Every time 2 Chronicles 25:2 – 15 (here @ Bible Gateway) comes around in my reading or study, I am stunned and challenged. It is troubling to read that Amaziah sought the Lord, however, there is a “but”. The writer tells us that Amaziah did not seek the Lord with a whole heart.
Then later we read that after Amaziah utterly defeats the Edomites he brings their gods into Jerusalem and bows down and worships the gods that were unable to protect his enemies from his assault. What? The Lord God Almighty enables Amaziah to defeat his enemy and then in gratitude Amaziah begins to worship the gods of the ones he defeated. Not only illogical but epically stupid.
Good thing none of us ever do anything like that.
Not so fast – how about overcoming lust through our relationship with Christ and then choosing to watch movies or programs that promote adultery or focus on physical beauty.
How about – struggling with our tongue, using speech that is not edifying and then reading, watching, or listening to speech that demeans people or dishonors God.
How about – declaring that I am devoted to my relationship with Christ and yet unwilling to spend time engaged in personal time with Him in His Word.
Personally, I would rather that my Lord would not ever say about me that I did not follow Him with a whole heart. That is my prayer. Unfortunately, like Amaziah, I struggle with compromising with the world, briefly or unconsciously embracing the world’s standards.
That happens mostly when I am lax in my time with Him in the Word and prayer. Based on what I read about those whom the Spirit has given us as examples in the Old Testament, that is pretty much normal. So I need encouragement. I need others to walk with me through this struggle. I need to be engaged with men of like heart who are struggling with the same condition. Hebrews 3:13 (here @ Bible Gateway) reminds me that I need to encourage those men on a daily basis – I need that encouragement as well.
Then later we read that after Amaziah utterly defeats the Edomites he brings their gods into Jerusalem and bows down and worships the gods that were unable to protect his enemies from his assault. What? The Lord God Almighty enables Amaziah to defeat his enemy and then in gratitude Amaziah begins to worship the gods of the ones he defeated. Not only illogical but epically stupid.
Good thing none of us ever do anything like that.
Not so fast – how about overcoming lust through our relationship with Christ and then choosing to watch movies or programs that promote adultery or focus on physical beauty.
How about – struggling with our tongue, using speech that is not edifying and then reading, watching, or listening to speech that demeans people or dishonors God.
How about – declaring that I am devoted to my relationship with Christ and yet unwilling to spend time engaged in personal time with Him in His Word.
Personally, I would rather that my Lord would not ever say about me that I did not follow Him with a whole heart. That is my prayer. Unfortunately, like Amaziah, I struggle with compromising with the world, briefly or unconsciously embracing the world’s standards.
That happens mostly when I am lax in my time with Him in the Word and prayer. Based on what I read about those whom the Spirit has given us as examples in the Old Testament, that is pretty much normal. So I need encouragement. I need others to walk with me through this struggle. I need to be engaged with men of like heart who are struggling with the same condition. Hebrews 3:13 (here @ Bible Gateway) reminds me that I need to encourage those men on a daily basis – I need that encouragement as well.
Sadly, I must say "Amen!" to myself; I'm all too easily distracted from "wholeheartedness!"
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