FOR MY NAME SAKE: Devotion for Thursday June 9, 2016
Text: Ezekiel 35:21 – 24 Memory verse: v 22
When God visits and revives his people after a season of declension, they should remember that He does this, not for their sake, but for the glory of His own name. They deserved only evil at God’s hand. He showed mercy upon them, because He will magnify Himself in their salvation. This is typical nature of God. Paul wrote in Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He did that for His own glory not that we actually deserved it. We have not repented when He died for us just like the Israelis did not repent but God chose to bring them back from exile for His name sake.
There are so many things we do as Christians that we do not even deserve any mercy. There are so many prayers we say and God answers not because we are worthy or righteous to receive answers but because God just want to honour His name. An example is in Num. 20:7–12. God answered Moses by letting water out of the rock to honour His name but that action was offensive against God (Num 20:12). Jesus warned that God will reject some who will come with the claim that they did miracles in His name because they were workers of iniquity (Lk. 13:25 – 28). Therefore, do not boast that God answers you and you perform miracles. Heed the warning in 1 Cor. 10:12.
Food for Thought: Psalm 106:8
Prayer: Lord God, I ask for your grace to remain under your will so that I will not lose my salvation in Jesus name.
