DCLM Daily Manna Devotional For September 30, 2019 : TOPIC – STRENGTH IN TENDERNESS
DAILY MANNA
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
TOPIC: STRENGTH IN TENDERNESS
TEXT: Mark 11:27-33
KEY VERSE:
“The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? answer me” – (Mark 11:30).
Often, we think of strength as the opposite of gentleness, softness and tenderness which may not always be true. This is reinforced by an amazing discovery by the British fighter pilots during the First World War. They found out that thick layers of silk stopped low velocity shrapnel better than steel. With this discovery, they wound the silk around their heads and then wore leather horse riding helmets on top of the silk. Even though scientists are grappling with this discovery, they are not in doubt that sometimes soft, gentle, tender silk can prove far stronger than cold, hard steel. Likewise, Jesus taught us the same principle in relationship. He showed us that gentleness, a heart that is soft toward others and tenderness are in fact qualities of great strength.
The Pharisees came to ask Him a question but not with sincerity because they only wanted to trap Him. Rather than succeed, Christ responded with a counter-question about John the Baptist which revealed their true motives and became a dilemma for these fake enquirers. If Jesus said His authority was from God, they would accuse Him of blasphemy. If He said His authority was His own, they would overrule Him and dismiss Him as a fanatic. But through a soft answer and display of great depth of wisdom and fearless response, He silenced the Pharisees who were not really interested in the truth. By this, they rendered themselves neither fit for the kingdom of God nor for its blessings.
It is important to examine our motives whenever we come to God to seek for counsel or ask questions so that rather than receiving God’s blessings, we don’t shut the door of blessings against ourselves. Believers should also realise that we shall achieve more for God and His Kingdom by being wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
The heart, like a door, either opens us for God’s best or shuts us out of it.
THE BIBLE IN A YEAR:
Song 1-4