Faith

DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: NOVEMBER 10 ENEMIES FROM WITHIN (2) SCRIPTURE: MICAH 7: 6; LUKE 21: 16

adminNovember 10, 202506 mins

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Yesterday’s devotional addressed the flesh in us as one of the deadliest enemies within us. The flesh builds wrong desires in us and causes us to work outside the wills of God. The devil plays very critical roles in causing the flesh to always wage wars with the Spirit of God in our lives. Most often, the devil gives us boldness to reject all good suggestions given us by the Holy Spirit. Reason many human beings live with self-rejection, depression, self-guilt etc., as mentioned yesterday. Today’s devotional brings forward other enemies from within which are amongst our very families. The thrust of this devotional is not to separate ourselves from our families members but to be guided against assuming that none of them can do us harm. The Bible says that “A man’s enemy is the member of his household” (Micah 7: 6). This mentioning is a warning to be careful with certain members of our families.

As Christians, we must learn how not to trust some members of our families. These family members are not only our biological ones but include those we may take to be Christians brothers and sisters. There was a story of a young man who went to Germany and started shipping car parts and automobile batteries to his younger brother in Nigeria. Rather than being happy, the younger brother used African power and pulled the senior brother back into Nigeria. His reason? He said his senior brother was enjoying in oversea but left him suffering in Nigeria. Amongst married women, many younger sisters have pushed out their elder sisters to marry their husbands. Daughters and mothers have done the same to themselves. Joseph in the Bible took all his brothers assumed as good brothers, but they sold him as slaves (Gen. 37: 13 – 28). It was not Jacob’s idea to double crossed Esau’s fatherly blessing. His mother Rebecca sold the idea to him.

How many people have died through food poisoning brought by friends or relations? In the late 80s, a young man left Makurdi town in Benue State to Okpoga in the same State to visit a childhood friend with a charm that will separate the friend from his wife. He got to Okpoga, entered the friend’s house. The moment they exchanged greetings, the friend turned against the wife, parked out her belongings instantly. This story is not to glorify the devil but for illustration. Prophet Micah said “A man’s enemies will be those of his own household (Micah 7: 6). Jesus Christ said a time will come when “You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends… (Luke 21: 16). This has been happening and is happening more these days. The safest way out is to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, Our Father Almighty and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?” (Jer. 17: 9; Africa Study Bible). The beloved what is your take here?

PRAYER:

HOLY SPIRIT, always be close to me to enable me discern the heart of people very close to ma amongst my family members as well as Christian families in Jesus name.

bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch