Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
Memorise: But whoso shall offend one of these little ones
which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about
his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matthew 18:6
Read: 2 Samuel 12:1-10
One thing God cannot stand is oppression. He cannot tolerate
abuse of power or office. As we know, all power belongs to God (Psalms 62:11;
Matthew 28:18). Whatever power you have been given to exercise is simply
delegated. Daniel 4:25-26 says God rules in the affairs of men. He is
interested in who becomes what and how they use the power God has given to
them. In 2 Samuel 12:1-14, when David abused his power by taking another man’s
wife and murdering him, God was grossly displeased and judged him by saying
that the sword shall never depart from his house. That judgement was a fatal
one! It is like saying, because you arranged the death of my innocent servant,
in your lineage, the enemies will always have a reason to fight and kill your
descendants. The harvest of David’s sin was beyond the normal: it was
extraordinary! This tells us that as a believer, you must be afraid of
oppression a fellow believer, especially the less privileged. It is even worse
if the fellow is very dedicated to God. Why? One offence against him could earn
you a generational harvest of the same evil you did-making you no different
from Gehazi.
It is a very dangerous thing to abuse one’s authority. The
reason God puts you there or allowed you to get there is so that you can
positively touch lives, and improve the lot of those under you, be it in
government, church or work place. With all his wisdom and wealth, Solomon only
succeeded in oppressing the poor Israelites hence after his death, the whole
nation went to Rehoboam- Solomon’s son and successor- to ask that he made his
father’s yoke on them lighter (1 kings 12:1-4). Is your presence in that
position or office bringing smiles to the less privileged brethren?
KEY POINT:
According to Matthew 18:6, drowning is a lighter punishment
for oppressors of believers compared with what they will receive for their
oppressive acts. Are you an oppressor?
Bible in one year: Psalms 4-6
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