DCLM DAILY MANNA DAILY DEVOTIONAL OCTOBER 19, 2021 (When Grace Is Spurned)
TOPIC: When Grace Is Spurned
TEXT: 2 Kings 17:9-23
9. And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the LORD their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree;
And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the LORD carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the LORD to anger;
For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing.
Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight; there was none left but the tribe of Judah only.
Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made.
And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight.
For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin.
For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them;
Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
KEY VERSE:
“Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.” – (2 Kings 17:14)
MESSAGE:
Life’s experiences have shown that there is no privilege one may have in life or a cherished position that one may attain that cannot be lost or forfeited if one becomes careless about it.
The passage under consideration recounts how the children of Israel lost their privileged position with God. No other nation in the world enjoyed such a privilege and position. But they took undue advantage of God’s promises to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and abused the privilege of being God’s choice as a nation.
Probably, they thought that since God had made a covenant promise to Abraham to bless him and his seed forever, they would always enjoy that promise no matter what they did. They committed abominable atrocities and followed the examples of the heathen nations around them. Consequently, God had to bring judgment on them. He sent the Assyrian king who conquered and carried them away to strange lands.
Anyone who misuses the great opportunity God has given him and abuses His grace is sure to face the consequences. There is nothing like a permanent, eternally secured position. It is wrong to believe, like some people do, that “once a son, always a son” irrespective of what one does.
If we do not want to suffer a rejection like the nation of Israel did, then we must ensure that we do not abuse the grace of God. It is true that He wants us to be saved and has the power to keep us so; we must however realise that this is only on the condition that we hear His voice and obey His word. Anyone who has truly received the grace of God will surely live a life that pleased God.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
If you spurn and spite the grace of God, you will be spanked and scourged by Him!
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 56-60
DCLM Daily Manna 19 October 2021 Deeper Life Devotional Message was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
