DCLM Daily Manna 13 November 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — How Not To Pervert Forgiveness

TOPIC: How Not To Pervert Forgiveness (DCLM Daily Manna 13 November 2025)

KEY VERSE: “Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away” (Ezra 10:6).

TEXT: Ezra 10:6-8 (KJV)

6 Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away.

7 And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem;

8 And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.

DCLM Daily Manna For Today MESSAGE:

People often forget the cost of forgiveness. Consequently, they treat sin with levity. But with God, sin is serious, and He deals with it seriously! The Cross is an awful reminder of what it cost God to procure forgiveness for mankind. Sin sent man out of Eden’s delight and caused God’s only Son to die on the Cross. So, don’t ever trivialise sin or pervert God’s forgiveness.

Today’s text describes Ezra’s attitude and drastic response to the sins of the Israelites who returned from exile. No sooner had the people returned from captivity than they began to walk again, the path that led them to exile. They got into mixed marriages with the heathen and adopted pagan practices in violation of God’s commandments. Ezra responded promptly and took steps to rectify the situation. He fasted and mourned over the people’s unfaithfulness and assembled them to make proper restitution. Ezra was troubled and showed deep remorse when he heard that the priests, Levites, and leaders of Israel were ringleaders in this sin. Though he interceded for the people and asked God to forgive them, he took drastic action to deal with their sins. Ezra knew it was futile to expect forgiveness without leading the people to repent and make necessary restitution.

Ezra’s response to the sins of the people challenges us to examine ourselves concerning our attitude to sin. If we allow sin to linger in our lives and the congregation or treat it with kids’ gloves, we risk becoming hardened by its deceitfulness. Before long, we may begin to tolerate and make excuses for evil. This is how some people get to a point where they think they can obtain God’s forgiveness by glibly confessing their sins without forsaking them or making necessary restitution. That is nothing but perverted forgiveness. However, the appropriate way to deal with sin is to repent, confess, and forsake it. Genuine conviction compels you to put away your sin and make appropriate amends.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Be urgent; deal with sin drastically and promptly.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 6-8

Deeper Life Daily Manna For Today 2025 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.