WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
SEPTEMBER 04, 2026
TOPIC: KEEP YOUR OFFICE
BY T. O. BANSO
“And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6, New King James Version).
One of the tragic stories in the Bible is that of Judas Iscariot. Jesus, after He had prayed all night, called him along with eleven others to be His disciples (Luke 6:12-16). But he went to conspire with the religious leaders who wanted to kill Jesus. He betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-15).
But when he saw that Jesus had been condemned to death, his conscience condemned him, and he returned the money to the chief priests and elders, but they rebuffed him. Judas threw down the money and went to hang himself. The chief priests took the money but said it was the price of blood, which they could not put into the treasury. Therefore, they used the money to buy the potter’s field for the burial of strangers (Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:18).
Judas didn’t keep his office or position as an apostle, so he lost it. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples gathered to choose someone to replace him. Addressing about 120 believers, Peter pointed out that Scripture had to be fulfilled. The Holy Spirit, speaking through David, had long ago foretold Judas’s fate—the man who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. Scripture notes that Judas had been numbered among them and shared in their ministry, but he later betrayed Jesus and committed suicide (Acts 1:16-18).
Quoting from Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8, Peter said, “For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’” (Acts 1:20, New King James Version). Note the statement: Let another take his office. That became necessary because Judas allowed Satan and greed to displace him. Matthias was chosen to replace him (Acts 1:26).
Keep your office or position. Avoid doing anything that will cause you to lose your station. The Bible says, “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day.” (Jude 6, New King James Version). Although this scripture particularly addresses angelic rebellion and the desertion of God’s spiritual order—not human positions—it is relevant to the focus of this devotional, warning us against abandoning our God-given responsibilities.
The Bible does not say much about these angels. But from this scripture, it is evident that they didn’t keep their office; they left the place God had assigned to them. Consequently, they were punished. The Amplified Bible renders Jude 6 thus: “And angels who did not keep their own designated place of power, but abandoned their proper dwelling place, [these] He has kept in eternal chains under [the thick gloom of utter] darkness for the judgment of the great day.”
Similarly, 2 Peter 2:4 states, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment.” (New King James Version). Keep your office – care for, guard, and hold to your position. Thus, you will save yourself from the consequences of losing it.
Keep your position in Christian service and do not let another take your place, as was the case with Eli the priest and his father’s house, and later with Judas. “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’” (1 Samuel 2:30, New King James Version). This was God’s solemn word concerning Eli and his father’s house, which eventually lost the priesthood as God had spoken.
Saul failed to keep his office due to his disobedience to God’s command to totally destroy the Amalekites. “So Samuel said to him, ‘The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.’” (1 Samuel 15:28, New King James Version). God took the kingdom from him and gave it to David, a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 28:17, 13:14; Acts 13:22). God withdrew His mercy (steadfast love or royal favour) from Saul and removed him from the throne (2 Samuel 7:15).
Obedience will preserve you in your office, but disobedience will cost you your office. Saul is a case study, as we have seen. Before his failure with the Amalekites, he had also disobeyed the prophet Samuel’s instruction in 1 Samuel 13. He intruded into the office of a priest by offering a burnt offering, which Samuel was supposed to offer (1 Samuel 10:8). Thus, Samuel told him, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” (1 Samuel 13:13-14, New King James Version).
Honour your role and maintain your position in your marriage, family, ministry, church, workplace, or community. Have nothing to do with any office that violates the Word of God and does not honour God. If you occupy such a position, repent and leave now. Obey the Word of God. Also, obey the rules or codes of ethics of your profession or of your ecclesiastical office. Because King Solomon disobeyed God, God took away ten of the tribes of Israel from him during the reign of his son, Rehoboam. God left him with Judah, which also included Benjamin, referred to as one tribe, for the sake of David, His servant (1 Kings 11:31-35).
Remain a faithful steward so that you won’t face regret later. The unjust steward or shrewd manager in Luke 16 said, “What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg” (verse 3, New King James Version). However, he should not have wasted his master’s goods, which prompted his master’s decision to dismiss him. Those who lose their assigned positions face severe consequences.
If you value your office, protect it. Obey the Word of God, and He will establish you. “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.” (Deuteronomy 28:9, New King James Version). Do what is expected of you. Fulfil the demands of your office. Don’t overstep its bounds.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you must repent of your sins and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour 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, you will be taught 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: Holy Spirit, help me to keep my office. Protect me from anything that will cause me to lose my place. I will not take any action or make any error that will cost me my office in Jesus’ name. Father, have mercy on those who have lost their offices and restore them.
(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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