[Anglican Devotional 6 June 2023] Topic: Avoid Distractions
TOPIC: Avoid Distractions
READ: 2 Kings 10: 18-36 (KJV)
18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.
19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.
21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but the worshippers of Baal only.
24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.
25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.
26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.
27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.
28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.
30 And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.
32 In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
33 From Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
35 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
THE MESSAGE:
Having completed the destruction of the house of Ahab, Jehu turned his attention to the worshippers of Baal. He pretended to be one of them to lure out all the worshippers of Baal in Israel and Samaria for a great feast. As soon as they offered the sacrifices, Jehu ordered his guards to kill them all and to destroy the temple of Baal. In spite of this great accomplishment, Jehu was not completely devoted to the Lord. His continuing sinfulness led to the capture of all the territories east of the Jordan. However, God still blessed him for carrying out His instructions in regard to the house of Ahab. He was promised that four generations of his children would rule in Samaria.
How are you running your Christian race? Did you start well, but somewhere along the way, got distracted. The church in Ephesus was cautioned for forgetting her first love (Rev. 2:4) Today, let us learn from Jehu. We should not allow sin or any other weight hold us back from continuing in the good work God has begun in and through us. What a joy to begin and end in Jesus. Remember that “He that endures to the end, shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13).
PRAYER: O Lord, be my helper when life seems to distract me from following you faithfully to the end, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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