30 AUGUST

THE SCEPTRE (THE WORLD)

“For the sceptre of wickedness shall not rest

on the land allotted to the righteous,

lest the righteous stretch out

their hands to do wrong..”

(Psalm 125:3)

The story is told of the son of a king. The king had been dethroned and imprisoned. His young son, the prince, was taken far away by those who dethroned the king. They thought that inasmuch as the king’s son was heir to the throne, if they could destroy him morally, he would never realise his great destiny. In the community they took him to, they exposed him to every vile behaviour a person could imbibe and exhibit. They exposed him to such sumptuous foods that could quickly make him a slave to gluttony. They used vile language around him constantly. They exposed him to prostitutes, to dishonour and distrust. He was surrounded by everything that could drag the soul of a man to its lowest.

For over six months, the king’s son had this treatment—but not once did he buckle under pressure. Finally, the enemies questioned him, puzzled as to why he did not succumb to things that would provide pleasure, satisfy his lusts, and were desirable to most. The boy calmly answered, “I cannot do what you ask, for I was born to be a king.” 

Daily, we face a similar barrage of pressures from the evil one. What is our reaction? Do we remain sceptres of the Son or become like the world?

All believers are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). Why then would we succumb to the vile and perverted things of this life?

ACTION: Declare, “I was born to be a king/queen! I choose my inheritance, the sceptre of righteousness, by God’s grace. 

PRAYER: Lord, uphold me with your sustaining grace, so I will not succumb to the temptations of the devil or the pressures of the world.