Spirit-Living Devotional
Apostle Osborn
THE PRESSURE OF THE PEOPLE
[[1Sa 13:12]] KJV Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
Saul, the king, disobeyed God’s instructions, and instead of solving the problem, he went ahead and forced himself by engaging in sacrifices he was not supposed to engage in. To him, Samuel, the prophet delayed, and fearing that Philistines may come down upon them, Saul declared, “I FORCED MYSELF.” He couldn’t stand the pressure; Saul forced himself.
Observe the process of events: firstly, Saul disobeyed God’s instruction. But instead of resolving it, he went ahead to complicate himself. This is very common among believers today. When we sin or disobey God in one way or the other, we fail to seek healthy godly remedy; instead, we complicate ourselves in the quest to hide the problem or better still, because of the pressure of the people.
This is the reason why many are destroyed in their sins and weaknesses. For example, someone tells a lie, and instead of accepting they’ve lied, they would rather tell another lie to cover the first lie. They complicate themselves instead of solving the problem. Others who sin may also decide not to go to church. Another gets into a problem. Instead of seeking help the right way, they resort to drinking because of shame or pressure. Saul is not the only victim. David, for example, got Bethsheba pregnant. Instead of dealing with the situation the right way, he killed Uriah to cover the situation *(2Sa 11:3;15).
Judas also betrayed Jesus. Instead of repenting and asking for forgiveness, he went and hung himself *(Act 1:18). You see, there is a wrong and right way of resolving issues. Many times, after we fall in one way or the other, we commit another sin in order to cover up. Don’t complicate your problem after creating one: rather seek healthy godly remedy. Overpower the shame and the pressure of the people. And solve issues the right way. Today, desist from decisions that will complicate issues for you and prayerfully seek godly remedy. Talk to your pastor. Recieve power to deal with the pressure in Jesus’ name.
Prayer:
Dear God, help me make the right choices. I refuse to recognize the pressure, and I endure the shame. I receive the grace to make wise decisions in the midst of the heat and solve issues the right way. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace. I receive godly remedies in Jesus’ name.
