A Daily Devotional with David Olatona — GOD THAT CAN BE TRUSTED
*Main Text*
1 Kings 18:20-21
*Watchword*
And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
1 Kings 18:21 NKJV
This text is a challenge concerning heavenly treasure and a call for a radical evaluation of our lifestyle, our sources of trust, our goals in life, and our commitment to the Lord. Straddling the fence creates an instability that assaults every area of our lives. Jesus sees earthly and heavenly fortune hunting to be in direct competition. We might prefer it to be a question of both and whereas Jesus shows us it is one of the two options. (Matthew 6:19-21)
The decision for God as our one and only true Master, is also the decision to lay up treasure in heaven as well as the decision to cast our needs and burdens on Him. Above all, it is the decision to trust in God’s solutions rather than our own tactics to handle life. The principle of 1 Kings 18:21 and that of Matthew 6:19-21 are closely related meaning that as long as the idols of this world fascinate us, we are going to find life miserable. God is not directing our lives certainly if we are so enslaved with the things we think we must have to be happy–money, position, attention power, praise, materialism and pleasure.
God says choose but then burn all bridges to the former ways of life. Some of us are maintaining an open-ended options, contingency plans, and escape clauses in our relationship with God. Like the Laodicean church in Revelation 3:14-22, we look at our spiritual contract with God with a view of finding loopholes and exploiting the blessings.
*Confession*
Lord Jesus, I confess and repent from all habit of placing anything or anyone above You. Give me the grace to love and choose You above all things.
*Prayer*
Oh Lord, show mercy and deliver me today from every trouble I am facing in the name of Jesus. Amen.
*Additional Reading*
2 Corinthians 6:14-16
Matthew 6:19-24.