The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 4 November 2023 – The Perils Of The Last Days
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TOPIC: The Perils Of The Last Days
READ: 1 Timothy 4:1-16 (NKJV)
- Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons,
- speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
- forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.
- For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;
- for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
- If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed.
- But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness.
- For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
- This [is] a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.
- For to this [end] we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is [the] Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
- These things command and teach.
- Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
- Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
- Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.
- Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.
- Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
THE MESSAGE:
The Bible is not silent about what would be the activities of the last days. The passage today reveals the admonition to Timothy on the happenings of the end of the age. The Bible talks about departure from the faith, hypocrisy, lovers of self, loss of natural affection, denial of godliness and the likes (1 Timothy 4:1-3 cf. 2 Timothy 3:1-7) as the characteristics of the last days.
People will become traitors, heady, lovers of pleasure, high-minded and increasingly ignorant of the truth. These are what we see in our days. Our Lord Jesus Christ says wars and rumours of wars, nations rising up against nations, famines, pestilences, earthquake and betrayal, are part of what would usher in the end of the age (Matthew 24:3-7).
Beloved, there is no doubt that we are closer to the end than when the Bible was written.
The various vices mentioned in our passage and even worse things are already happening in our immediate and remote environments. We are expected to be on guard against all the wiles of the devil. As Christians, we are not insulated from these evils except we take our stand in accordance with the word of the Lord. The world is gradually passing away but only those who love the Lord will stand for ever (1 John 2:15).
PRAYER: Father, give me grace to be on guard against the tricks of the devil, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
