God Only

2 Chronicles 17 vs 4-6 & 12 is a powerful reminder that God seeks singularity in our relationship with Him.

Contextually, Solomon’s son Rehoboam has divided Israel and Judah by returning to pagan worship. Along comes Jehoshaphat and returns to God’s Ways and things go well for Judah. This account in 2 Chronicles 17 vs 4-6 & 12 point us directly to God’s Commandments.

What is incredible about God’s Commandments is that God loves us so much He wants to protect us, hence the commandments which are both instructions and promises.

Instructions that have a specific order. Starting with the priority of God first and only God, we draw wisdom, Agape love, strength, knowledge and salvation. With this relationship established, by default, we will treat people as God instructs.

Notice how in 2 Chronicles 17 Jehoshaphat tears down the pagan symbols and practices, re-establishing God’s Will amongst the people of God. By default of God’s Nature and Character, when we follow Jesus, good things come, vs 12, “Jehoshaphat grew steadily greater.”

In our lives we are bombarded with ideologies that feed our insecurities, motivating us to attach to concepts, lifestyles, trends, and appearances to feel accepted. It is a trap that imprisons us, making us slaves to performance addiction.

Jehoshaphat’s story highlights an important fact about courageously living for God by doing our best to obey God. We cannot have our ‘two masters” by trying to fit into the world and compromising on God’s Way thinking God is down with that.

Too often, we as believers want instant Christianity thinking we can be delivered from everything without walking out the effort of the sanctification process. Yes, God does deliver people from demonic strongholds, but for most of our walk with God we are unlearning and relearning our identity and character which is in Christ.

The fascinating thing is that The 10 Commandments are also promises. Promises that God makes to us, that He will turn us from our sinful dysfunction when we build our relationship with Him. We do this through prayer, reading and studying God’s Word, repententing when the Holy Spirit highlights the darkness in us, and interestingly when we die to self by reaching the lost through evangelism because God’s Agenda is reaching those who know they are sinners.