BEFORE THE WINE RUNS OUT: OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 14TH SEPTEMBER 2018

MEMORISE:

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. John 2:3

READ: Proverb 1:24-33

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

MESSAGE:

In today’s Bible reading, God, personified as Wisdom, bemoans men’s carefree attitude to His warnings against the day of calamity. God Himself is calling out to mankind like He called unto Adam when he hid himself in the Garden of Eden. Adam seems to be wiser than many inhabitants of the world today, because he came out of his hiding place so that God could cover his nakedness (Genesis 3:21).

God’s message to the world today says “I have waited enough: I have been stretching out my hands of love towards you and you have refused to come.” If this message applies to you, please respond to His call; any further delay is dangerous. The danger in delaying is declared in Proverbs 1:26 & 28:

“I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:”

It is a wise thing to have God as your Ally before the day of calamity or overwhelming challenge. For those who do not know God or who have strayed from His way, the day of greatest calamity is the day death comes calling. Why? The day of death is a day of reckoning, when all deeds are brought to judgment (Hebrews 9:27).

The story of the marriage in Cana of Galilee, from where today’s memory verse is taken, teaches a couple of relevant lessons on having God as your Ally before the day of calamity comes (John 2:9-10). Firstly, Jesus Christ was invited to the wedding ceremony, ahead of the moment of shame that arose due to insufficient preparation. Shame was averted that day because the Present Help in time of need was involved.

Secondly, Jesus’ mother counselled them to do whatever the Miracle Worker asked them to do; they obeyed this and got the miracle of provision. Thirdly, wine symbolises merriment and joyous events. The presence of wine in a place signals celebration. The truth is that there will always be a time when the wine of your life would run out and you would be confronted by your inadequacies as a mortal being. It will be too bad for you not to have Jesus in your life before that day.

Why? His presence guarantees supplies that are far better than what the world can provide, as testified to by the master of ceremony at the marriage in Cana of Galilee (John 2:9-10). Beloved, I am therefore appealing to you today to invite Jesus Christ into your boat before you run out of steam. You must get God involved in all you do because no matter how brief that venture is, you will need Him along the way.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, I invite You anew into my life. I repent of whatever I am currently doing without involving You. Please take over my life’s ambition and control it in Jesus’ Name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 16-19, Mark 7:24-8:10

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE

HYMN 5: I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

2. The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

3. Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

4. My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

5. Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.