Be Ready to Receive God's Favor Keluarga Allah Daily Devotional February 01, 2017
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THE SOUL Psalm 62:1-13
TODAY'S RHEMA
Psalm 62: 11b "though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them."
Saul was a man full of God's favor. The Bible says that he was the most handsome man among the people of Israel. He was also chosen and appointed as the first king of Israel. What a great favor! But, Saul changed fast. Power and favor blinded him and caused him to go against God's commandments. He burnt an unlawful sacrifice, something which was truly prohibited by God because only the priest might do it. When God commanded Saul to strike and to destroy Amalekites, he used his authority to transgress God's command again. Saul spared the best of sheep, oxen, fattened calves and the lamb and would not utterly destroy them. Even, he let Agag, the king of Amalekites, stay alive. God then took away the favor He has granted Saul. Saul was rejected as the king and met his tragic death by taking his own sword and falling upon it.
The story of Saul is like this illustration. A good father gave a mobile phone to his son. He was so happy to have the phone because he longed it for a very long time. In the first week after received the gift, the son looked very busy with the mobile phone. He kept holding it wherever he went, his eyes stared at the screen all the time. This changed behavior caused him not aware of his surrounding, including his relationship with his father. The worst was he forgot to study and fail some the tests. The father seeing the changes of his son felt regret and upset. As the result, he took back the mobile phone while saying "My child, I see that you haven't been ready yet to receive this gift. I will keep and give it to you when you are ready." The son gave it back to his father and start to fix his attitude.
Is God evil? Of course not. He never wants to lose anyone of His children. By this reason, God needs to ensure if us, His children, are ready to receive His abundant favor. Don't be like Saul who wasn't ready and failed to enjoy the favor of God. Right now, the eyes of Lord are on you. Make sure you are ready so that God sees you that you can receive a responsibility, not just chase and long for His favor. This will please His heart more.
REFLECTION Saudara Terkasih, pursue God, the source of favor, not only the favor itself.
APPLICATION
Ponder your life, is there any blessing you receive has caused you turn away from God?
What commitment can you make to not do it again? Write down your commitment so you are able to always remember it!
TODAY'S PRAYER "God, thank You for every favor You have given in my life. Teach me to set my heart on You not on others so that I become a person who is ready to receive Your bigger portion of your favor. In the name of Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen."
YEARLY BIBLE READING
1 Kings 22 2 Chronicles 18
Sutan syahrir 88 Widuran Solo, 57129, Surakarta, Indonesia
