Devotional: A city of paradoxes
Couple Silhouette Standing Away From Each Other
DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA
FRIDAY 12TH MARCH, 2021
*A CITY OF PARADOXES*
📜TEXT: JEREMIAH 22:1-12📜
🔑📖 KEY VERSE: “And many nations shall pass by this city, and they shall say every man to his neighbour, Wherefore hath the LORD done thus unto this great city?” (JEREMIAH 22:8).
The fame of the city was to attract foreigners from far and near. The laws of God were to be the rule ensuring justice and equity. But what happened? Great paradoxes. A city established to be great but was small. It was created to be populous but alas, it was uninhabited. It was to be the centre of commerce and economic wealth but it was characterised by joblessness and hunger. Rather than being secure and safe, killings and bloodshed filled the land. Instead of obedience and the knowledge of God in the hearts of the rulers and the people, ignorance, disobedience and ungodliness prevailed. Cheating, oppression and nepotism pervaded the land. This was a city, which should be the centre of innovation and attraction, but it was deserted and loathed by visitors and onlookers.
Our text depicts the story of a city forsaken by God because the rulers had refused to follow the Lord and to do the right thing by helping the poor and the vulnerable. God gave clear and explicit commandments to the kings, but one after the other, they rejected Him and His word. So they got a harvest of judgments and punishments.
God hates disobedience and rebellion among His people. Whenever we ignore His commandments, we lose His fellowship and favour. Where we have been destined to enjoy a great and glorious life, there will be frustrations and failures. Where we should have made progress, we experience retrogression. Instead of peace and prosperity, we witness confusion and lack.
The pathway to a life of continuous favour, abundance and happiness is constant obedience to God and His word. When we commit ourselves to living in obedience to His word, we are guaranteed His unstoppable favour, blessing and prosperity.
✍🏽 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people”.
📜THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: NUMBERS 14-15📜
