“And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.” (2 Kings 9: 5)
That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.
When the son of the prophet that came to anoint Jehu arrived, he found Jehu sitting with the rest of the captains. Jehu was not the only captain in the army of Israel. He was not the only one who had the capacity to fight and win battles. There were different captains in the same place, but there was only one that featured in the prophecy, which was Jehu.
So men recognized the rest as captains, but heaven validated only one captain.
Friend, did you know that men could call you a captain, whereas heaven does not recognize your captainship? Did you know that you could be counted as having fulfilled an assignment, whereas heaven doesn’t recognize what you have done? Did you know that it is possible to beat your chest as having done all you should do, yet heaven will not recognize you? Did you know that there is such a thing as heaven’s validation?
There were several captains, but heaven only recognized and validated one, whilst discounting the rest of the captains. Today, I pray for you: may you be that captain that heaven recognizes. May you be that one whose efforts are recognized by heaven. May you be that one whose service to God will count when the roll is called up yonder. May you be that one who, beyond the validation of men, will have heaven’s validation.
It’s not enough to have the applause of men; crave that heaven would have respect for the works of your hands and for your labour in God’s kingdom. It’s not enough to gain titles in the eyes of men; let your desire be for heaven to recognize what you do, no matter how many people are doing the same thing. Let your desire be for heaven to count your efforts in their records. Let your desire be for heaven to approve of what you have done.
Look beyond the validation of men and seek heaven’s validation. Look beyond the applause of men and seek heaven’s recognition.
1 Corinthians 9: 27 puts it
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
Declare With Me: I am divinely validated, in Jesus’ name!
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Aphorism CITY 