DCLM Sincere Milk 25 December 2023 — Don’t Be Self-Centered

DCLM Sincere Milk  25 December 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Don’t Be Self-Centered

Topic: Don’t Be Self-Centered

Text: 2 Kings 20:12-19

12At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

13And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

14Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

15And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

16And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.

17Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.

18And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

19Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Key Verse: “Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?” 2 Kings 20:19

Message

Self-centeredness means the same thing as selfishness and it is a general problem among human beings. We often think only of ourselves – our comfort, peace, gain, enjoyment and many more. Some children do not care about the welfare of their siblings at home, friends in school and in church. They want to be the first or even the only one to eat or drink what is provided. They do not think of the effect of their actions on others.

King Hezekiah in our Bible passage of today behaved like that – he allowed the enemy to see what they should not see and entered where they should not. God sent prophet Isaiah to tell him that the enemy would come one day and take his people – his children and the children of Israel into captivity (slavery). Instead of repenting and pleading with God for mercy and forgiveness, he said the evil would happen after his death. In that case it would not touch him. He did not think of how the people would suffer after his death. As a true child of God, shun this type of attitude; think of how your negative/selfish action will affect other people and turn away from it. Plead with God and receive mercy.

Further Reading: Romans 12:9,10

Prayer for today: God, please, help me to turn away from all forms of selfishness and think about the welfare of others.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)