Memory Verse: And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:25 KJV

Devotional Reading: II Kings 16; II Kings 17

Song of The Day: Use Me In Thy Service

TODAY’s DEVOTIONAL

We can talk of the responsibility of leaders to lead well. We should not dismiss the responsibility of followers to do their part in learning also. If we do not learn from the examples left for us, we open ourselves to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah became King at the age of twenty. Surely he had room for instruction, yet he chose a wrong path and did evil in the sight of the Lord.

II Kings 16:3 But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel.  4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

When the children of Israel sinned against God, they damaged the hedge of protection that God placed around them. Their efforts failed. Their enemies prevailed. Foreigners settled in their lands instead for their children. They were removed from the sight of God – all but the tribe of Judah (II Kings 17-18). In time though, the ways of the disobedient rubbed off on the tribe of Judah. Their good was corrupted. Finally, God removed Israel from His sight. Did they represent our full potential? Were these moments to define our future?

Just as we can choose our own path, we can choose whom we hold as ensamples of the way. God gave Christ to show this way. Christ honored God in fulfilling His will rather than Christ’s own will. He suffered even to the cross to complete the plan.

Although Ahaz did not walk in the ways of Godliness, he begat Hezekiah who eventually reigned in his stead. Hezekiah could have carried on the works of his earthly father. He chose rather to behave himself according to the word of the Lord. Hezekiah must have looked beyond His own father to find a role model.

Just because we do not always have a good example before us in the life of another person whom we might look up to, does not give us the excuse to deny the example of God. It is easy to say that we were led astray. It takes much more character to admit that we are the product of our choices.

Hezekiah did not choose do dishonor his earthly father. He simply chose to honor the will of God. The enemy will try to frame our good in a context that seems to reflect negatively on our intentions. However, God knows the heart of every person and is in no way confused about what is meant in every word and deed.

It takes discipline to follow God’s leading. We cannot expect to make Godly choices without effort. Though habits may seem second nature, they are the result of training. Whether we allow laziness to train us into failing to use our gifts to glorify God, or whether we allow diligence to train us into keeping our vows, we have repetition to thank for what things we hold in regiment. Thus we must practice the good that we endeavor to make come “naturally.”

There is always a remnant faithful to God. We can examine the works of that remnant as well as the works of the unfaithful. We can learn from both. Yet, we should always hear the echo of “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve” (Joshua 24:25). It is our choice to have full access to the blessings of God: we can choose life (Deuteronomy 30:9).

Shenica Graham is the author of RMC online and the Seeds of Promise series. Read her devotionals and go behind the music at wiseeku.wordpress.com. Subscribe to her Examiner column on Spiritual Living. Download her music app. Become a sponsor.

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