Daily Manna

Key Verse

“For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed” (Lamentations 1:16).

TEXT — Lamentations 1:12-17

Message

In 1969 in Pass Christian, Mississippi, a group of people defied warnings and decided to have a “hurricane party” at the Richelieu Apartments in the face of the approaching storm Camille. Despite Police Chief Jerry Peralta’s orders to evacuate, they chose to stay and party through the worsening storm. Peralta even went as far as taking down the names of their next of kin. However, when the hurricane hit, the three-story building was completely destroyed, with only a five-year-old boy found clinging to a mattress as the sole survivor. This tragic event serves as a reminder of the consequences of ignoring warnings and prioritising personal desires over safety during natural disasters.

Prophet Jeremiah had warned the Israelites ceaselessly that judgment would come unless they turned from their sinful practices. They ignored him. Now, the heavy hand of God’s judgment had descended on them. As a result, He allowed their enemies to invade the land and destroy the temple, taking the people captive, and carrying them into exile.

This outcome was painful for Jeremiah. His mourning was made worse by the fact that God who should be their comforter, and intervene on their behalf, was now far from them, and had allowed their enemies a free hand to prevail. God had delivered them into the hands of the enemies from whom they had no power to escape. Their plight was terrible, all because they would not turn away from their sins.

Sin is a killer. It starts by offering individuals the freedom to do whatever they cherish. Soon, this becomes a habit, and the culprits become captives of their sinful activities. It kills any tendency to trust God and wait for His help and comfort. It separates a vile person from the holy God and makes the individual utterly without hope in this life and in the world to come. God alone grants freedom from the captivity of sin. Let us avoid habits and practices that will plunge us into eternal regret. We must, as pilgrims, be heaven-focused and live by the kingdom’s principles.

Thought for the day

You’d do well to review anything that blurs your view of eternity.

• Bible
• in one year
• Matthew 22 – 23 (Read By Alexander Scourby)