DAILY "MANNA" DEVOTION: Come Out From Among Them.
Reading Time: 5 mins. 51 secs.
Scripture Readings: 2 Corinthians 6:1-18, Exodus 1:22; 2:1; 3:1-7, James 1:6-9.
Read the Last Devotional: Changing the Face of Your Generation.
Day 22
Usually, I like to begin these devotionals with a story or some form of message resemblance to what I intend to write about. But, today I want to start off with scripture. Most of the time I try to avoid using direct quotes of scripture because of not wanting you to become stuck in reading from my version of scripture only. I like to use different versions depending on the message the Lord has placed within my heart, so it stands for intentional purposes only. Whatever version bible you decide to read, please feel at free will so that you will be able to get the best out of your experience in your special time with the Lord. So I encourage you to continue to read from whatever version you are most comfortable with in receiving the Lord’s message to you on a personal level.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
“I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.
17 Therefore come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you. 18I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
What I plead with you to understand is that the Lord wants to set you apart for His purpose. In fact, He has already begun to do so. If you were to look around at your life and begin to examine the many changes which have transpired within you and your environment, you will be able to see how God has been moving in your life. Where you are today developed through your experiences encountered from your past which may or may not have been the most pleasant. But, it was needed in order to have you to go in the direction you are now headed.
Because of being on the path the Lord has set for you, sometimes there may be hindrances present that are designed to stop you or cause stagnation. Remember the story of Moses when right when he was born it was decreed to have all male babies annihilated? Its plan was to stop the move of God from taking place in the Hebrews’ lives as Moses being used by God as a deliverer from Egypt and slavery. This is what happens when we don’t take our hindrances seriously, it diverts the purpose and plan of God for your life.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 6, it explains the purpose of God for a believer of Him. It roughly describes how believers are transformed by a new covenant of God once beginning to walk as a messenger of Him.
But!...
There are some discrepancies. What was going on at the time was that these ministers of the gospel were steadily hanging with the same people they once used to before this new level in their lives. Generally, there is nothing wrong with that. What makes a situation such as this become a problem is when the people you once knew begin to deter you from your new path. Now, this is messing with the plan God has for You. This is messing with God!
You see, sometimes when achieving new levels in our lives, we tend to advise ourselves not to change and to act the same as you used to so that others won’t feel that our success has got the best of us. This is NOT a good way to think. When we reach new levels, we are not the same. We are different! We become transformed into a new way of being. You have already changed. But, what’s important to understand is that we must begin to let go of our thoughts about what other people think. Sure, you want to stay humble, because that’s what is going to keep us where we are, but you still have to keep your mind in a state where it remains in an upward position. In other words, keeping yourself ready and positioned for even more new levels.
When you are around others you love who are steadily attempting to pull you back toward your past, this causes confusion. All of the people you were designed to reach will not be reached because of your lack to move forward. You will be dormant and unstable and a person who is unstable with the plans of God will be unstable in all of his ways (James 1:8).
So, this is why it states to “Come out from among them!” Them, could represent anyone or anything in your life that is a hindrance toward your purpose and future. These could be in the form of people, events, strongholds (addictions of any kind, sin, wrong thinking and mindsets, wrong handling of situations, etc. that are hard to get rid of). There are seasons when the Lord will allow certain people or things to exist in your life, but we must understand when those seasons are coming to an end. Just because the Lord allows something doesn’t mean it was meant to be forever!
The Lord may sometimes use certain situations to show us what we need to know about ourselves or it may be used to push us into our destiny, but know His plans are to deliver you into the next seasons He has planned for you. He already had it mapped out!
Getting you to that next level means getting rid of all weights and bondages that will keep you tied to your past. You are now future zoned, your past is the history of you, that is it!
I challenge you to look around you and to see the new things God has already been doing in your life. Are you sensing a new direction or course the Lord is leading you to? Are there any people or things that are or will hinder the plans for your future? I challenge you to go deeper in your faith in God by stepping away from all hindrances. Come out from among them!
Prayer (For those who understand God’s purpose for them): Lord, I thank you for the new level you are bringing me into. I ask that you would provide me the sight to understand and see any hindrances toward my future. My prayer is that once you reveal any obstacles or encumbrances, I will begin to operate in faith to remove myself or to remove, delete, block and destroy them whether spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and/or physically as appropriate. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Prayer (For those who are still searching God’s purpose for them): Lord, I thank you for providing me a purpose and reason that you have called me to this earth. I ask that you would reveal any plan or purpose you have for me while here. I pray you would remove all blockages or hindrances toward your revealing of this. I ask that you would provide me a heart to follow your will for my life. Once your purpose for me has been revealed, Lord, help me to operate in faith to remove myself or to remove, delete, block and destroy any deterrence whether spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and/or physically as appropriate. Thank you, Lord! In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Quiet time meditation: Wait for the Lord to minister to you personally on what He may want to say to you. Be sure to pay attention to any areas that may pop up in your spirit (even silly things such as: how quick you may be to get angry with things or a friend or family member who has been bugging you with their problems.) This process could take anywhere from 10-30 minutes or longer. But, try not to rush this because you could be missing out on a great breakthrough. Within this quiet time, the Lord wants to restore you in any broken areas and he wants to replenish your spirit for what has been used up.
Understanding what He means: This is a time to jot down some of those things the Lord has ministered to you while in meditation. Sometimes, the Lord will wait to speak to you throughout your day. Pay attention and jot these things down so that you won’t forget. You may even come up with more scriptures that may come to mind.
Read Next Devotional: Reassuring Purpose.
May the Lord bless your day abundantly!