DCLM Daily Manna 24 January 2022
Topic: The Pain of Unrequited Love
TEXT: Isaiah 5:1-7
KEY VERSE: “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” – (Isaiah 5:4)
DCLM Daily Manna 24 January 2022 MESSAGE
An author, Iva-Marie Palmer, acknowledged the reality of unrequited love when she wrote, “Love may have the longest arms, but it can still fall short of an embrace.” Yes, your outstretched arms of love are sometimes greeted with indifference, ingratitude or even hostility. Such negative treatment often inflicts pain in the heart of the love-giver. If you have ever been a recipient of such cold treatment, you will be in a position to appreciate, to some extent, how God felt in His dealings with the backslidden Israelites.
God regarded Israel as His vineyard. He pampered them with loving-kindness and favour. They were separated from other nations for His glory and as an object of His peculiar care. God granted them all the means of fruitfulness and yet they yielded wild grapes of corruption. He, in turn, declared that He would bring desolation and judgment upon them. Today, it is not just Israel. We are all recipients of God’s favour and providence. This is specially so for the Church. The Lord has been gracious to His church for which there are adequate provision, protection, preservation and power.
The Church is God’s cherished vineyard. He has planted it with the choicest vine, built a tower in its midst and made a winepress therein. There is therefore a justified expectation of pleasant fruitfulness from her. All believers who have benefited from the riches of the gospel are expected to bear fruits of righteousness that glorify God. This is the, most important way to please Him and requite His love.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A two-way love produces the best traffic.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 22-23
