ESOCS Devotional 11 November 2022
TEXT: 2 KINGS 23:21-30
MEMORY VERSE: “Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him.” 2 Kings 23:25
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
King Josiah has a good testimony. The kings of Judah before and after him did not live up to God’s expectations. They were not “… careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8); and consequently, they were “not fruitful” to God (v 14). In other words, they were a minus and not a plus in God’s business and in their private lives too. They were not honest to God; they sold their hearts away to the evil one and frustrated God’s agenda for His people by taking their hearts away from their God through establishing and encouraging idolatry and all forms of sensuousness and worldliness. But Josiah was different. He walked before God faithfully and fulfilled God’s demands and purpose in the position he occupied as the leader of Judah. God’s foremost command to Abraham was, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless”(Gen 17:1). Josiah keyed into that commandment and was blameless before God.
This commandment is essential to our relationship with God. It is the deciding factor. In God’s scheme of things, He usually rejects people who not align themselves to do his will (1 Sam. 16:1). It is important that we recognize that in our daily living God wants us to be second to none in character or behaviour. He wants us to be the best. This is His expectation for us. We are to channel our hearts towards Him and be exceptional in our conducts. Let us continually remember that we would not remain His children if we move away from living a life of integrity, uprightness, godliness, sincerity, charity, kindness, humility, openness of heart and mind towards God and other people; and all of which are summed up in humble obedience to the word of God. This was what Josiah did and excelled.
Commitment to God is very essential. Our hearts, our souls, our might, and all our being should be employed in our service to God, and in our relationship with others. We should also engage these things in our private lives if we want to attain the greatest heights in success. They would enable us to remain focused; and would enhance diligence and discipline, which are necessary tools that would guide us in our decisions and the things we do. Josiah held onto them strongly and employed them in the things he did, especially in the manner reigned as the king of Judah.
Let us remove all things that pattern to ungodliness from our hearts, and lives. If we do so, we would remain clean and pure in the sight of God. The result would be a great testimony for us, like it was for Josiah. God will witness to us that we please Him. He will say: “You are my beloved son [daughter], in whom I am well pleased” (Mk. 1:11).
CHALLENGES
- Do a serious spiritual exercise in your life and uproot all things that do not please God.
- Write down the things that pattern to holiness and godliness and begin to practise them.
PRAYERS: Pray for the grace to remain faithful to God.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 11 November 2022
