Daily Devotions
April 17th, 2015 by Pastor Solley1 Chron 4:9-10
9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
We continue this morning in the prayer of Jabez. Jabez prayed for the blessings of God and was granted them because of his obedience to God’s Word. Jabez prayed for opportunity to serve in greater ways, for his coasts to be enlarged. Jabez prayed for the presence of God because he knew he could do nothing apart from the Lord. Jabez then prayed that he be kept from evil, that evil not grieve him. Was Jabez prying to be kept from trials and sickness, was he praying that nothing bad happen to him, that no one ever harm him? I think not. Jabez was praying I believe to be kept from sin. As long as we are in this flesh sin is a problem. The devil attacks us, the flesh is weak and as long as we are in this flesh there is a danger of falling into sin, having our fellowship with God broken, our communion with God interrupted, and this does bring grief to the Christian. The strongest of God’s people have tripped and fallen. David was a man strong in the Lord, yet he fell. Peter was a man strong in the Lord, yet he denied Christ. Abraham believed God, yet he walked into Egypt. Are we stronger than they or do we need to pray for God to keep us from evil?