The Daily Fountain Daily Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 16 June 2020 – TOPIC: CONVICTION FOR SALE
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DATE: TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020
TOPIC: CONVICTION FOR SALE
READ: JUDGES 18:11-21(NKJV)
11. And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war.
12. Then they went up and encamped in Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day. There [it is,] west of Kirjath Jearim.)
13. And they passed from there to the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14. Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and said to their brethren, “Do you know that there are in these houses an ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider what you should do.”
15. So they turned aside there, and came to the house of the young Levite man — to the house of Micah — and greeted him.
16. The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who [were] of the children of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate.
17. Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men [who were] armed with weapons of war.
18. When these went into Micah’s house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, “What are you doing?”
19. And they said to him, “Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and come with us; be a father and a priest to us. [Is it] better for you to be a priest to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?”
20. So the priest’s heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.
21. Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and the goods in front of them.
THE MESSAGE:
On their way to capture Laish, the people of Dan stopped at Micah’s house in Ephraim. The spies told the men that Micah had a collection of gods and they felt that the collection would be valuable to them as they travelled, warred, and established their new home. While the armed men stood at the gate of the city, the five spies invaded the shrine and stole the gods. The Danites silenced the priest by hiring him and since he was a hireling, he was ready for a better offer. The Danites not only broke into Micah’s shrine and stole his gods, but they also stole his chaplain.
Many Christians’ conviction, like that of the hired priest, is for the highest bidder: For sale! He was employed by Micah (an individual), now a whole tribe has offered to employ him with a higher pay! He accepted the latter offer. Once your drive in kingdom service is money, your conviction will be for sale. Let us live and serve sincerely, knowing that we are accountable to God.
PRAYER: Lord, help me serve You acceptably, Amen.