WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JUNE 22, 2026
TOPIC: DO WHAT IS RIGHT IN GOD’S EYES
BY T. O. BANSO
“In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 New King James Version).
Because of the fallen nature of man, what is right in man’s eyes is not always what is right in God’s eyes. Man must, therefore, live by God’s standards and not set his own standards. God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (New King James Version).
The Bible tells us something negative about how the Israelites lived before the nation became a monarchy, a nation ruled by kings. “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 New King James Version). Judges 21:25 repeats exactly what Judges 17:6 says. This was a sad commentary. Although the Bible linked the Israelites’ doing what was right in their eyes to the absence of a king—a God-ordained human leader who would enforce God’s laws—ultimately, they did what was right in their eyes because they were disobedient to God, as God had given them commandments to guide their conduct.
Moses had told the Israelites that when they arrived in the place of rest the LORD their God was going to give them, “You shall not at all do as we are doing here today—every man doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8 New King James Version).
Joshua succeeded Moses, and the Bible says that when all the generation of Joshua had died, another generation arose after them who did not know the LORD or the work He had done for Israel (Judges 2:10).
The Israelites became unfaithful to God. Judges 2:11-13 says, “Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths” (New King James Version).
Consequently, God delivered them into the hands of their enemies to oppress them. But each time they cried to the LORD, He would send a judge to deliver them. Eventually, however, they would return to their sin. This is how Judges 2:16-19 captures it: “Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way” (New King James Version).
It is recorded in the book of Judges seven times that the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD (Judges 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1). In other words, they did not do what was right in His eyes. When they later asked for a king to rule over them, just as other nations, some of the kings did evil in the LORD’s sight, just as the Israelites had done previously. Some kings did what was right in the LORD’s eyes, but later derailed and did not finish well. The spiritual direction of the people of the two kingdoms could not be divorced from the relationship of the reigning king with God.
Don’t only do what is right in God’s eyes. While you cannot earn salvation by your works (Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16), ensure that you continue to do what is right to the end. Do what is right in God’s eyes continually so that you will finish well. Persevere to the end (Matthew 10:22b; 24:13; Mark 13:13b). “Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children” (1 John 2:29 New Living Translation). The New King James Version renders “do what is right” as “practices righteousness.”
What must you do? First, give your heart to Jesus or be born again; your heart must first be right with God. Next, you must read and meditate on the Word of God daily to know His will, obey His Word, yield control of your life to the Holy Spirit, and reject wrong influences—including people, advice, and values. The Word of God should be your constitution for living. 2 Timothy 3:16b says about all Scripture: “It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (New Living Translation). Let God’s Word be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105). Hide His Word in your heart, and you won’t sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). If you live your new life following the Holy Spirit, you won’t do what your sinful self craves (Galatians 5:16).
You can’t depend on your senses and preferences to know what is right in God’s eyes. What you sincerely think is right may be wrong. That’s why Romans 12:2 says you shouldn’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 New King James Version).
God always knows where every road leads and how every journey will end. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James Version).
God’s standards are higher than human standards, and He has clearly set them in the Bible for humans to follow. As your mind is renewed daily in God’s Word by the Holy Spirit, you begin to align your thoughts with His thoughts and your ways with His ways. God’s standards must become your standards.
Don’t seek to be liked by people; seek to be right with God! Commit yourself to do what is right in God’s eyes, not what is right in your own eyes or in the eyes of others.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must give your heart to Jesus now. Please take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself, and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your heart. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church. There, they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner, and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me, and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I invite Jesus into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You must join a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, and Bible-practising church where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: In the name of Jesus, I will hide the Word of God in my heart so that I won’t sin against Him. The Word of God will be my constitution for living. God’s standards will become my standards in Jesus’ name. Holy Spirit, help me to continually do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. I receive the grace to finish the Christian race well. Father, I pray that those who are doing what is right in their eyes, not what is right in Your eyes, will repent and live to please You.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
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