“Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment” (Exodus 23:2).
TEXT — Exodus 23:1-13
Message
When God told Moses to write a song (Deuteronomy 32), it was to remind the children of Israel how much He loved and cared for them. That song shows the deep affection God has for His people and His great desire for them to obey Him and prosper. He said, “O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?”
The same God cares about the inter-personal relationships among His people. They must avoid bearing false witness, following the multitude to do evil, discriminating against the poor by way of denying him justice or abandoning a straying animal belonging to an enemy. They must not accept bribes, kill an innocent person nor ill-treat strangers. The climax of it is that the seventh year produce must be left for the poor, the widows and other less privileged persons. Israelites also must avoid idol worship; they must rest on the seventh day, being the Sabbath, and be refreshed.
What a caring God we have! Even slaves and animals are included in God’s plan. This brings a big challenge to the Christian today, to care for others. Every gift God gives – among them, wealth, wisdom, skill, education, strength – is meant to be used to uplift others. Our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear that this will be a requirement for entering into heaven.
Whatever we possess in this world comes from the Lord, for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. How can we, recipients of grace, shut the bowels of mercy from the needy? Our lives must touch others in more than a telling manner.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
This has been elevating my spirit. Thank You Lord