DCLM Sincere Milk 12 December 2022 — Serve the Lord only
DCLM Sincere Milk 12 December 2022 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Serve the Lord only
TOPIC: SERVE THE LORD ONLY
TEXT: 1 SAMUEL 7:1-4
2And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
4Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
Key Verse: “… and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines” (1 Samuel 7:3).
MESSAGE:
The Philistines were neighbours to the children of Israel, and yet they were their greatest enemy. They hardly allowed the children of Israel to rest without seeking a fight with them.
Israel was even afraid of these people and was tired of fighting them, but they kept calling for war. Their plan was to bring reproach to the God of Israel, thinking that nobody from Israel would be able to face Goliath. But God used David to take away this reproach from His people.
You may think that this only happened in time past. Even today, the Philistines have remained the greatest enemy of Israel. Samuel told the children of Israel where their victory lies. They can only be victorious if they prepare their hearts and serve the Lord only. Putting confidence in their weapons will rob them of victory.
Do you know that you have an enemy who is always at war with you? Satan and his messengers plan to cause you to sin so you can loose the favour of God. They will never allow you to rest as long as you are still in this world. But you can only overcome them by serving the Lord in righteousness and truth. And the Lord will deliver you. Make up your mind that you will serve the Lord only.
Prayer: Lord, give me grace to do Your will, and deliver me from the hands of my enemies.
Further Reading: Luke 1:70-75
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)
