Sat.’s Devo - Remaining Faithful

Read: 2 Chron. 32:1-33:13, Ro. 15:23-16:7, Ps. 25:16-22, Pr. 20:16-18 Hezekiah, who saw God deliver him from his strong enemies and was healed of a fatal disease still let pride be his god. God had blessed him with great riches and power, but he couldn’t seem to have power and stay humble. When he died his son, Manasseh became king. He was evil from the start even though he was only twelve when he became king. He brought in witchcraft and all types of demonic worship. God sent prophets to turn Manasseh’s heart to Him, but Manasseh refused to listen. He was finally led in chains to Babylon. There, he humbled himself and cried out to God. God heard his cry and brought him back to Jerusalem. Then Manasseh knew for himself that God was the only god. There is such a stark contrast in the lives of the kings of the Old Testament and the lives of the saints in the New. The king’s spiritual walk was a roller coaster of ups and downs where the saints stood true till the end. Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquilla who had remained faithful. We first met them in Acts 18. They encouraged and taught Paul on one of his missionary journeys. They are still faithful now that Paul is reaching the end. The difference is the Christians in the New Testament have the power of the Holy Spirit in them. The kings in the Old Testament called on God in their need where the New Testament saints were always in need. They were living in a day where Christians were persecuted and hated. The kings fell away when they prospered and had much. What we have or how much power shouldn’t be our spiritual thermometer. We should be like Paul who was faithful when he abounded and when he was abased.