Man’s Standards….

The reason America is in the dilemma it’s in is because we have collectively abandoned God. When this happens, people have to replace His standards with their own. Without God, man’s standards always morph into hypocritical ones. It always turns into selfish motives. Double standards are always opposed by God, because God’s justice and fairness isn’t in them.

23 The Lord detests double standards; He is not pleased by dishonest scales. Proverbs 20:23

When We Feel Unjustly Treated…

The very best thing we can do when we “feel” unjustly treated, is pray about it. First, pray that we will not take revenge into our own hands. Then for our attitudes to change. It’s only possible when we trust God with our situation. By giving it to Him, trusting Him to work it out, we guarantee ourselves grace. For it is grace that sets us free, gives us hope, and grants us peace. It the only right response when people treat us with contempt. And it’s God’s desire for us to pursue it.

22 Don’t say, “I will get even for this wrong.”Wait for the Lord to handle the matter. Proverbs 20:22

The Common Thread Among Men….

The common thread among the men close to God throughout scripture is humility. This one attribute is seen in every single person pursuing God since the beginning of time. It’s the key ingredient in dying to self. In order to be dependent upon God, you have to have the right view of Him and of yourself. Knowing your place is how to recognize if this attribute is dwelling inside you. The opposite can be said of those seeking power for themselves. Look at History and you will find many leaders rising to power, only to fall because of their lack of humility. Humility, more than any other character quality, is evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence in your life. Do you see it in your own life? If not, why not?

9 Once an Ethiopian named Zerah attacked Judah with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300  chariots. They advanced to the town of Mareshah, 10 so Asa deployed his armies for battle in the valley north of Mareshah. 11 Then Asa cried out to the Lord his God, “O Lord, no one but You can help the powerless against the mighty! Help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in You alone. It is in Your name that we have come against this vast horde. O Lord, You are our God; do not let mere men prevail against You!” 2 Chronicles 14:9-11

Only One Way To Worship….

There is only one way to worship and serve God. It’s with all of our hearts. It’s the only acceptable way to worship. Any other way is pretentious, which God calls evil.

14 But he (Rehoboam) was an evil king, for he did not seek the Lord with all his heart. 2 Chronicles 12:14

Who Do You Choose To Serve?

The thing about being human is that God designed us, in our DNA, to serve. We will either serve Him, others, or ourselves. There are no other alternatives. Here in 2 Chronicles 12, God sends Shishak, king of Egypt, to dominate the Israelites in the Southern kingdom. God specifically told them this was being done to show them the difference in serving Him, and serving earthly rulers. Our nature is to want to serve ourselves first, then earthly rulers. What we don’t understand is serving God is so much more, than serving ourselves or earthly rulers. Earthly rulers abuse, have selfish motives, and take advantage of people. God’s ways are best, for He truly knows our hearts. Who do you choose to serve? What’s your reasoning behind it?

7 When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: “Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief. I will not use Shishak to pour out My anger on Jerusalem. 8 But they will become his subjects, so they will know the difference between serving Me and serving earthly rulers.” 2 Chronicles 12:7-8

Faith Requires Sacrifice…..

True faith requires sacrifice. I’m not talking about actual animal sacrifice, rather giving up in order to truly serve and honor God. When the nation of Israel split, the priests and Levite’s in the Northern kingdom left their homes and went to live in the Southern kingdom so they could worship God there. They sacrificed their comforts and familiarities of home in order to pursue God. Would you pack up and move in order to truly worship God? Do you make sacrifices in order to serve Him? Are you willing to die to self, take up your cross, and follow Him daily? If not, what’s standing in the way?

5 Rehoboam remained in Jerusalem and fortified various towns for the defense of Judah. 6 He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, 7 Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, 8 Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, 9 Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, 10 Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These became the fortified towns of Judah and Benjamin. 11 Rehoboam strengthened their defenses and stationed commanders in them, and he stored supplies of food, olive oil, and wine. 12 He also put shields and spears in these towns as a further safety measure. So only Judah and Benjamin remained under his control.13 But all the priests and Levites living among the northern tribes of Israel sided with Rehoboam. 14 The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and moved to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons would not allow them to serve the Lord as priests. 15 Jeroboam appointed his own priests to serve at the pagan shrines, where they worshiped the goat and calf idols he had made. 16 From all the tribes of Israel, those who sincerely wanted to worship the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem, where they could offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 17 This strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and for three years they supported Rehoboam son of Solomon, for during those years they faithfully followed in the footsteps of David and Solomon. 2 Chronicles 11:5-17

Being “In Tune” With God….

Being “in tune” with God helps us see things more clearly. When we look at things from an earthly sense, they don’t make clear sense, making us want to “fix it” our own way. When this happens, many times we end up outside of God’s will, fighting ourselves.

1 When Rehoboam arrived at Jerusalem, he mobilized the men of Judah and Benjamin–180 ,000 select troops–to fight against Israel and to restore the kingdom to himself.2 But the Lord said to Shemaiah, the man of God, 3 “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin: 4 ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not fight against your relatives. Go back home, for what has happened is My doing!’ ” So they obeyed the message of the Lord and did not fight against Jeroboam. 2 Chronicles 11:1-4