CAC Living Water Daily Devotional Guide

THE LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Monday, December 6, 2021.

TOPIC: THE PERMISSIVE WILL OF GOD (I)

Read 1 Samuel 8:1-8
1 Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2 The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba.
3 But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah,
5 and said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.”
6 But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD.
7 And the LORD said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

MEMORISE:
And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7)

EXPOSITION
It is not always the case that what we claim to have received from God is God’s perfect will for us. There are times God would let us have our ways because of our determinations to get our desires met even at the expense of God’s will and perfect timing. And most people forget that way that seems right to a man might end up in death (Prov. 14:12). Most times, we are too stubborn for God to deal with, so He lets us alone (Rom. 1:28). However, the outcome of such moves are always disastrous.
God is True, Holy, and Righteous. His ways are perfect. God does not have anything short of perfect will for us (cf. Jer. 29:11), but most of the times, we are not ready for the best in the hand of God for us. Man has always settled for less in place of the best of God. Adam decided to eat the fruit that brings death rather than wait for the life of God.
It is always good to follow God to logical conclusion so that we can get His perfect will established in our lives. Anyone who will not want to wait for God’s perfect will would definitely get another will that brings shame, injury, and every kind of untold hardship; that is the permissive will. The lsraelites erred in this regard. They asked for a king outside God’s will, and paid dearly for their obstinate decision.
The perfect will of God refers to seeking His lead, while the permissive will of God refers to decisions we make to follow our ways, then asking God to follow and make them work for us. The Israelites made this mistake in asking for a king when it wasn’t yet God’s time to give them monarchy. They paid dearly for it!
lsn’t what you are getting now the repercussion of your choices that are outside God’s will? You could have had it smooth in that business, marriage, or ministry, but for your hastiness. Anyway, God’s mercy can undo any of our errors, only if we are ready to acknowledge that we have erred, and return to Him.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord, deliver me from presumptuousness and the tendencies to go ahead of You.
2. Lord, make me ready to receive what You have for me.
3. Lord, deliver this nation from her past errors, and heal her totally.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Ezekiel 45:3 – 47:16; 1 John 3:18 – 4:14

Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
Remain blessed!