Mon.’s Devo - Building a New Future

Read: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Act 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24 Everyone’s names was recorded in a book called The Book of the Kings of Israel. Our names are written in that book because we are kings and priests of God. *** The first to return from exile were priests, Levites, Temple servants and other Israelites. Some of these people were from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh. This is so relevant to what is going on in our nation and lives. We have been in bondage to an evil system and we are waking up to the bondage we have been under. We had trusted our leaders to do what was best for us and our nation not realizing that they were only doing what was best for them and we were the slaves. We want to be the first to leave and go back to the way God had set up how we should live - in freedom and peace, owing nothing. *** The tribes that came back first were Judah - praise, Benjamin - son of God’s right hand; Ephraim - double fruit, and Manasseh - causing to forget. They were also the Levites who officiated the worship of God. As forerunners of this exodus from slavery, we need to realize our role. We come out with praise on our lips and walking with God, bearing fruit and forgetting our past and pressing on to the future. This is not the end but the beginning of a new future for God’s people in America and the rest of the world. *** Among the Levites were the gatekeepers which would represent the prophets, seers and teachers. They keep watch over the the worship of the Lord and its doors. They make sure what goes through the doors is holy. Our gatekeepers have fallen down over America and we have let all sorts of unclean things into our nation and into our churches. New gatekeepers are arising and speaking out against the sins of our nation and our churches. We love people but don’t allow sin to enter into our worship. *** At the end of chapter 10, we are given the genealogy of Saul, Israel’s first king. He was the king chosen by the people - their choice for a king. God’s choice was David. Saul and his three sons were killed on the battlefield. Saul was unfaithful to the Lord and consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So, God killed him and turned the kingdom over to David. *** In Acts, Paul and his shipmates were in a terrible storm. Paul called them all together to encourage them. They should have listened to his warning not to leave Crete at that time but they didn’t. Paul had been visited by an angel who told him that he would live and stand before Caesar and everyone with him would be safe also and shipwrecked on an island. He told them to put their faith in God. *** They fought the waves for four more days and when they realized they were getting close to land, the sailors were planning to escape in the lifeboat but Paul told them that if they did, they would die. Everyone needed to stay on board. The sailors listened and cut the lifeboat free. *** As the next day approached, Paul told everyone to eat to have strength. They all ate and a while later they came to a shore where their ship ran aground. It began to fall apart. Some of the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so they wouldn’t escape but the commanding officer didn’t want to kill Paul, so he stopped them. Everyone escaped to the shore. *** Paul was able to save everyone on the ship because of his faith in God. We have the same influence in the world. We can save and rescue all that are with us. *** Lord, may we get this ship, America, safely to the shore of freedom. May our lives consistently reflect your righteousness. Help us to build a new future for our nation and posterity.