DCLM Daily Manna Saturday 20 May 2023
TOPIC: Mercy For The Penitent
TEXT: 1 Kings 21:17-29 (KJV)
KEY VERSE
“And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.”
(1 Kings 21:27)
DCLM Daily Manna Saturday 20 May 2023 MESSAGE
In our text, God sent Prophet Elijah to confront Ahab who had gone to take over the vineyard of Naboth whom Jezebel had killed so he could have the land. Elijah announced the judgment of God upon Ahab, his wife, Jezebel and his entire household for all the wicked atrocities they had committed.
Ahab’s sins and wickedness were said to have far exceeded those of all the other kings before him. He literarily sold himself to sin; but God’s message of judgment struck Ahab. His tough, wicked and hardened heart melted immediately and he humbled himself in repentance.
Ahab’s penitence here is very instructive to us as believers. It goes to show that no one is beyond redemption. Often, we give up on certain classes of non-believers we have concluded to be hardened and beyond redemption. When we go out for evangelism, we avoid preaching to them or inviting them to church because we feel that they can no longer be saved. Even though we believe that God has the power to save all sinners, in our subconscious minds, we tend to write off some people. There are Christians who have given up on their spouses and children and do not expect them to get saved anymore because of how far they think they have gone in sin.
God can forgive sinners who truly repent of their sins. Since He does not give up on any sinner no matter how deep the person has gone in evil and misconduct, we should also not give up on them. Let us include them in our prayers and evangelistic plans. If God can break down Ahab’s wicked heart, He can melt and convert every sinful heart.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: To write off a person that God has not written off is a risky presumption.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ruth 3-4
