20/05/2026
LIVINGWORD DAILY DEVOTIONAL 20/05/2026
Topic: Benefits of Keeping God’s Word (Part 3)
Text: Proverbs 19:16
"He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die."
Everyone living without being guided by the Word of God is living a life of uncertainty and danger.
Let us look at the story of the young prophet in the Bible and draw some understanding from it.
He disobeyed the commandment that would have preserved him and ended up dying an untimely death.
This teaches us that there is safety in every instruction God gives to us and that we are also kept by the commandments we keep.
Let us examine the book of 1 Kings 13:1-2, 7-10:
“And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel: and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense.”
“And he cried against the altar in the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord; Behold, a child shall be born unto the house of David, Josiah by name; and upon thee shall he offer the priests of the high places that burn incense upon thee, and men’s bones shall be burnt upon thee.”
“And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward.”
“And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place.”
“For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest.”
“So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.”
After he finished carrying out his assignment, the first temptation to violate God’s commandment came from the king, but he overcame it.
Then an older prophet came and convinced him under the guise of “the Lord said,” and he fell for it.
In verses 15-19:
“Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.”
“And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place.”
“For it was said to me by the word of the Lord, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest.”
“He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him.”
“So he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water.”
The young prophet followed the old prophet back home to eat, but he never returned to his own city again. He died on that journey.
For further understanding, read the chapter up to verse 25.
It does not matter who tries to convince you against God’s Word, choose to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
May the Lord give us understanding!
Prayer 🙏
Heavenly Father, I receive grace to remain obedient to Your instructions, in Jesus’ name.
Shalom!
Pastor Felix & Yemisi Taiwo
Livingway Apostolic Int’l Outreach Inc.
