[DCLM Daily Manna 24 March 2023] Topic: Looking For A Sign
TOPIC: Looking For A Sign (DCLM Daily Manna 24 March 2023)
KEY VERSE: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.” (Matthew 16:4).
TEXT: Matthew 16:1-12 (KJV)
1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.
2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.
3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:
A truck driver was taking his load to a new destination. As he drove, he was watching the signs leading to his exit. In his effort to find the right exit, he missed the signs warning him of a low overpass ahead. To his astonishment, his truck became stuck under the overpass. He could not go forward and he could not back up. Traffic began to pile up behind him, and tempers began to flare. It took a long time before the truck could pull out.
Our passage focuses on the sign-seeking Israelites. They wanted Christ to show them a sign from heaven before they would believe Him. Jesus replied that a sign had already been given through Prophet Jonah, who spent three days and nights in the whale’s belly. Jesus started impressing upon His listeners that He would be crucified and buried, but would rise the third day from the dead. He warned the disciples against the leaven of the religious scribes and Pharisees. This was misunderstood by the disciples initially; but Jesus later clarified and warned them against the damnable doctrines of the religious leaders of Israel.
The greatest sign about Christ’s incarnation was his death and resurrection. He said it previously in His teachings that as Jonah spent three days and nights in the whale’s belly, so must the Son of man be buried, but would resurrect to life thereafter. This represents the greatest sign because it focuses on the most crucial aspect of Christ’s ministry – His death and resurrection to redeem mankind.
Like the truck driver, some often seek signs that they think are important. They are waiting for a greater sign to convince them before they can believe. Some folks will say, ‘I am waiting for God Himself to speak to me, or an angel from heaven to be sent to me’, when He has already spoken expressly in the Scriptures. Stop waiting for a new sign while you lose sight of a greater one which is already given.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Sign seekers remain spectators and never achievers.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Deuteronomy 10-12
Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2023 was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
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