June 5, 2006 - II Chronicles 23-24 and John 15
It is important for all of us to have a "personal" relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It must be that we relate to Him directly, because we are responding to Him revealing Himself to us. Then, we continue the relationship because of our love for Him. So, how is your relationship with Jesus? Think about that as we read this passage today.
Joash became king when he was 7 years old, and he reigned for 40 years. He owed a lot to Jehoiada, the priest, because he brought him out of hiding and led the people to proclaim him the king. He, also, had the evil, Athaliah, killed. II Chronicles 24:2 tells us that Joash did right in God's eyes as long as Jehoiada was alive. However, when Joash did not have his presence, he followed the leaders back into paganism. Why would he do that? I believe his "personal" relationship with the Lord was very weak, because he was depending on Jehoiada to guide him. This is true of many people today. They only serve the Lord, because of the influence of another person. They do not relate to the Lord out of their own heart motivation. If this is true, is there really a personal relationship? That is a very good question to ask, because without a personal relationship, there is no salvation. (John 17:3)
In John 15 we read more about this relationship. Jesus is the true vine. We can abide in many other things, but Jesus is the only true source of life. If we live or abide in Him, we have real life, and we will bear fruit. We will have His joy, and we will have our prayers answered, because we will be praying in His will. It is all a result of knowing Him. However, the world does not know Him, so the world hates Him and us. The world is those people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They do not want to follow Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. He has revealed Himself to them, but they have rejected Him so far. It takes a strong personal relationship with Jesus to abide in Him and to not be swayed by the hatred of the world. Are you being influenced by the world? Then, you need to abide in Christ more, and He will empower you and give you joy. He will guide you by His Spirit, and you will have an abundant life. However, John 15 shows us that all of this is true only if we have a "personal" relationship with Christ, the true vine.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-27 and John 16.
Joash became king when he was 7 years old, and he reigned for 40 years. He owed a lot to Jehoiada, the priest, because he brought him out of hiding and led the people to proclaim him the king. He, also, had the evil, Athaliah, killed. II Chronicles 24:2 tells us that Joash did right in God's eyes as long as Jehoiada was alive. However, when Joash did not have his presence, he followed the leaders back into paganism. Why would he do that? I believe his "personal" relationship with the Lord was very weak, because he was depending on Jehoiada to guide him. This is true of many people today. They only serve the Lord, because of the influence of another person. They do not relate to the Lord out of their own heart motivation. If this is true, is there really a personal relationship? That is a very good question to ask, because without a personal relationship, there is no salvation. (John 17:3)
In John 15 we read more about this relationship. Jesus is the true vine. We can abide in many other things, but Jesus is the only true source of life. If we live or abide in Him, we have real life, and we will bear fruit. We will have His joy, and we will have our prayers answered, because we will be praying in His will. It is all a result of knowing Him. However, the world does not know Him, so the world hates Him and us. The world is those people who do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. They do not want to follow Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. He has revealed Himself to them, but they have rejected Him so far. It takes a strong personal relationship with Jesus to abide in Him and to not be swayed by the hatred of the world. Are you being influenced by the world? Then, you need to abide in Christ more, and He will empower you and give you joy. He will guide you by His Spirit, and you will have an abundant life. However, John 15 shows us that all of this is true only if we have a "personal" relationship with Christ, the true vine.
Tomorrow, I intend to read II Chronicles 25-27 and John 16.