The Topic of Daily Fountain Devotional for 23rd November 2024 Is “Desecration!”
Read: Daniel 5: 1-4(NKJV)
1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand.
2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.
3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.
ANGLICAN COMMUNION DEVOTIONAL OUTLINE FOR 23RD NOVEMBER 2024.
The age of Belshazzar was not mentioned in the story in our text but he must have been old enough to be made a king and to have witnessed/heard the dealings of God with King Nebuchadnezzar. He decided to live a life of revelry and in this direction, he proceeded to make a great feast for a thousand of his lords. In the midst of the feast, he ordered that the vessels taken from the Temple in Jerusalem (used for the worship of God) be brought to the party for use in praise of their gods.
What his father did not do with those vessels, though he brought them, Belshazzar decided to do! Such an impudence! These vessels were so consecrated that if it was a modern church, they should be vessels for Holy Communion. In our various worship centres, we have things that are dedicated and consecrated for the worship of God – Holy Communion vessels, baptismal bowls, offering baskets, chairs, and even musical equipment. These things and others are to be revered as things dedicated to God; they should not treated carelessly or taken to places they are not meant for. When we handle them carelessly, it may amount to desecration.
From 2 Timothy 2: 20-21, we are qualified to be vessels of honour if we keep ourselves holy and hence be useful for the Master. Are you desecrating yourself with sin? You must decide to change today.
PRAYER: Holy God, please increase my desire to be holy unto you daily.
The Anglican Communion is the fourth-largest Christian denomination. Founded in 1867 in London, England, the communion currently has 85 million members within the Church of England and other national and regional churches in full communion.