12 OCTOBER
IS. 51: 21-22
GOD IS INDEED FORGIVING, LOVING, AND MERCIFUL
Having afflicted the people of Judah because of their unfaithfulness to Him (Is. 51: 17-20; 2 Kgs. 24:20), the Lord promised to take His wrath away from them( Is. 51:21-22). This was fulfilled with the end of their exile and subsequent return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1: 1-11). He acted in agreement with His forgiving, loving, and merciful nature ( Ps. 86:5; Neh. 9:16-19; Dan. 9:9; Exod. 34: 6-7; Num. 14:18). The LORD is indeed a forgiving, loving, and merciful God( Ps. 86:5; Neh. 9: 16-19; Dan. 9:9; Exod. 34: 6-7; Num. 14:8; Mic. 7: 18-19). There is none like Him in showing forgiveness, love, and mercy (Mic. 7: 18-19). Anyone who returns to Him is guaranteed to find mercy (see Prov. 28:13; cf. Ezek. 18: 23, 32.
PRAYER
• Father, please enable me to return to you with all my heart.
• Father, please take away anything that hinders me from returning to you totally.
• Father, please let your forgiveness, love, and mercy be my portion.

13 OCTOBER
JER. 4: 3-4
GOD’S WRATH ALWAYS FOLLOWS LACK OF REPENTANCE
We find here a summary of the entire message of the book of Jeremiah (Jer. 4: 3-4). Here the Lord calls upon the people of Judah to circumcise their hearts or face His wrath (Jer. 4:4). It is pointed out that His wrath will follow their refusal to heed His call to repent (Jer. 4:4). This is in line with His just and righteous nature. The LORD does not take pleasure in the sinner’s death (Ezek. 18: 23, 32). He prefers that the sinner repents and live( Ezek. 18: 23,32). His wrath or judgment always follows our refusal to repent and return to Him (see Jn. 3: 18, 36). He always gives every human being the opportunity to return to Him (see Jn. 3: 16; Rev. 3: 20). His wrath always follows the rejection of His call or invitation to return to Him (see Jn. 3: 18, 36). His love always comes first (Jn. 3: 16). His wrath usually follows the rejection of His love (see Jn. 3: 18, 36). His wrath does not apply to those who heed His call to return to Him (Jer. 4:4; cf. Jn. 3:16, 18, 36). Every human being has an opportunity to escape God’s wrath by heeding his call or invitation to return to Him (Jn. 3: 16; Rev. 3:20; Jer. 4: 4).
PRAYER
• Father, please enable me to return to you totally.
• Father, please destroy whatever prevents me from returning to you fully.

14 OCTOBER
2 COR. 2: 6-8
THE IMPORTANCE OF FORGIVENESS
After due punishment (2 Cor. 2:6), Paul urges the Corinthian believers to forgive the sinner (2 Cor. 2:7). To forgive him involves reaffirming the Church’s love for him (2 Cor. 2:8). Forgiveness is not only God’s attribute (Ps. 86:5; Dan. 9:9), it is His work (Ps. 130:4; Lk. 7:48-49; 1 Jn. 1:9). There is forgiveness with Him (see Lk. 23:34; Acts 10:43; Acts 13:38). Since God Himself is forgiving, His followers are urged to do the same (see Lk. 17:3-4; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Forgiveness is therefore central to the Christian life. It is an essential element of Christian living. We disobey God Himself when we refuse to forgive others (Lk. 17: 3-4; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13). Moreover, we become like the devil Himself, instead of like our Lord Jesus Christ, when we refuse to forgive others as the latter taught and did (cf. Lk. 23:34).
PRAYER
• Father, please give me the grace to forgive those who sin against me.
• Father, please enable me to be like you in forgiveness.
• Father, please take away every factor that hinders me from forgiving others.

15 OCTOBER
2 CHRON. 6: 18
THE SURPASSING GREATNESS OF GOD
While dedicating the temple that He built, King Solomon acknowledged the surpassing greatness of God (2 Chron. 6:18). King Solomon was stating the most obvious about God. The LORD is great indeed (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 145:3; Ps. 95:3; Ps. 96: 4). It is wholly true that He is greater than all His creation put together and no one can fathom or measure His greatness (Ps. 145:3). His surpassing greatness makes Him most worthy of our praise (Ps. 96:4). We must fear Him and no other (Ps. 96: 4). We must worship and serve Him only (Matt. 4:10; cf. Deut. 6:5). We must worship and serve no other (Exod. 20: 1-6). We must obey Him fully (see Deut. 28:1-2). We must look to Him alone to help us since He alone is able to do so (Ps. 127: 1-2).
PRAYER
• Father, please show forth your surpassing greatness in everything that concerns me
• Father, please enable me to fear, worship, obey, and serve you only.

