The Living Water: Daily Devotional (February 26, 2024)
DATE: Monday, February 26, 2024*
TOPIC: GOD’S WILL VERSUS MAN’S WISH*
MEMORISE:
Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us, (1 Samuel 8:19).
EXPOSITION
The saying “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride” suggests that not all our desires will come true. This is because there is a higher power, God, who controls everything and governs all nations. His
authority and power oversee all. Our desires often differ from God’s plans and purposes.
Therefore, we need to prioritise God’s agenda over our own wishes, as they may not align with His will. Initially, God intended for us to live peacefully in the garden He placed man in. However, our desires, influenced by God’s enemy, went against His will and resulted in our expulsion from the beautiful garden (Gen. 3:1ff).
In today’s Living Water, it is mentioned that the Israelites faced consequences when they chose a king outside of God’s will. Hence, it is crucial for us to always submit our wishes to God’s will. Jesus came not to showcase Himself but to fulfill the will of the Father who sent him.
Those in leadership positions should learn to submit to God’s will and avoid being solely guided by their own intuition and selfish interests (Jos. 9:1-27). This is the only way to ensure good and exemplary leadership. Prioritizing our own opinions and decisions over God’s will ultimately lead to a clash with God, from which no one can survive.
READ: 1 Samuel 8:1–22*
1. Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2. The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second was Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4. Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, 5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.
7. And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
8. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.
9. Now, therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
10. So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who asked him for a king.
11. And he said, “This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots.
12. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots.
13. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers.
’14. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
15. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage and give it to his officers and servants.
16. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work.
17. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants.
18. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the Lord will not hear you in that day.”
19. Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us.
20. that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
21. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the Lord.
22. So the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed their voice, and make them a king.” And Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Every man go to his city.”
PRAYER POINTS
1. Thank you, Lord, for being in charge of all things in heaven and on earth.
2. Lord, help me to always find Your will easy to do, and deliver me from contravening your laws, in Jesus’ name.
3. Lord, guide our spiritual and political leaders to consistently prioritize Your will over their own selfish interests.
SUGGESTED HYMN FOR TODAY: CAC GHB: 840
1. My God my father, while I stray,
Far from my home, on life’s rough way
Oh, teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be done.
2. Though dark my path and sad my lot,
Let me be still and murmur not;
Or breathe the pray’r divinely taught,
Thy will be done.
3. What though in lonely grief I sigh
For friends belov’d no longer nigh,
Submissive still would I reply,
Thy will be done.
4. If Thou should’st call me to resign
What most I prize, it ne’er was mine;
I only yield Thee what is Thine;
Thy will be done
5. Let but my fainting heart be blest
With thy sweet spirit for its guest
My God, to Thee I leave the rest,
Thy will be done
6. Renew my will from day to day,
Blend it with Thine, and take away
All that now makes it hard to say,
Thy will be done.
7. Then, when on earth I breath no more,
The pray’r, oft mix’d with tears before
I’ll sing upon a happier shore,
Thy will be done.
Amen.
Content Credit/ The Living Water Daily Devotional Guide.
Picture Credit/ https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible
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