Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

25 June 2024

Reading From 1 Kings 15:25-16:34, II Chronicles 17

The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel. The Lord established the kingdom under his control; and all Judah brought gifts to Jehoshaphat, so that he had great wealth and honor. His heart was devoted to the ways of the Lord; furthermore, he removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

II Chronicles 17:3-6

     Jehoshaphat was blessed because he led a life that was easily blessable.  If we consider a healthy relationship between husband and wife, the more each person puts into the relationship, the more benefit each person will receive from the relationship.  Living however we please but expecting God to bless us out of His grace and mercy is like me treating my wife however I please and expecting her to happily give me anything I desire.  This sets up a toxic and destructive dynamic.  More care and attention is need to the spiritual health of our relationship with God.  As we are transformed by His grace and mercy, we obey Him out of love and He blesses us in accordance with our faith.

     Jehoshaphat loved God and put his faith into action by removing the distractions of idolatry from his surroundings.  We would do well to follow this king’s example by ridding our lives of anything that distracts from following Yahweh.  It is an amazing feeling to know that I serve the same God that ancient kings of Israel and Judah served thousands of years ago.  Jehoshaphat’s obedience to the Lord brought stability and prosperity to his country.  Let us be reminded that as we endeavor to obey the Lord, we will stumble and even fall.  In those times we must genuinely feel sorry for our actions and receive the forgiveness freely given from our Redeemer.  In this way, even when we disobey it is possible to walk in humble obedience.

“O Lord, God of Jehoshaphat, may all of Your sons and daughters renew their commitment to follow You obediently.  Show us how to walk in Your ways and keep Your precepts.  As we are blessed, reveal to us creative ways to share those blessings with others.  Pour out Your wealth of spiritual wisdom upon us and grant us strength to put Your Word into action.  Thank You for Your loving kindness that woos us to repentance.  In the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ I pray.  Amen.”

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

–James 2:26

If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season

–Leviticus 26:3

For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. –Romans 2:13