ODM Daily Inspirational Devotional Messages Bible Verse and Prayers ODM
DCLM Daily Manna – Transforming Grace
Monday, July 20, 2026
KEY VERSE
“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called” (1 Corinthians 1:26).
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 (KJV)
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
MESSAGE
In his book Understanding Church Growth, The Christian writer, Donald McGavran, used the phrase “redemption lift” to describe the transformative power of the gospel on people’s lives, especially their socioeconomic condition. A more recent work by Rodney Stark, titled, America’s Blessings, relying on sociological data, concluded that compared to less religious and nonreligious individuals, people of faith are better off. He believes that a person renewed by the gospel increasingly acts in a self-controlled and selfless manner, engages in less criminal behaviour and experiences higher marital happiness and lower divorce rates, while producing more and better-behaved children.
In today’s Bible passage, Apostle Paul believes that the gospel of Christ has positively transformed the lives of the Corinthian Christians. This is because God did not consider the smallness or stature of the Corinthian believers before saving them from the power of sin. Paul reminds the Corinthians of their humble beginning in the journey of faith and how God’s transforming grace turned their lives around. God can make giants of anyone no matter his or her poor beginning.
Paul believes that God usually does not apply worldly methods to spiritual things. “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise” (1 Corinthians 1:27). The Bible is full of stories of people like the shepherd boy, David, who was brought from obscurity to the throne. Who would have imagined that a man like Zacchaeus would voluntarily surrender his loot to repair the financial damage done to many families? God transforms sinners to saints effortlessly so that no one will claim any credit for the changes in their lives.
The Christian life is a new life where old things do not dictate our progress any more. This is a new life where redemption transforms us from weaklings to giants. The blessedness of knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour transcends every limitation there might be in our lives, making us into spiritual giants who can effortlessly, gratefully sing, “Amazing Grace”!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The amazing thing about grace is that it admits and transforms the weak, the wordly and the wicked
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR
Exodus 12-16
COMMENTARY
1. The “Redemption Lift” – The devotional introduces the concept of “redemption lift,” coined by Donald McGavran, describing how the gospel elevates individuals and communities. Sociological data confirms that faith transforms lives—leading to self-control, marital stability, better-behaved children, and reduced crime. This is evidence that the gospel is not just spiritual but practically transformative in every area of life.
2. God’s Unconventional Choice – Paul reminds the Corinthians that not many wise, mighty, or noble are called. God deliberately chooses the weak, the foolish, and the despised to confound the wise and the strong. This ensures that no one can boast before Him. Our salvation and transformation are entirely His work, not our achievement.
3. Biblical Examples of Transformation – The devotional cites David, the shepherd boy turned king, and Zacchaeus, the tax collector turned restorer. These examples demonstrate that God takes the obscure and the sinful and transforms them into instruments of His glory. No one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.
4. From Weaklings to Giants – The Christian life is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Old things—past failures, limitations, and sins—no longer dictate our future. Through redemption, we are made into spiritual giants, empowered by the Spirit to live victoriously. As Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
5. The DCLM Ministry’s Message of Grace – The Deeper Christian Life Ministry emphasizes that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Pastor Kumuyi teaches that no one is too sinful, too weak, or too insignificant for God to use. The Daily Manna devotional consistently points readers to the transformative power of God’s grace, calling believers to live in the fullness of their new identity in Christ.
About DCLM and Daily Manna
The Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) was founded in 1973 by Pastor Dr. W.F. Kumuyi. From a small Bible study of 15 students in Lagos, it has grown into a global ministry with churches across Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. The ministry emphasizes holiness, prayer, Bible study, and the transformative power of God’s grace.
DCLM Daily Manna is a daily devotional written by Pastor Kumuyi. Each edition provides Scripture reading, exposition, and practical application to guide believers in their daily walk with God. The devotional calls readers to embrace the new life they have in Christ and to live as transformed people.
Prayer Reflection
Lord, thank You for Your transforming grace. You took me from where I was and made me who I am. Help me never to boast in myself but only in You. May my life be a testimony of Your redemptive power. Use me, despite my weaknesses, to confound the wise and bring glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
