Your Refreshing Daily Devotional

A man born blind is reported in John 9. The disciples of Jesus wanted to know if the causal factor was the man’s sins or those of his parents. As far the disciples were concerned, such predicament could only be traceable to sin. Jesus corrected their theology by saying neither the man nor the parents had sinned, but the situation was to allow for the manifestation of the glory of God in his life. After fixing their theology, Jesus was set to heal the man. He mixed clay with spittle, plastered the man’s eyes with it, and ordered him to go to Siloam and wash. There are many problems here. To an average mind, mixing clay with spittle is far from decent. Putting clay on already blind eyes is ridiculous. Asking him to go to Siloam can almost be considered as inconsiderate. How would a blind man make it to the river?

God’s operations are beyond the limits of human conventions…Those who will enjoy walking with God must learn to defer to Him even when it seems unreasonable to do so.

The foregoing all stipulate that God’s operations are beyond the limits of human conventions. One reason why many people miss the operations of God is that they expect Him to reason and act like human beings. The Bible is plain in stating that God’s ways are different from our ways. When viewed from human standpoint, most of the preferred ways of the Lord will appear foolish. What we must never forget is that even those things that appear foolish are wiser than the best wisdom man can put together. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” I Corinthians 1:25 NKJV. Those who will enjoy walking with God must learn to defer to Him even when it seems unreasonable to do so.

When we went to Malawi two years ago on our annual mission, I sat by the pool of the hotel where we lodged one evening. The DJ at the bar close by was playing a Yoruba song. I am sure that he did not understand a word of what he was playing, he was simply going along with the music. Whether the lyrics meant curse or blessing, he could not tell. Such is the power of music. Music has no geographical boundaries. It is not curtailed by accent either. A survey showed that many people got their spirits raised from depression by listening to music. This also has a biblical support. When an evil spirit tormented Saul, recommendation was made that someone with musical ability be brought. David was the candidate that fitted the slot. Whenever he played, the evil spirit would bow and Saul was refreshed. In essence, anointed music drives out evil spirits.

In essence, anointed music drives out evil spirits…spirits trend with music. Some music can cast out devils while some can attract them. Some music can draw in the Spirit of God while some others can repel Him. We must apply discretion in choosing the kind of music we listen to.

In our text of Scripture for meditation, Elisha needed contact with the Spirit of the Lord, and he called for a minstrel. This time around we have no information of who was brought. However, the result was undeniable. The Spirit of the Lord descended on the prophet and he spoke the word of the Lord to the kings. The lesson here is that spirits trend with music. Some music can cast out devils while some can attract them. Some music can draw in the Spirit of God while some others can repel Him. We must apply discretion in choosing the kind of music we listen to.

Dennis Avner is an American widely known as the “Stalking Cat”. Over the years, he had spent thousands of dollars to undergo extreme body modifications. His goal? To look like a tiger. Some of his modifications include full-body tattoos, sharpened teeth, facial piercings, split lips, whisker implants, and surgical alterations to produce feline features. Strangely, he claims that his inspiration came from Native American beliefs which gave him a deep connection to tigers and wild cats.

The man that God blessed in the beginning was in His image. Those that will enjoy divine blessing even now must be carriers of His image.

Modern man has two major problems. Firstly, he seeks to make himself after the beasts of the field either in look or in practice. Apostle Peter compares those who despise authority with brute beasts (2 Peter 2:10-12). Jude shares the same sentiment in Jude 1:8-10. To seek alteration in order to share the attributes of a brute beast is the height of self-debasement. The second problem of man is trying to make God after his own image. This is turning wisdom on its head. Man is created in the image of God; and anything that subtracts from this ideal disconnects him from blessing as God intended. The man that God blessed in the beginning was in His image. Those that will enjoy divine blessing even now must be carriers of His image.

A young man was armed by his principal with a shopping list to get some groceries. One of the items was tomatoes. When he returned, he brought all the items but with a twist. He brought processed tomatoes packed in sachets. What his principal had in mind was fresh tomatoes, but he used his initiative differently. Both himself and his boss had been plagued by an error – presumption. I have heard someone say that presumption is the lowest form of knowledge. Operating solely on presumption will keep someone at the level of mediocrity. At some point, it can really be destructive.

Operating solely on presumption will keep someone at the level of mediocrity. At some point, it can really be destructive…When you pray, don’t use vague generalities. Be specific.

God does not deal with generalities or presumption. Imagine God coming down to Sodom on a fact finding mission! “And the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.” Genesis 18:20-21 NKJV. God only punished Sodom after the fact had been established. Our text caps it all that God gives attention to details. Apparently, Jesus saw that Bartimaeus was blind. Yet, He asked what he would like Him to do for him. He did not assume that the man wanted restoration of sight. When you pray, don’t use vague generalities. Be specific.