TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL PASSAGE

DEVOTIONAL

by Sandra Chua

In Arabian folklore, a genie is an imprisoned spirit traditionally depicted within a bottle or oil lamp and is capable of granting wishes when summoned. Usually, the genie grants three wishes per person who gets hold of the bottle. If you had that chance, what would you wish for? Money? Fame? An unlimited number of wishes, perhaps? Wouldn’t it be nice to have your whims come true but not owe that person or entity anything at all? 

Today’s reading is just like that. The passage starts by telling us that neither king Zedekiah nor his servants nor the people of the land listened to the words of the LORD that he spoke through Jeremiah the prophet. But verse 3 abruptly says, “King Zedekiah sent Jehucal the son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ‘Please pray for us to the LORD our God.'”

Did I miss something here? Why is king Zedekiah asking Jeremiah to intercede for them when he refused to listen to God? King Zedekiah had the gall to ask for prayers after clearly rejecting God.   In Tagalog, the term for that is,  “Ang kapal ng mukha”. What was King Zedekiah thinking? 

In our Christian walk, we do the same when we come to Him in prayer but have sins that we refuse to admit. How would God react? Isaiah 59:2, ” but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you.

REFLECTION

How have I treated God like a genie or a vending machine? What sins do I need to confess that are turning His face away from me? Although the Lord wants us to bring all  our petitions to him, do I only pray when I have things to ask of Him? 1 Timothy 2:1, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.” In your prayers,  remember to give thanks and praise.  

PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father, Your eyes are too pure to look upon evil. You cannot tolerate wrong. Forgive us our sins. Open our ears so that we may obey You and experience the abundant life that You long to bless us with. For You withhold no good thing from those whose walk is blameless in Jesus’ name, amen.