2 Corinthians 7:1 [AMPC] ‘Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.’

DAILY READING; Matthew 2; Exodus 22:1-23:33; Proverbs 10

The largest non-nuclear blast in modern history took place on August 4, 2020, in Beirut, Lebanon, after an estimated 2750 tons of unsafely stored ammonium nitrate exploded.
The blast was so powerful that it physically shook the whole country of Lebanon. It was felt in Turkey, Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel, as well as parts of Europe, and was heard in Cyprus, more than 240 km away.
It resulted in at least 218 deaths, 7,000 injuries, and US$15 billion in property damage, as well as leaving an estimated 300,000 people homeless.
This catastrophic event was due to negligence that allowed highly volatile 2750 tons of ammonium nitrate to be unsafely stored for about seven years, at a port in the heart of the city. Investigators traced the cause to longstanding corruption and mismanagement at Lebanon’s main port, so well known for corruption that its common nickname was “Ali Baba’s Cave”.
The port had seized the ammonium nitrate, a chemical used in fertilizers and explosives, from a cargo ship from Georgia which was impounded, when it was unable to pay port fees.
This extremely dangerous stockpile continued to be hoarded by some interested individuals in authority, despite several warning letters sent to them.
Investigations showed that at least 10 times over the past six years, authorities from Lebanon’s customs, military, security agencies and judiciary raised alarm over the massive stockpile of explosive chemicals being kept with almost no safeguard at the port.
Yet nothing was done until the explosion that spread death and wreckage for miles around.
In its aftermath, protests erupted across Lebanon that led to the resignation of the Prime Minister and the Lebanese cabinet.

Hoarding very dangerous materials can indeed lead to catastrophic consequences.
As believers, God has ordained for us glorious, colourful and enviable destinies. But to see its manifestation and fulfillment, we should give no room to the devil in our lives.
It is dangerous to hide secret sins, which can be volatile, deadly and explosive.
Many people who were ordained for great destinies in the Bible lost it due to sin’s deadly consequences.
The wealthiest and wisest king of his time, Solomon, lost his place to strange women. The strongest man of his time, Samson became a toy in the hands of Philistines because of Delilah.
Elisha’s servant Gehazi was destined to obtain a double portion of his anointing, but he lost it to the sin of covetousness.
On their way to the promised land,
23,000 Israelites died in one day due to immorality! This was the highest rate of calamity throughout their journey.
Sin’s mysterious hold on men is what the Bible calls ‘the mystery of iniquity’(2 Thessalonians 2:7).
It takes the ‘great mystery’ of godliness to overcome sin’s evil grip.
Godliness comes from walking in the fear of the Lord.
Some consider the fear of God to be an Old Testament concept, no longer relevant now that we understand God’s love and are under grace.
But walking in the fear of God characterized the church in the book of Acts, where we read that the churches were “walking in the fear of the Lord” (Acts 9:31).
The apostle Paul, writing in the New Testament, told believers to be “perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
While it is true we are under grace, we also need to understand the “goodness and severity of the Lord.”
Hebrews 12:28-29 tells us that ’God is a consuming fire’.
We therefore need soberness and vigilance in our journey so as not to lose our place in destiny.
God’s Word carries sanctifying virtues that liberates from sin. Psalm 119:9-11 says ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee’
Also, when we maintain a lifestyle of arising and praying, we will not fall into temptations.
It is certainly our heritage as believers, to walk in signs and wonders, but until sin goes, signs will not flow.
Let us therefore today, make the definite choice, to continually walk in the fear of the Lord, by taking heed to His Word, so as to avoid the fatal consequences of sin and arrive at our amazing glorious destiny.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to live a life that constantly brings glory to Your Name. Please help me to live a life of holiness and purity so that I can experience the glory you have ordained for me in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
When you make God your priority, God automatically makes you priority in His own plan. – WORDBITE 222