Dec 29, 20242 min read

Sunday, December 29 || HAVE AN UNDIVIDED HEART

Read: II Kings 17: 24-29, 32-34

“They worshipped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations ...

- II Kings 17: 33

Samaria was a “kingdom divided.” Starting from King Jeroboam, this northern kingdom of Israel had allowed the worship of foreign gods, forgetting the Lord their God. Later, the evil kings who reigned over them also led them deeper and deeper into sin, until God finally allowed the nation to be taken into exile by the Assyrians. In their place, the king of Assyria brought other people from foreign lands and resettled them in Samaria. But, since these people did not worship the Lord, He sent lions among them and destroyed some of them. So the king sent a few exiled priests back to teach the resettled foreigners about the “good of that land.” (II Kings 17: 27) The result was that people tried to combine the worship of the Lord with the worship practices of all the false gods which were in direct violation of God’s laws. And this brought serious consequences.

Dear friends, when it comes to serving God, our loyalty to Him cannot be divided.  Centuries later, Jesus talked about a house divided. (Matthew 12: 24-29)  He was accused by the Pharisees of casting out demons by the power of Satan.  Jesus pointed out to them that if He were in Satan’s team, He would not be working against Satan by the power of Satan.  He said, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined.”  And that’s what happened to Samaria; it never regained spiritual or political power.  Samaria is a good lesson for us.  In the rush of our lives, it is easy to be divided - in our time and focus.  Without realizing it, we can be like the Samaritans, serving God with our other allegiances.  It is only by prayer and constant meditation of the Word, we can keep our heart undivided and focused on God.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, keep me from having a divided heart. Let me not weaken my allegiance to You by showing any allegiance to the “false gods” of this world. Help me to stay in close touch with You through constant meditation of Your Word and fervent prayer. Amen.

Subscribe for Honey Drops