Topic: Absolute Obedience [Tuesday October 3, 2017]
Text: 2 Chronicles 25:1-10
Key Verse: “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart”(2 Chronicles 25:2).
“The man who attempts to keep the commandments of God from a sense of obligation merely because he is required to do so will never enter into the joy of obedience.” – Ellen G. White. One of the earliest recorded acts of Amaziah was the avenging of his father’s murder. But he spared the descendants of the assassin in obedience to a scriptural injunction that children must not be punished for the sins of their parents (Deuteronomy 24:16). In verse 5, he raised a national army of 300,000 soldiers.
He also went as far as engaging another 100,000 mercenaries from Israel. But because a prophet warned him that the deal would be counter-productive, he disengaged them without recovering the monetary resources committed to the pact. Unfortunately, the summary of his life is that “…he did that which was right… but not with a perfect heart” (verse 2). Outwardly, he always acted right but inwardly, he often resented what he had to do.
True believers need to regularly examine themselves in the bid to get rid of every resistance to fully obey God. Half-hearted obedience cannot attract the Lord’s favour which is priceless, enriching and fulfilling. Acting right pleases the Lord. But it must spring from love for Him and from a godly aspiration to conform to His righteous standard. The essence of righteousness is our unalloyed loyalty to the Redeemer. Absolute obedience to God and His commands is the true expression of our professed affection and devotion to Him.
Profession of love for God is empty, hypocritical and vain if there is no obedience. To call the revered name of the Lord in prayer and do not the things He commands is proof of lack of genuine transformation. God requires and deserves absolute obedience.
Thought for the day: True obedience is the outworking of a godly principle within.
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Kings 5-7
DCLM Daily Manna 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.
