Wholehearted Commitment

2 Chronicles 12:1-2” After Rehoboam's position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD. Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam.”

Deut 6:4-5 “ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

I have always been asked this question by believers and non-believers “But xxx is a Christian, how can xxx act like this?” This is especially so if xxx is a leader. I have no answer.

I have been reading the years of the rule of kings in the bible- from Saul to David to Solomon, etc. Of all of them, only David has whole hearted commitment to God. The rest wanes along the way. Every time they wane in commitment, rest is taken away from the land, enemies appear, attacks start. Sometimes, after they have sought God with all their heart, tests come along as well.

But in all of these instances, if the kings seek and rely on God with all their heart, they are successful against their enemies. We see rest when the leader seeks God wholeheartedly to walk His ways. We see even more rest when the whole nation unites with their leader to do so.

We may criticise the kings in the Old Testament on their walk. But I think the situation today may not be far from then. How many leaders and those under them seek and rely on God today(in families, in workplace, in the land)? And how many wholeheartedly?

What about us?

Solomon had too many wives; we have too many distractions today.

Jesus said He is one with God. There is no compromise.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to walk only in your ways and love you wholeheartedly. Help us to be one with you, in Jesus name, amen.

King over us

Luke 19:27 “But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.”

I always thought that the parable of the ten minas and the parable of the tenants were talking about how to utilise our talents and all we have to serve God. Then I stumbled upon the verse above. At the heart of both parables, is about the Lordship and Kingship of God over us and all that we have.

These are days where the rights of a person are held up as most important. In the olden days, there’s a lot of submission and respect for authority. But now, personal rights override. With rights come self centeredness and self crowned kingship. After a while, God is sidelined to serve us. It’s my money, my life, my work, my time. I want it this way, I want it better, don’t take this and that from me.

But all belongs to God, I am only His keeper.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you are King over us. May I truly realise that You are King and that I am only your keeper of the things that you have put in my care. May I let go and help take care of them well for You, in Jesus name, amen.