORD restricted? [Are] these His doings? Do not My words do good To him who walks uprightly?
  8. “Lately My people have risen up as an enemy — You pull off the robe with the garment From those who trust [you,] as they pass by, Like men returned from war.
  9. The women of My people you cast out From their pleasant houses; From their children You have taken away My glory forever.
  10. “Arise and depart, For this [is] not [your] rest; Because it is defiled, it shall destroy, Yes, with utter destruction.
  11. If a man should walk in a false spirit And speak a lie, [saying,] ‘I will prophesy to you of wine and drink,’ Even he would be the prattler of this people.
  12. ” I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob, I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together like sheep of the fold, Like a flock in the midst of their pasture; They shall make a loud noise because of [so many] people.
  13. The one who breaks open will come up before them; They will break out, Pass through the gate, And go out by it; Their king will pass before them, With the LORD at their head.”

THE MESSAGE:

The consequences of covetousness and pride are grievous. During the time of Micah, there was gross covetousness and pride in Israel as we have it today. People devised iniquity and took pride in violence and covetousness as they oppressed others(Micah 2:1-4)because it was in their power “to do and undo.” God warned them through Prophet Micah but the warning fell on deaf ears like in our day when people, even Christians, do not see anything wrong in covetousness and pride. Some devised their wickedness openly while others practised theirs secretly, not minding that the Ultimate Judge is watching to bring every deed to judgment (Eccl. 12:14). They rejected God’s warning while others ran after false prophets (Micah 2:6-11). They rejected the word of God and so God rejected them (1Sam. 15:26). God was set to give them the consequence of their covetousness and pride. There is certainly no peace for the wicked (Isa. 48:22).

However, there is a promise of restoration to those that shall repent (Micah 2:12-13). Are you ready to turn from covetousness, pride, violence and wickedness? Remember: The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23).

PRAYER: Deliver me oh Lord from the hold of covetousness and pride, Amen.