Message: A respected Cleric in a message titled “A Call to National Rebirth through Righteousness,” said: “We cannot continue to give national awards and chieftaincy titles to treasury looters and expect prayer alone to change our nation without repentance.

Read: DCLM Daily Manna 9 March 2018 Devotional by Pastor Kumuyi – Distress

The church, in any society, ought to be its moral bastion and church leaders its ethical conscience as they add prophetic voice to matters of state. They commend what is acceptable and condemn what is objectionable. Unfortunately, there is so much moral decay within the body of Christ today as seen in the overemphasis on wealth without wisdom, popularity without piety and health without holiness. The gospel has been turned into a means of making money and the church has been so commercialised that sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between a preacher and a businessman.”

Israel in our text was going through a pathetic situation; hence, Prophet Joel called for the congregation to be sanctified. The priests were to maintain a sober mood while asking God to spare the nation and not give His people (His heritage) unto reproach. It is after the repentance, the solemn assembly and sanctification of the people that the Lord will then be jealous for His land, pity His people, end the oppression of their imperial masters, revive the nation’s agrarian economy, and restore peace and prosperity.

Read Also: Daily Manna 8 March 2018 Devotional: Clean and Unclean Food

The condition for national rebirth is righteousness which exalts a nation and not prayer and fasting without repentance (2 Chronicles 7:14). Under the current economic recession which is affecting many nations with decline in food production, dwindling resources especially in the African continent, it is time to seek the Lord. To enjoy full restoration, confess your sins to the Lord, ask Him for forgiveness and excercise faith in Christ’s substitutionary atonement.