Thurs.’s Devo - God Always Makes a Way

Read: 1 Kings 14:1-15:24; Acts 10:1-23; Psalm 133:1-3; Proverbs 17:7-8 Jeroboams’ son, Abidjah became very sick so Jeroboam told his wife to disguise herself and go see the prophet, Ahijah who had prophesied his rise to the kingship. She did but God had told Abijah that she was coming disquised and told him what to say. *** Ahijah was blind but he could see in the Spirit. He exposed her and told her that God was not pleased with what Jeroboam had done in Israel by setting up the golden calves and leading Israel into idolatry. Because of his wickedness, the child would die when she set foot into her house. All of Abijah’s dependents would die in disasters. God was even now bringing an adversary against Abijah to destroy him and his dynasty. *** Meanwhile in Judah, Rehoboam was not much better than Jeroboam. He had built altars to pagan gods and led Judah into idolatry. Shishak, King of Egypt came and attacked Jerusalem taking the gold shields Solomon had made. They were placed by bronzed shields. There was constant war between Jeroboam and Rehoboam. He reigned 17 years then was succeeded by his son, Abidjan. His mother was Maacah, the granddaughter of Absalom. She was wicked and powerful in the kingdom. Rehoboam also had many wars against Jeroboam during his lifetime. His son, Asa became king over Judah. His grandmother, Maacah was still very powerful in Judah. Asa was not like his father or grandfather. He got rid of the idols in Judah and disposed his grandmother, Maacah. He threw all the instruments of pagan worship into the Kidron Valley where it was burned and he worshiped the Lord. He brought all the silver and gold back into the Temple. Baasha became king of Israel and he and Asa were in constant war. Baasha fortified Ramah, the place of crossing from Judah into Israel and wouldn’t allow travel from Judah to Israel. Asa took some of the gold from the Temple and sent it to Ben-hadad to get him to break his treaty with Israel and join with him instead. He did join with Judah and attacked Israel from the north. Israel had to abandon building their fort in Ramah. Ben-hadad helped Judah win some of the the northern territory of Israel. They took the building supplies from Ramah and used them in Geba and Mizpah to fortify them instead. *** When Asa died, his son, Jehoshaphat became the next king. *** In Acts there was a man named Cornelius. He was a Roman army officer who feared God and gave generously to the poor. An angel came to visit him to tell him to send for Peter who was staying with Simon. He was to hear his message. ***At that same time, Peter was up on the top of the roof praying when he went into a trance. He saw a big sheet being lowered and all sorts of animals, reptiles and birds were one it. A voice told him to kill and eat them. They were not clean animals and Peter opposed eating them. The voice told him he should not call something unclean if God has made it clean. The vision happened three time. The sheet was pulled up and while Peter was contemplating what he had seen, the men sent by Cornelius showed up. God told Peter to go with them without wavering. Peter welcomed them into his house. *** When the Holy Spirit is moving there is no division among people and their prejudices. We all become one. *** Lord, may we be one as you and your Father are one. May we walk in love and do the works you have for us to do.