June 6, 2006 - II Chronicles 25-27 and John 16
God looks at our hearts. He is constantly monitoring the condition of our hearts. That way He knows if He can trust us to follow Him or not. We must do the same thing. We must not allow our hearts to drift from Him. If we see a drift, we must repent, and get right back to Him. Let's take stock of our heart condition as we read this passage today.
Amaziah was not blessed by God, because he did not have a loyal heart. (v.2) He did some right things, but God knew that he would not continue, because he was not doing them from a loyal heart. Eventually, he even turned to the idols of the Edomites, whom he had defeated. How does that make sense? It doesn't make sense, but it is the kind of thing we will do if we do not have a loyal heart.
Uzziah did right as long as he sought the Lord. (26:5) Once his heart was lifted up by pride, he ceased to seek God, and he began to act on his own. Then, God had to strike him with leprosy to stop him from offering sacrifices himself in the Temple. This all came from having a proud heart. The pride came because of God's blessings. He quit realizing it all came from God, and he became proud of himself. That kind of pride always destroys our heart condition. Guard your heart against pride.
Jotham was blessed by God, because he prepared his ways before the Lord. In other words, he made sure his heart was set to do God's will instead of his own will, so God blessed him. What kind of things are you doing to prepare your heart, to prepare your ways before the Lord? It is so important. Our hearts will get hard if we are not constantly keeping them prepared to do God's will. Don't let your heart get in bad shape. Keep your heart right with God, so He can lead you and bless you.
John 16 tells us why we have every advantage to keep our hearts on the Lord. It is because the Holy Spirit lives in every believer to convict us of sin, righteous, and judgment. He is there to constantly point us to Jesus. He is there to give us lasting joy. (v.22,24) However, this is not automatic. The Holy Spirit does not force us to listen to Him. We have to keep our hearts soft and pliable, so He can mold us to be like Jesus and to follow His ways. If we do allow Him to do that, we can have good cheer in the midst of a world of tribulation. (v.33)
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 28-29 and John 17.
Amaziah was not blessed by God, because he did not have a loyal heart. (v.2) He did some right things, but God knew that he would not continue, because he was not doing them from a loyal heart. Eventually, he even turned to the idols of the Edomites, whom he had defeated. How does that make sense? It doesn't make sense, but it is the kind of thing we will do if we do not have a loyal heart.
Uzziah did right as long as he sought the Lord. (26:5) Once his heart was lifted up by pride, he ceased to seek God, and he began to act on his own. Then, God had to strike him with leprosy to stop him from offering sacrifices himself in the Temple. This all came from having a proud heart. The pride came because of God's blessings. He quit realizing it all came from God, and he became proud of himself. That kind of pride always destroys our heart condition. Guard your heart against pride.
Jotham was blessed by God, because he prepared his ways before the Lord. In other words, he made sure his heart was set to do God's will instead of his own will, so God blessed him. What kind of things are you doing to prepare your heart, to prepare your ways before the Lord? It is so important. Our hearts will get hard if we are not constantly keeping them prepared to do God's will. Don't let your heart get in bad shape. Keep your heart right with God, so He can lead you and bless you.
John 16 tells us why we have every advantage to keep our hearts on the Lord. It is because the Holy Spirit lives in every believer to convict us of sin, righteous, and judgment. He is there to constantly point us to Jesus. He is there to give us lasting joy. (v.22,24) However, this is not automatic. The Holy Spirit does not force us to listen to Him. We have to keep our hearts soft and pliable, so He can mold us to be like Jesus and to follow His ways. If we do allow Him to do that, we can have good cheer in the midst of a world of tribulation. (v.33)
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 28-29 and John 17.