Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

28 June 2024

Reading From II Chronicles 19-23

When King Jehoshaphat of Judah arrived safely home in Jerusalem, Jehu son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him. “Why should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord?” he asked the king. “Because of what you have done, the Lord is very angry with you. Even so, there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asherah poles throughout the land, and you have committed yourself to seeking God.”

Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem, but he went out among the people, traveling from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. He appointed judges throughout the nation in all the fortified towns, and he said to them, “Always think carefully before pronouncing judgment. Remember that you do not judge to please people but to please the Lord. He will be with you when you render the verdict in each case. Fear the Lord and judge with integrity, for the Lord our God does not tolerate perverted justice, partiality, or the taking of bribes.”

–II Chronicles 19:1-7

     I believe that all human beings belong to the family of Adam and Eve and therefore have a fallen nature; a pre-disposition toward sin and the worship of self.  However, we do have a capacity for good.  This is potential, it is not goodness in and of ourselves.  Men and women have the free moral agency to choose between right and wrong.  If someone who is not a follower of God does what is good in His sight, it improves life in our present reality.  But if someone who is born again into the eternal family of God does the will of the Father, it has eternal effects. 

     Jehu saw “something good” in Jehoshaphat.  The king had made mistakes, but had “committed (himself) to seeking God.”  This does not mean that Yahweh was pleased with everything about Jehoshaphat and had rubber-stamped all that he was about.  We have this misguided notion that if you love someone, it means you think everything about them is good.  The only One who is completely good is God Himself.  Jesus, who is God the Son, lived a perfect life as an example of godliness for us.  Any real goodness we have comes from Him.

     Jehoshaphat not only removed idols from Judah, he also traveled as an evangelist as he, “encouraged people to return to the Lord, the God of their ancestors.”  We need more men and women like him today in our modern nations.  As sons and daughters of the Most High God, we are kings and queens, priests and priestesses who have also been commissioned by our Lord to share the love and message of Jesus Christ as we live our lives in the world, but not of it.

“Lord, I pray that You would cleanse Your people from their idolatry.  May we too remove the idols from our lives.  Bring our focus back to You, King Jesus.  Send the fire of Your Holy Spirit to empower us to minister Your Good News.  Give us Your knowledge and wisdom to make sound judgments and fair decisions.  In Jesus’ loving Name.  Amen.”

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

 –Micah 6:8