WHEN WE SHOW TRUE REPENTANCE: Devotion for Saturday November 26, 2016

WHEN WE SHOW TRUE REPENTANCE: Devotion for Saturday November 26, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 22:14 – 20               Memory verse: v19

When we read the word of God and it pricks our heart, we should repent and ask God what we should do. This was the case when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37). If there is any place to weep, it should be in the presence of God for He alone is the one that can help us and not Man. Man may sympathize but can never give you the needed help because he doesn’t have right over his affairs. Have you wept before man and failed to receive what you asked for? Never mind, with Jesus, it is a different case. He knows the necessities of our hearts, when we cry to Him; He saves us (Ps. 34:18). Josiah heard the word of God and it grieved his heart (compare Judges 10:15, 16). Godly sorrow leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). How do you react when you hear the word of God? Does it prick your heart (Acts 2:37 & 7:54)?

Unfortunately, we are in a time where the word of God doesn’t touch the heart of many. The preachers are no longer preaching the raw and undiluted word of God. They preach what the congregation wants to hear. This is the reason we see people clapping hands when the word of God is coming forth instead of mourning for their sins. Most of us in this generation have hearts and consciences that have are dead.    

As a leader in the home, office, church, company, etc, how do you react to advice or correction? Does the action of Josiah challenge you? No matter how hardened our hearts may be, it must prick us when we hear the undiluted word of God (Heb 4:12). As you go to God with broken and contrite heart, He will hear and avert that evil He intended (Ps. 51:7). Josiah’s repentance saved him from dying in the war. Though he was wounded in war according to the warnings of the book but he didn’t die there. It would have been worse if not that he repented. 

Food for Thought: Mourning and weeping makes us modest by reminding us how far we have come short of what we can be.

Prayer: Lord, grant me true repentance as I hear your voice so I will not die in this battle for eternal life in Jesus name.

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

THE POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD: Devotion for Friday November 25, 2016

Text: 2 Kings 22:11 – 13          Memory verse: 2 Kings 22 verse 11

King Josiah sent message through Shaphan the scribe to Hilkiah the high priest. Shaphan returned words to the king about the book of the Law Hilkiah found (2 Kings 22:8). Shaphan read it to the hearing of the king (2 Kings 22:10). On hearing the words of God written in the book of the Law, Josiah knew that he and his people were in danger of God’s wrath, condemnation and judgment. He tore his clothes on account of the judgments denounced in the law against the people; and to which they were exposed to on account of their idolatry (2 Kings 22:13).

He sent people to inquire of the Lord for him, and for his people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against them, because their fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according to all that, which is written concerning them.

The word of God King Josiah heard started burning in him because he opened his heart to receive it. He didn’t give halfhearted attention to it as some of us do. These words that moved King Josiah unto godly repentance may not move some other persons to even blink an eye. This shows that the effect of the world of God on us depends on how we pay attention to it and how we accept it. If we accept the word of God wholeheartedly, it will yield abundant result of righteousness and fruitfulness for us. 

The word of God is quick and powerful (Heb. 4:12). When we read it with open heart to hear from God, take instruction and gain wisdom, it will surely prick our heart if we have been living in sin. The word of God, whether of law or grace, whether of promise or threatening, imparts to it, His own divine power. It lays open every heart, and detects all hypocrisy and unbelief. This is what the word did in heart of Josiah. Are you living a life of unbelief, hypocrisy and sin? You should yield your heart to God, allowing him to reveal your sin and thereafter repent of them. Are you ready to do that?

Food for Thought: Jeremiah 23:29

Prayer: Lord, empower your word as I read it so that it will bring out in me godly sorrow which brings repentance in Jesus name.