Devotion

Theme: Do Not Be Enticed By Sin

Text:  2 Kings 21:1-9

21 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger. 7 He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; 8 and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers—only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel.

Manasseh was the son of King Hezekiah who walked in the way of the Lord. Even when the prophet Isaiah was sent to him concerning death in ill-health, he prayed sincerely to God in 2 Kings 20:2-3; ² Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, ³ “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. His son Manasseh who succeeded him did not follow his ways rather he did much evil. As a Christian, my beloved in the Lord, you ought to train your children in the fear of the Lord. You will account for the lives of these children some day.

The reign of Manasseh lasted just fifty-five years which means he died at the age of sixty-seven years however, his life was not used in glorifying God and doing what brings honour to the Lord but evil. You might either be older or younger than Manasseh but reflect over your past or analyze the kind of life you have lived. What altars are you raising in your life and that of your children? Are they altars to God`s glory or evil altars that seeks to destroy lives? Have you profane the name of the Lord where you ought to reverence Him? Do away with the idols of your life and surrender unto God. Evil practices will only bring you to a disastrous end. The devil does not give anything for free. He gives with the left and takes it with the right hand. Don`t be conform to the things of this evil age but be renewed in the Word of God (Romans 12:1-2).

Another thing you must watch out for is how you influence the people around you. Do you influence people positively or negatively? Manasseh seduced the people of Israel into serving idols and abandoning the ways of the Lord. If you have such evil manipulations manifesting in your life, you need to have a re-look at your life. 1 John 1:9 says; “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Confess your sins to the Lord and live according to His divine command.

Prayer: Forgive me Father for going out of Your will for my life. Blood of my Saviour Jesus, cleanse me and deliver me from all evil. Empower me Holy Spirit to live a spirit filled life even now and forevermore in Jesus` name. AMEN!