WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 20, 2024
TOPIC: DON’T TAKE CREDIT FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE (2)
BY T. O. BANSO
“See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10 New King James Version).
Today’s devotional is a continuation of yesterday’s topic, which underscores that you should not take credit for what God has done, is doing, or will do for you and through you. You must give all the glory to God for as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:5 that I referenced yesterday: “Not that of ourselves we are qualified to take credit for anything as coming from us; rather, our qualification comes from God” (New American Bible). There is nothing you that you did not receive from God (1 Corinthians 4:7). Don’t ascribe any accomplishment or feat to your power, intelligence, or other resources you have. Learn from the mistakes of King Sennacherib of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon that I discussed yesterday.
Unlike Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar, King Cyrus of Persia acknowledged that God gave him control over the kingdoms of the earth. He didn’t ascribe his emergence as king to his power or ability. Therefore, he carried out the mandate of God to build the temple of God in Jerusalem and released the Israelites in Babylon to return to their homeland after seventy years in captivity (2 Chronicles 36:22-23).
Not taking credit for what God had done, Cyrus said, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem’” (Ezra 1:2-4 New International Version).
Did you see the difference between Cyrus and Sennacherib and Nebuchadnezzar? Cyrus acknowledged God’s sovereignty. He acknowledged that God gave all the kingdoms of the earth to him and appointed him to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. He implemented God’s plan for the release of the Israelites and the building of His temple in Jerusalem.
The Prophet Isaiah called Cyrus by name 150 years before he ruled and referred to him as the Lord’s anointed (Isaiah 45:1). The Lord said of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, ‘Let it be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundations be laid’” (Isaiah 44:28 New International Version). Cyrus didn’t forget that God made him a king.
Moses’ mistake
Don’t take credit for what God has done, is doing, or will do. Moses made this mistake (Number 20). It was wrong for Moses to have called the Israelites rebels though they were! More importantly, it was not right for him to have said, “Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Verse 10). By that, he was taking credit for giving the people water. Moses had no such power to bring water out of the rock.
Also, instead of speaking to the rock as God had instructed him, he struck the rock twice. Consequently, God punished Moses and Aaron. “Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them’” (Numbers 20:12 New King James Version).
The fact that God told Moses to strike the rock the first time in Exodus 17:5-7 and water came out of the rock was no licence for Moses to strike the rock twice on this second occasion because the instruction was different. That God used Moses and Aaron to bring water out of the rock before didn’t make them experts in it! God did it and they shouldn’t take credit for it just as Moses couldn’t take credit for the parting of the Red Sea. God didn’t expect Moses, in particular, and Aaron to do what they did considering their close walk with Him.
Never get too familiar with God that you take His instructions for granted. Don’t get so used to God using you that you assume you’re the reason for what is happening, and you begin to take credit for what God has done or is doing.
Herod’s arrogance
Don’t accept people’s flattery. Herod gave an oration, and the people kept shouting: “The voice of a god and not of a man!” An angel of the Lord struck him, worms ate him, and he died (Acts 12:21-23). It wasn’t that he died after the angel struck him and then worms ate him. No. But after the angel struck him, he was still alive when worms started eating him until he died. Why did he die this way? Because he was proud – he accepted he was a god when he was just a human being. Herod died a mysterious death for accepting to be a god, not a human being instead of giving praise to God.
It’s not people’s fault if they honour you, but it will be your fault if you don’t know how to be humble and praise God. Never allow people’s sincere honour or flattery to go to your head. You may be a brilliant orator, a prolific writer, a successful businessman, an exceedingly anointed minister of the Gospel, a highly cerebral person, etc. but remember you’re still a human being – you are not a god. There’s nothing you have that you did not receive from God. Don’t take the credit that is due to God.
God’s battle-axe must not forget that he is just a battle-axe – it is God holding and using it. God said, “You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; with you I will destroy kingdoms; with you I will break in pieces the horse and its rider; with you I will break in pieces the chariot and its rider; with you also I will break in pieces man and woman; with you I will break in pieces old and young; with you I will break in pieces the young man and the maiden; with you also I will break in pieces the shepherd and his flock; with you I will break in pieces the farmer and his yoke of oxen; and with you I will break in pieces governors and rulers” (Jeremiah 51:20-23 New King James Version). Some believe that the battle-axe in this scripture refers to Cyrus while others believe it is Babylon. However, without God, the battle-axe would not be able to achieve what is stated in this scripture.
Because of ignorance and foolishness, some people take credit for what God has done or is doing. Both are inexcusable. But often, pride is the cause. The Bible warns many times against pride; it has serious repercussions. Nebuchadnezzar said, “And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Daniel 4:37b New King James Version). Nebuchadnezzar spoke from personal experience. Believe him.
Whether your calling or profession, don’t take credit for what God has done, is doing, or will do. Humble yourself. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; I Peter 5:5). If God resists someone, it makes no difference who is assisting him or her. If God puts someone down, nobody can lift him.
God hates pride. He says He’ll cut off or destroy the pride of the Philistines (Zechariah 9:6b). In Zechariah 10:11, He says He’ll bring down the pride of the Assyrians. Also, in Isaiah 16:6-13, He says the pride of Moab will also disappear. God will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease (Isaiah 13:11b). Always wear the garment of humility no matter the exploits God is doing through you or your outstanding successes.
Conclusion: Don’t take credit for what God has done, is doing, or will do. Don’t attribute it to your strength, wisdom, brilliance, prayer and fasting, etc. Give God the glory.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. Take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and 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 life. *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 surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him 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: Holy Spirit, help me to humble myself always and give credit to God. I will not be foolish to magnify myself instead of magnifying God.
(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.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
