Obedience Always Matters
Monday, October 30
2 Chronicles 27:1-2 (NLT)
“Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. Jotham did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the LORD. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.”
Devoción
The Bible proves time and time again that obedience always matters. Here we find Jotham, who became king at the young age of 25 years old. He preceded his father King Uzziah, after he died because of being struck with leprosy years earlier from sinning against the Lord in His holy temple.
Let’s take a quick look at his Father’s story in the previous chapter. “His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar (2 Chronicles 26:15-16).”
King Jotham had learned that obedience is life giving and life altering. He had witnessed King Uzziah's downfall due to pride and he chose not to follow in his father's footsteps. He refused to use his power to gain entry where he didn't belong or to assume a role that wasn't his. He chose humility over pride.
Jotham demonstrated right standing with God. The people in his kingdom continued in their evil ways, but Jotham "... did what was right in the eyes of the LORD...(2 Chronicles 27:2).” His faith remained untainted despite being immersed in a corrupt culture. Obedience is always possible to choose. God has given each of us everything we need to live a holy and unadulterated life for Him.
King Jotham also demonstrated a hunger for God. We see in verse three that “Jotham rebuilt the upper gate of the temple of the Lord…” Historically, spiritual apathy led to the temple's deterioration. Conversely, spiritual revival led to its restoration due to the people's renewed longing in the things of God. The repairs here, then, were a sign of spiritual health. King Jotham’s reconstruction of the gate linking the temple and the palace indicates his hunger for worship and open access to God.
Jotham modeled consistency over the long haul in living out his faith in God. 2 Chronicles 27:6 concludes that “King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.”
This passage is a good reminder that God gives us a choice in Christ. We will either set our hearts to do as we please or set our hearts to do as He pleases. Jotham is one of few Hebrew kings whose story ended well. The secret to his success is simple yet profound: faith in God leads to obedience. He ordered his way before the Lord and doing so resulted in God's blessing. Let's follow Jotham's example.
Oración de hoy
Querido Padre Celestial,
Thank You for the good example of King Jotham choosing to do what is right in spite of much wickedness around him. Thank You for Your word being a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Convict me, Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit of areas where I am proud like King Uzziah or evil in other ways by following the crowd. Let Your revival reach my heart with true, profound, and lasting confession and repentance. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
Aplíquelo hoy mismo
The promise that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (1 Peter 3:2) is referring to life on earth, not the eternal life we are looking forward to. Reflect on your own challenges to obedience. Try to identify specifically what is working against you obeying in a certain area. Perhaps it is fear, impatience, lack of faith that obedience will be rewarded, or just plain don’t want to. Extend today’s prayer to ask for forgiveness, deliverance from that roadblock, and a clear path to obedience.
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