August 4
2 Chron 35:1-36:23 | PS 27:1-6 | Prov 20:20-21 | 1 Cor 1:1-17
We read in Proverbs 20:21, "An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end." We have a tendency to give our children everything. Even those who claim not to "spoil" their children shower their children with many things. This is not just in the way of material objects, as we also push our children to go to church, to join youth groups, perhaps go to a Christian school, etc. These are good things, but at some point the child has to take the initiative and not simply follow the requirements set forth by their parents. God has children, not grandchildren, as each of us must come before Him on our own, not with a representative, other than the Lord, Jesus Christ. We can't make our children or loved ones have faith. We can simply introduce God to others. Better than the wisest human advice, better than the best church or church program is the Word of God. This is what needs to become part of everyone's life if one is to develop a real relationship with God. This is private time with the Lord. It can't be measured, and others often can't see it. But if one is to desire a real relationship with the Lord it will grow one on one with Him through His Word. He will talk to us, but do we want to spend the time to listen. We must beware of spending all of our time in activities, and even ministries, there are simply no shortcuts to getting closer to the Lord.
Josiah was an amazing king. He brought about tremendous reforms and personally had a true heart for the Lord. He initiated much and brought about much, but we don't necessarily see the hearts of the people change. We read in 2 Chronicles 35:7-9, "Then Josiah provided 30,000 lambs and young goats for the people’s Passover offerings, along with 3,000 cattle, all from the king’s own flocks and herds. The king’s officials also made willing contributions to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the administrators of God’s Temple, gave the priests 2,600 lambs and young goats and 300 cattle as Passover offerings. The Levite leaders—Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel, as well as Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad—gave 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 cattle to the Levites for their Passover offerings." This was extremely generous and showed tremendous desire to the Lord by the king and his officials. But the Passover sacrifice was supposed to be personal. It was supposed to cost something from the person offering the sacrifice. It was often from their own herd, a lamb they knew and loved. If they did not possess one, it was supposed to cost them something financially. Though this was an amazing celebration, it cost the average attendee absolutely nothing. They were gifted an amazing Passover, but did it change their hearts.
We read shortly after Josiah is gone from the throne in 2 Chronicles 36:14-16, "Likewise, all the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful. They followed all the pagan practices of the surrounding nations, desecrating the Temple of the Lord that had been consecrated in Jerusalem. The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done." They may have experienced reform under Josiah, but hearts were not changed and the downward spiral continued. Such must be realized in our own lives. If we want to grow in the Lord, be a student of the entirety of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation, skipping no books. Allow God's full counsel to reveal Himself to you, year after year. If you made it through the Bible, great! Now pick it up and begin again, this is not once and done like a novel, this is our daily bread, our nourishment. We need more than verses, we need narratives, examples, etc. The same applies to our children and those we are discipling. Unless we can get others to desire to spend time daily in His Word, excitement can spark and wane. Again, there are simply no shortcuts, no perfect church programs to bring about true relationship with God.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: