DEVOTION ~ AVAIL YOURSELF TO SERVE

Theme: Avail Yourself to Serve 

Text: 2 Kings 22:14-20

¹⁴ So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. ¹⁵ Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, ¹⁶ “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read— ¹⁷ because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ ¹⁸ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard— ¹⁹ because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. ²⁰ “Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.

In a world where people chase titles than responsibilities, we as Christians must distinguish ourselves from them by availing ourselves to serve. Our service should be devoid of gender discrimination. Having learnt in these few days from the characters of Hilkiah, Shaphan and king Josiah, we will be learning about a female character in today's devotion. She is the prophetess Huldah. 

The king had assigned leaders to inquire of the Lord concerning the wrath that will befall a wayward nation. The one who had the Word of God to be delivered to the people in that dispensation was a woman by name Huldah. She was a wife (a homemaker) yet she did not allow that to hinder her service to God and her people. She emptied herself to God to be used to communicate to His dear nation that have gone astray. If you always give excuses for not performing your duties in ministry, marriage, family, workplace, business, etc learn from the prophetess Huldah who defied the odds in her days to serve her home, people and God. 

The Lord spoke His Word through the prophetess Huldah to spare the reign of king Josiah from suffering the consequences of the abominable deeds of the Lord's nation. He was spared because, he was quick to acknowledge the sins of his people. If he had not availed himself in the things of the Lord, he wouldn't have gotten that conviction to seek forgiveness from God. Are you struggling to get things right in life? Assess how you're going about your duties and turn to God for help. 

God disciplines us when we go wrong but His desire is to see as transformed and renewed in the things that concerns Him. There's no sin so great to be pardoned by God. Confess your sins to God and turn a new leaf. May the Lord bless, favour and prosper the works of your hands as you avail yourself to serve. 

Prayer: I respond to Your calling O God asking who shall we send and who will go for us? I avail myself for Your divine service in my family, ministry, business, career, education, community, etc and I ask that the Holy Spirit empower me to serve selflessly to the glory of Your name. I pray the spirit of discernment, prayer, study of Your Word and uplifting take root in me and bear fruit that will touch every soul I come into contact with. This I ask in Jesus' name. AMEN!