ESOCS Devotional 7 November 2022
TEXT: MICAH 3:1-8
MEMORY VERSE: “So the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners abashed; indeed they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer from God. But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.” Micah 3:7 & 8
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 ”
The clear difference between true Christians on the one hand and the lukewarm Christians or unbelievers on the other hand is that the true Christians take a definite stand for God and worship Him with great zeal in spirit and in truth (John 4:23 & 24). The lukewarm Christians are neither here nor there; they are hypocrites who mock the name of God by their way of life. Such are the ones the Lord would reject on the last day (Rev. 3:16). The unbelievers are the worst for it. But both groups of people shall be thrown into the lake of fire at the end of time. Revelation 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
Prophet Micah had fervent commitment to God. The seers or prophets who were not faithful to God were not different from the diviners who were clearly not in the path of God. These ones were abominable before God; they made themselves abominations to God. The truth and righteousness of God were not in them. God did not know them by their names (Ex. 33:12, 17). They were foreigners and very far away from Him. They were completely cut off from Him.
Because of the things they did, when they prayed to God “there is [always] no answer from God.” But the situation was different for Micah. He had a very close relationship with God because his way of life was different. He was very careful to walk within the laws of God and serve Him faithfully. He was in continual communion with the Holy Spirit. Consequently, he could say about himself: “… But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the Lord.” Therefore, he often spoke as the oracle of God. He was “full of … justice and might.” This was the reason he was bold to rebuke the high and low in Israel and reprove them of their sins.
Holiness, righteousness, and uprightness are Christian virtues that make a Christian have a right standing with God. They make us bold because we have a clear conscience, a clean heart, and a pure spirit. Those three things are the qualities we need. The elects of God in ancient times possessed them. They were diligent to “observe and to do all that” the Lord commanded them to do (Deut. 28:1). They did not turn to the right hand or to the left (v 14). This attitude made it easy for the Lord to answer them and confirm their words each time they prayed (Dan. 10:11, 12) or decreed a thing (Job 22:28). If we adopt their manner of obedience and walking with God, we would always experience open heaven, just like they did. But if we do otherwise, God will not hear us when we pray, just like He did to the seers and diviners. Heaven was closed against them (1 Sam. 26:6, 15; 2 Sam. 22:42; Prov. 1:28). Let us be mindful of these things.
CHALLENGES
- Where do you classify yourself among the people of God?
- How close is your heart to God?
PRAYERS
- Pray for the discerning spirit to enable you select the right from the wrong.
- Pray the Holy Spirit to fill you with power and might.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 7 November 2022
