Topic: Beware Of Blasphemy — Saturday December 2, 2017.
Text: Leviticus 24:10-23
Key Verse: “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin” (Leviticus 24:15).
According to the Pew Research Center analysis, about a quarter of the world’s countries and territories (26%) had anti-blasphemy laws or policies and more than one-tenth (13%) of nations had laws or policies penalizing apostasy. The prescribed punishments for such transgressions vary from fines to death. The Centre counted and categorized these laws in 2014 as part of a research for a major report on restrictions on religion around the world.
The report found that laws on blasphemy are most common in the Middle East and North Africa where 18 of the region’s 20 countries (90%) criminalize blasphemy. Blasphemy laws exist to tame man’s tongue from destroying his spiritual heritage. It is a God-approved way of making man bridle his tongue since one cannot be found guilty of what he did not say. Two adults fighting in camp was bad enough. But one did more than fight. He blasphemed the name of the Lord and also cursed.
His action drew negative reaction from concerned observers who dragged him to Moses for adjudication since there was no precedent to follow in handling the matter. He directed that he should be locked up till the mind of the Lord would be known on the matter. God spoke to Moses that the blasphemer be stoned to death. Though his father was an Egyptian, God decreed that the same law applied to Israelite and the stranger. The blasphemer died because of the fruit of his lips. God is holy and He desires that His name be held in great esteem.
To swear, curse and even jests with Scripture verses in the name of God is contemptuous and evil. It is disrespect to the King of kings whose “name is dreadful among the heathen” (Malachi 1:14) to use His words for comedy and fun. So, honour God with your thoughts and let your mouth speak of His greatness only. Beware of blasphemy.
Thought for the day: Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
Bible Reading in one Year: Luke 1-2
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.