Do you serve God with an undivided heart?
4 Jun 26
Today's devotional: taken from YouVersion, Devotions on F.I.R.E. Year One
Readings:
2 Chronicles 13
2 Chronicles 14
2 Chronicles 15
2 Chronicles 16
John 14
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Do you serve God with an undivided heart?
King Asa exhibits great faith while serving the Lord. His army consists of 580,000 men (2 Chronicles 14:8). “Then Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men” (2 Chronicles 14:9). By faith, Asa leads his troops to victory against overwhelming odds. Yet later, he makes an agreement with the king of Syria for military protection against another foe instead of trusting in the Lord (2 Chronicles 16:7-8). God’s eyes scan the globe looking for a servant “whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). “Loyal” means to be complete, whole, and undivided. Completely follow the Lord, unlike Asa, who did not in his sunset years (2 Chronicles 16:12).
Employment Point: Loyally follow God with an undivided heart, even when the enemy vastly outnumbers you.
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Reflections
Loyalty doesn’t shake in times of trouble. It does not allow the environment or the others to define our sense of loyalty. For our loyalty is to our Lord, so more so it ought to be firm and not easily shaken by anything or anyone else.
“God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.””2 Chronicles 13:12 NIV
- it is of such wisdom for Abijah to speak to all the people of Israel before the battle. He reminds the Israelites who they should be serving and worshipping and who they are fighting against-yes, the Lord God Almighty. The God of their ancestors. Indeed they will not succeed for the Lord will not stand with them for they had forsaken the Lord.
“The Israelites were subdued on that occasion, and the people of Judah were victorious because they relied on the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”2 Chronicles 13:18 NIV
- this is the outcome when we relied on our Lord and not our own strengths. Jeroboam has double the amount of fighting men than Abijah but Abijah managed to inflict heavy losses on 500,000 men when they only have 400,000 men in total.
- Throughout the books in Kings and Chronicles, we can see a pattern. Those who follow the Lord and His way lived a peaceful or victorious life for the Lord is with them. Those who forsake the Lord and did evil in His eyes has no good ending. They will not be blessed.
- In a way, it speaks to us too how we ought to live our lives.
“Then Asa called to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. Lord, you are our God; do not let mere mortals prevail against you.””2 Chronicles 14:11 NIV
- This is a good sample of how our prayer should sound and what kind of life we ought to live. One that is in full reliance on Him. Not just for the blessings but also for deliverance and one that is done in full obedience
“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” When Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Azariah son of Oded the prophet, he took courage. He removed the detestable idols from the whole land of Judah and Benjamin and from the towns he had captured in the hills of Ephraim. He repaired the altar of the Lord that was in front of the portico of the Lord’s temple.”2 Chronicles 15:7-8 NIV
- An encouraging word from the Lord is truly the best morale booster. Because we know we had done what is required and right in the eyes of the Lord and will continue to do so. Asa was highly encouraged and went on to destroy all the things that are detestable in the Lord’s eyes. Because He saw what was greater than war and victories-the Lord Himself. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you.
“They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and soul. All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly. They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.”
2 Chronicles 15:12, 15 NIV
- This is true evidence on how the Lord will be with us when we serve the Lord with all our heart and soul and truly mean every word we say. He will not leave us nor forsake us.
“At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: “Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand. Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand.”
2 Chronicles 16:7-8 NIV
- We do not quite understand why Asa chose human strength instead of God’s strength like he did in the past. Perhaps it was pride or perhaps it was fear.
- A reminder to us all to not forget how the Lord has stand for us and helped us all these times and to keep seeking Him always.
“In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.”2 Chronicles 16:12 NIV
- this is a reminder that is written in the bible. We should seek the Lord first and trust that He is able to turn things round. Who knows.. perhaps the disease was part of a test for Asa to turn back to God but he didn’t. It sounds like he totally forsake the Lord in his later years.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””John 14:3-4 NIV
- the way to the place that Jesus is going is not a literal walk. It is the walk of faith that carries us through to the gate of heaven.
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.””
John 14:6-8 NIV
- the disciples are perhaps confused at this point why Jesus said where He is going they cannot come and yet they know the way to the Father. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, he too have problems understanding what Jesus is saying.
- We too have the tendency to separate Jesus from the Father and had forgotten about the trinity. All of them are one. Just that how we are also one with the Father.
“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”John 14:12-14 NIV
- these few verses are actually so encouraging and we know that Jesus always delivers. But this is not like we are asking Him for anything and everything under the sun, because we know His will and thus, will not ask anything that are out of alignment. We ask from the point of faith and believe that He does not only hears, He will do it.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 14:27 NIV
- Indeed, the best peace I found is in the Lord. Coming to Christ has granted me so much peace, it truly went beyond human understanding.
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The Never-forsaking God
BY OSWALD CHAMBERS
June 04
He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” —Hebrews 13:5
What line of thinking do my thoughts take? Do I turn to what God says or to my own fears? Am I simply repeating what God says, or am I learning to truly hear Him and then to respond after I have heard what He says? “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6).
“I will never leave you…”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again.
“I will never…forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me. When there is no major difficulty to overcome, no vision from God, nothing wonderful or beautiful— just the everyday activities of life— do I hear God’s assurance even in these?
We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing— that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment. If we have God’s assurance behind us, the most amazing strength becomes ours, and we learn to sing, glorifying Him even in the ordinary days and ways of life.
WISDOM FROM OSWALD
We never enter into the Kingdom of God by having our head questions answered, but only by commitment.
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Reflections
Our God is an everyday God. Being with us 24/7. Nothing that we do will really push Him away from us for He knows us, actually even more than we know ourselves. He sees the things that are unseen, hear the words that are unspoken and feels the emotions that may not be projected outwardly. His Spirit lives within us, like living waters. Always guiding our paths, prompting us when things are about to go wrong and even saving us from disasters right before it happens.
Drudgery may seemed to be mundane. But it can also be routine. It can also be discipline. It is something that often allows ourselves to build up a certain pattern or habit in our lives. It may also be in these times that the Lord will try to shake us up and sand us down.
We should in fact rejoice in drudgery for it is also highly predictable and easy to achieve. It often doesn’t take much effort to finish those on the lists. Yet day in and day out, we continue to learn to obey and repeat. It is character forming, a testing of perseverance.
In fact if we take an even deeper look into our daily lives, we will be able to see His hands over a lot of things. In fact, we will be so amazed and in awe over the vast number of cases He needs to deal with and yet, He never misses a beat. His hands are never too short.
Let’s pray:
Father thank You that in You, we found our hope, our love and our joy. Thank You for providing us with a path that leads to true happiness and fulfilment. Truly, our beloved Abba Father, what will we be without You. You have brought us to a new place at new heights that we never knew we can achieve. We cannot be more grateful than this. Thank You so much Abba Father for never leaving us or forsaking us. In Jesus’s most precious and loving name we pray. Amen 🙏🏻
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