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.