ESOCS Devotional 27 September
TEXT: 1 Kings 8:44-66 KJV
MEMORY VERSE: “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” 1 Kings 8:61 KJV
Rededication is a popular thing among the children of God. The act of rededication means to humble oneself, confess your sin to God, and return to Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and being. Solomon gathered the people not just to dedicate the Temple, but to rededicate themselves to God (1 Kings 8:61). God chose Israel to be a blessing to the whole world (Gen. 12:1-3).This blessing found its fulfilment in Jesus, a descendant of Abraham and David, who became the Messiah for all people – Jews and non-Jews. Israel was to be a light to the surrounding nations. Sadly, their sin and spiritual blindness prevented them from reaching out to the rest of the world with God’s love. They continued to go into sin and come out again at various times. So, this call to rededication by Solomon became very necessary.
In his rededication prayer to God for his people, he made five basic requests as seen in 1Kings 8:57-60: (1) God’s presence (2) The desire to do His will in everything (3) The desire and ability to obey God’s laws and commandments (4) For help with daily needs (5) For the spread of God’s kingdom to the entire world. The people went home fulfilled because of God’s goodness to David and all Israel (1 Kings 8:66). We too can rededicate our lives to God. Why do we need to do so? What does it take to do so?
First, we must realize that we are unclean before God; our righteousness is like filthy rag before Him (Is. 64:6). Second, we must turn away from our sin and retrace our way back to God, and we shall live (Ezek. 18:21); then, we shall be in right standing with God, and all will be peace and light.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Rededication renews our relationship with God – it makes it new every morning. It strengthens our standing with Him. It gives us the assurance that when we call He listens and answers us. A stanza in a popular hymn for rededication to God says, “Take my life and let it be; Consecrated Lord, to thee; Take my moments and my days; Let them flow in ceaseless praise.”
Rededicate your life and your family’s too, to God always, and pray the prayer of Solomon. The church should always do the same. Remember, “The life we live is a gift from God and how we live our lives is what we give in return” – St. Augustine the Divine. Rededicate now and always.
CHALLENGES
- Do you see rededication to God as an unnecessary spiritual exercise for the church, individual, and family?
PRAYER POINT
- Ask God to reveal to you the importance of rededication and the ability to imbibe such attitude.
FURTHER READING: 1 Kings 8:21-43; 2 Chronicle 7:14-16; Joel 2:13
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ESOCS Devotional 26 September
