08/11/2026
*WISDOM FOR TODAY*
Tues 11th Aug, 2026
1Kgs 21:17-29
*STOP THAT EVIL NOW AND CHANGE YOUR WAYS*
Beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus Christ, welcome to the dawn of another new day, a day that the Lord has given to us as a gift that we may Rejoice and be glad in it. It is God's desire to see us walking in the right paths that will lead us to the fulfilment of our days. Whenever we stray from His presence and go our own way, seeking to satisfy our own evil desires, we provoke God's anger. This morning, the Holy Spirit wants us to change our ways now so that we can be shown mercy, before it is too late.
We read a passage about King Ahab, which we started reading yesterday. King Ahab had desired Naboth's vineyard and wanted to buy it but Naboth refused selling it to Him because it was FAMILY PROPERTY which was handed down to him by His ancestors and so could not be sold. Ahab's wicked wife, Jezebel, masterminded the killing of Naboth and then took over the vineyard and gave it to her husband. The most pathetic part of the evil is that, it was done under the pretext of Fasting and Prayers. Terrible!! When Naboth was killed, Jezebel went home and told his husband to go and get the piece of land and HE HAPPILY WENT TO TAKE IT OVER. See what greed can do to a man who has been blessed by God even with everything. What did Ahab really lack? Was it land? Not at all, for He was the custodian of the Land. It was the spirit of greed, coveteousness and discontentment.
The Lord sent the prophet Elijah to the king, to rebuke Him of His sin and pronounce punishment on Him. He told him that dogs will lick his blood in the same place where they licked Naboth's blood. Ahab repented, put on sackcloth and fasted sincerely and God forgave him and changed the verdict. Since he had humbled himself before the Lord to acknowledge with sorrow his sins and seek mercy, the Lord promised not to bring the disaster in his life time but on his house in the days of his son.
Beloved in Christ, there are many things we can learn from here but I will like us to focus on two of them:
1) Do not sell yourself to do evil. Ahab sold himself to do evil in the sight of the Lord (v 20). It is so sad that so many people today even in the church have sold themselves to do evil. They are negatively influenced by friends and loved ones to commit sin. They may not personally do evil but are the brain and strong force behind evil deeds. There are many people in positions of authority who have sold themselves to do evil. They oppress the poor and use their positions and influence to have what they want. They are the reason why innocent people are suffering in prisons. So much innocent blood has been shed and continues to be shed because of their evil manipulations. God's finger is warning you. Repent now before it is too late. Stop that evil and come back to the Lord.
2) Be careful the way you live because you can bring disaster even to generations yet unborn. Ahab's sin was to be punished in the days of his son. See how a generation will have to suffer for sins they did not commit. We must be careful with our actions for they can make or mar the future of our children and those who come after us.
Beloved in Christ, the good news we bring today is that, our God is merciful and compassionate. He is still abounding in steadfast love. He rebukes your sin but he still loves you. He wants to show you mercy. Why do you continue in that sin? Why do you allow the people around you to continue to lure you to sin? Repent now and change your ways. Turn your eyes away from the vanities of this life. Learn to be contented with what you have. Kill that spirit of uncontrollable desire for what is not your own. Stop oppressing the poor and stop using your position to manipulate and unjustly treat the underprivileged. Stop the worship of idols for our God will tolerate no rivals. Turn away from your evil ways and believe in the Lord. Repent and cry to Him for mercy in all sincerity of heart and He will forgive you.
May God hear us as we pray to Him. May He be the one to judge and subdue all those who are using their positions against us and may He bring them all to judgment. May God show us mercy where we have been like Ahab and may His Love continuously abide with us now and always. Amen and Amen
_Rev Mrs Ntsam Emelda Bih_