OBEDIENCE

1 Samuel 15:22 KJV
And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord ? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

DAILY DEVOTION

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Tuesday, June 3
Leviticus 26:3-13

THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE
If you...are careful to obey my commands, I will send you rain... Leviticus 26:3-4, NIV

Life is governed by laws and principles. And these laws often come with conditions, which when flouted could have grave consequences. God gave the children of Israel several laws to guide their conducts and ensure their wellbeing.

He spelt out the condition attached to the obedience of these laws as well as the consequences of doing otherwise. God has also given us laws to live by as He gave to the Israelites. How are you faring with God's laws as found in the Bible? What about the laws of your country otherwise called 'Civil Laws'?

Do you find it difficult obeying the set rules of your institution/organisation? Do you find yourself perpetually disobeying constituted authorities? God does not take disobedience to His laws lightly and He also attaches "fringe benefits" to the obedience of these laws. Law breakers do not have any portion with God.

Therefore, surrender your life to Jesus today; ask Him for the grace to obey Him; ask Him to change your mindset from one that rebels to that which humbly sees an opportunity to obey God at all times. As you do so, you make God happy and you will surely enjoy the blessings that follow.

• Birthday Blessing: "Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the LORD rises upon you." - Isaiah 60:1

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Kings 13, 14; John 10:1-21

By obeying God's commands you will gain more than you can give. – Thomas Brooks

DAILY DEVOTION

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Monday, June 2
Isaiah 26:1-13

MY SPIRIT SEEKS YOU
My soul yearns for you...my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. Isaiah 26:9, NRSV

We humans are made up of body, soul and spirit. As our body and soul long for attention, so also our spirit. God has designed our spirit in a way that it seeks to worship something or pay allegiance to a supernatural being.

This explains why some had to create objects of worship that they bow down to. For us as Christians, the only One who is worthy of our allegiance and worship is our Creator, God. Seeking the Lord gives us a kind of peace that surpasses human understanding.

Our desire to seek the Lord alone guarantees protection because the Lord is the everlasting rock (v. 4) and our elevation (v. 5). His words are our guide (vv. 7-8).

There is no substitute to seeking God. Your fulfilment in life depends solely on how much of Him you have. So, if you will sincerely seek the Lord, you will find Him. Decide to seek Him and obey only His commandments always.

• Birthday Blessing: "Wait for the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off, you will see it." Psalm 37:34

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Kings 9:10-36; 11, 12; John 9:21-41

Since my heart was touched at seventeen, I believe I have never awakened from sleep, in sickness or in health, by day or night, without my first waking thought being how best I might serve my Lord. – Elisabeth Fry

DAILY DEVOTION

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Friday, May 30
2 Kings 24:8-17

CARRIED AWAY INTO CAPTIVITY
... and the king of Babylon took him in the eight year of his reign. 2 Kings 24:12, KJV

Judah had been under serious attacks from different nations including Egypt as a result of the wickedness and abominable things which Manasseh King of Judah did (2 Kings 21:10-16; 2 Kings 23:26). The situation was so terrible for years that God determined to wipe them off; not even the good reign of Josiah could appease Him.

Thus, Jerusalem was eventually besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and his forces. The families of the king, nobles, skilled and strong men were all taken to exile in Babylon. Daniel and his friends were among this set of captives. This is what the sin of a few can cause others.

Wickedness and disobedience provoke God to act in judgement. It is the reason why some persons have ruined their destinies. Come what may, you must learn to follow the path of righteousness and obedience to God so that you can enjoy His blessings.

Do not ever get to the level where you will feel sufficient in yourself and think you do not need God any longer.

• Birthday Blessing: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you ... you are mine" - Isaiah 43:1

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Kings 5, 6; John 8:12-35

Affliction is the school in which great values are acquired, in which great characters are formed. – Hannah More

DAILY DEVOTION

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Thursday, May 29
2 Chronicles 36:15-21

GIVEN INTO THE ENEMY'S HANDS
And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon .... 2 Chronicles 36:20, KJV
One of the worst things that can happen to any person is to find him/herself at the mercy of his/her enemy. In today's text, it was God Himself who handed Israel over to their enemies to be tormented.

Verses 15 and 16 tell us that God sent His messengers to warn them but they mocked them and despised God's Words. This kindled the wrath of God and God raised an enemy in person of Nebuchadnezzar who came and took them into exile and vandalised the city of Jerusalem.

We should be careful how we live. Failure to do so can bring trouble upon us. Disobedience to God is the opportunity the enemy uses to get an in-road into our lives. The reason some Christians have become mince-meat in the devil's hand is disobedience. As a result, they seek serious deliverance.

Beloved, the devil will always lurk around for disobedient children of God because he knows that such do not have the protection of God. So beware!

• Birthday Blessing: "... Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld ...." - 2 Chronicles 20:20

Read Bible Through Passage: 2 Kings 3, 4; John 8:1-11

Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of. They just turn up some of the ill weeds on the surface. – Charles Spurgeon

DAILY DEVOTION

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Tuesday, May 27
Jeremiah 52:1-9

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM
Then the city was broken up and all the men of war fled ... Jeremiah 52:7, KJV

The fall of Jerusalem was a fulfilment of prophecy. This happened when the people who are supposed to be holy sinned against God. Zedekiah provides us an example. Verses 2-3 tell us that "He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done.

It was because of the LORD's anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end, He thrust them from His presence ...."

It is important to note that God responds to our attitude - when we do right, He rewards us with good; and when we do evil, and refuse to repent, He punishes us. In most cases, we are responsible for whatever happens to us.

It should be noted that Jerusalem fell at the time of Zedekiah not just because there was a prophecy in place for this to happen, but because Zedekiah sinned against God.

The lesson is, when we turn to God and do what is right before Him, He will also turn the evil away from us, and reward us with His goodness.

• Birthday Blessing: "...And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins" - Romans 11:26-27

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 22; John 7:14-36

We are products of our choices and not of our circumstances. By making conscious, aware choices, can we positively influence our situation? – Eric Allenbaugh

BAPTIST DEVOTIONAL

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Monday, May 26
Luke 19:45-48

A HOUSE OF PRAYER
And He went into the temple, and begins to cast out them that sold therein and them that bought. Luke 19:45, KJV

The church is a place to be revered whenever we gather to worship. The sanctity and reverence for corporate places of worship should be maintained and observed by all believers in Christ Jesus.

It is sad that today, the temple of God in several places is being misused. Some have turned them to entertainment halls, party zones and beer parlours. Some even commit sexual sins within the house of God. What an abomination!

In what ways do you misuse the church building where you are supposed to worship God? Are you one of those who watch pornography on cell phones while in the church? Do you take pleasure in looking seductively at sisters in church during service? Do you steal the church money? Stop this, before God disgraces you before people.

God is jealous over His house, as demonstrated by Jesus, so He would do everything to cleanse it of terrible people. You are therefore enjoined to desist from those heinous acts and live your life to please God.

• Birthday Blessing: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" - Hebrews 13:5

Read Bible Through Passage: 1 Kings 20, 21; John 7:1-13

God is not grading how well we express ourselves at the place of prayer, but how faithful are we to His command. – Unknown