16 OCTOBER
1 COR. 1: 10-15
ARGUMENTS FOR CHURCH UNITY
Paul received a report of quarrels and divisions in the Corinthian Church (1 Cor. 1:11; cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-4). He appealed to them to agree among themselves in order to end the divisions and quarrels and attain unity (1 Cor. 1: 10). He based his appeal on three solid grounds. First, Jesus Christ is one and is not divided into Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (1 Cor. 1: 12-13). Paul, Apollos, and Cephas are nothing but only servants of God (1 Cor. 3: 5-8). Second, it is Jesus Christ, not Paul or Apollos or Cephas who was crucified for them (1 Cor. 1:3). They were baptised into the name of Jesus Christ, not into the names of Paul, Apollos, or Cephas (1 Cor. 1: 13-15). Going by Paul’s arguments, there was no justification whatever for their quarrels and divisions. Paul’s arguments in favour of the unity of the Corinthian Church are quite valid and applicable today. Since the Church belongs to Jesus Christ in its entirety (see 1 Cor. 6: 19-20), there is no basis or justification for any division or quarrel among His followers. Everything in the Church must be done to His glory since the Church belongs to Him exclusively.
PRAYER
• Father, please take away all quarrels and divisions in your Church.
• Father, please let the spirit of unity reign in your Church.

17 OCTOBER
1 CHRON. 9: 1
THE CONSEQUENCE OF UNFAITHFULNESS
This passage retells the account of how the Southern Kingdom of Judah was taken captive to Babylon because of her unfaithfulness (1 Chron. 9:1). The account is the same as the one given elsewhere (2 Kgs. 24: 20). The LORD sent them into captivity to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to Him (1 Chron. 9:1; 2 Kgs. 24:20; Jer. 52:3). Their captivity was punishment for their persistent unfaithfulness to the LORD (1 Chron. 9:1; 2 Kgs. 24: 20; Jer. 52:3). If they had repented and returned to Him, the LORD would have relented in His judgment (see Prov. 28: 13; Ezek. 18:23; 1 Jn. 1: 9). This divine decree applies to all mankind, regardless of the age. Unfaithfulness to God will always bring His displeasure and wrath (1 Chron. 9:1; 2 Kgs. 24: 20; Jer. 52: 3). To avoid God’s displeasure and wrath, one must return to Him in complete faithfulness (see Ezek. 18:32; 1 Jn. 1:9). Unfaithfulness to God brings His displeasure and wrath. Faithfulness to Him takes it away( Ezek. 18: 32; 1 Jn. 1:9; Prov. 28:13). Unfaithfulness to God in any form or manner never pleases Him (see Gen. 6:5-7; 2 Kgs. 24:20; Jer. 52:3). Faithfulness to Him in all things does (cf. Heb. 11:5).
PRAYER
• Father, please give me the grace to be faithful to you in all things.
• Father, please take away whatever hinders me from being completely faithful to you.

18 OCTOBER
EZEK. 3: 10-11
NO MESSAGE EXCEPT FROM GOD’S WORD
When God commissioned Prophet Ezekiel (Ezek. 2: 1-3:11), He commanded him to receive and proclaim His word alone (Ezek. 3: 10-11). He and the people to whom He is sent have exactly the same message (Ezek. 3: 10-11). He must proclaim the message he received, whether they listened or not (Ezek. 3:10-11). This principle is valid for all ages, including our own. The preacher must always preach nothing except God’s word (2 Tim. 4: 1-2; cf. Rev. 22:18-19). The audience is entitled to the word God sent to them, nothing more or less (2 Tim. 4: 1-2; cf. Rev. 22:18-19). Therefore, the audience must always settle for nothing except God’s word (2 Tim. 4: 1-2; cf. Rev. 22: 18-19). There is no message at all whenever the word that is proclaimed in God’s name is not truly or really His own. The message of God must not be changed or altered to suit or please the audience (cf. 2 Tim. 4: 3-4). The attitude of the audience to God’s word must not determine what message is preached to them (2 Tim. 4:3-4; cf. Rev. 22:18-19). God’s purpose for His children cannot be achieved except with His word. And the preacher has not done His duty unless he preaches the word God has given him( 2 Tim. 4: 1-2). Similarly, the audience has not heard anything unless it comes from God’s word.
PRAYER
• Father, please teach me your word.
• Father, please make me a lover and a man of your word.
• Father, please enable me to discern the truth of your word from errors.

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