*DAILY MANNA*
*FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 2019*
*DEFRAUD NOT*

*TEXT* AMOS 8:1-10.
_*🔑KEY VERSE* "Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? And the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the epah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit" (AMOS 8:5).

A story was told of a pastor in London who, after his Sunday message, got on a trolley on Monday to go back to his studies downtown. He paid his fare and the trolley driver have him more than his change. The pastor held the change, counting it several times. He wrestled with himself all the way. And finally, he came to a stop, walked to the trolley driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change, you made a mistake". The driver said, "no it was no mistake. You see, I was in your church last night when you spoke on honesty and I thought I will put you to test". The merchants in today's passage took delight in defrauding the poor in the land, using unjust balances to sell at high cost to the people. Consequently, their doom was spelt out through God's servant.

Our present society has become so morally bankrupt that many seem to have developed strong aversion, not only to God's law, but also to public rules and regulations. People defraud one another almost in every sphere of endeavour; they deceive, tell lies, falsify receipts, take examination results, forge signatures, make use of unjust balances, inflate prices of goods and practice all kinds of corruption just to make extra income.

Although, this trend may be publicly and socially accepted, God's word remains unchanged. The Scripture says, "just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a thin hin, shall ye have... Thou shall not have in thy bag divers weights... For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously are abomination unto the LORD thy God..." "...That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter..." (Leviticus 19:36; Deuteronomy 25:13-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:6). We must ensure we maintain our integrity and refuse to conform or compromise our faith.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* Shun evil and turn away from dishonesty and unjust gains.

*COVER TO COVER* JOHN 13-15.

*PONDER:* The corruption in us and the consequences
*1. Some manifestations of corruption in man*
a. Cheating and the tendency to cheat others v5.
b. Deceit for gains or advantage over others v5.
c. Exploitation of the weak, ignorance, poor and the vulnerable in the society vv4,6.
d. Selfishness v6.
e. Greed v6.
f. Profiteering
g. Any other corruption noticeable in the text?
*Observation* Those corrupt people were religious people who were committed to religious observances.
*2. Does God take this serious since it is all about business "smartness"?*
a. Decreasing happiness and satisfaction in spite of new technologies and more profits vv3,10. Research has proved this to be true.
b. Blood letting, murders and diminishing value for human lives v3.
*3. Look inward first*
a. Corruption is natural to man. Religion and laws can only put it on check but cannot remove it. Only the blood of Jesus applied to the heart can.
c. Make sure you are freed from any trace of corruption in the church, workplace, family etc.
b. The regenerated and the freed should expose and speak against those common vices.

*HYMN:* Have you being to Jesus for the cleansing pow'r

1
Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
*Chorus*
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2
Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
3
When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white!
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for His presence bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?
4
Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

*PRAYER POINTS:*
1. Search my heart, expose and cleanse me from any trace of corruption.
2. I hereby repent of any area where I have been guilty and possibly suffering for it.
3. Visit your Church, rebuke and purge the members and the ministers from corruption.
4. God of judgement, remove every hiding place for corrupt leaders in the nation and let them not escape your justice.