The Sum of Your Life
Scripture: 1 Kings 15:1-3,8
"1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam...Abijah became king of Judah,...2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years...3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God,...8 And Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David."
The book of Kings accounts for the reign of the rulers of Israel written from God's perspective. Often their entire life's accomplishments are recorded in a chapter or less. One such individual was named Abijah. He is given all of 8 verses about his life an his reign as King. You'd think someone that important would at least get some credit for his wealth, leadeship abilities, his popularity, his family, etc. But in short, God was able to sum up his life in 8 verses by stating what this guy did not do that truly mattered- his heart was not commited to the Lord and he was unfaithful. I'm sure he won many battles and did a lot of other "great" things that the masses thought were significant. But from God's perspective there's only one basic requirement in life- be faithful to Him.
We tend to spend our lives doing things that either matter to us or to others. But sometimes we get caught up in doing stuff that has no eternal value. Other times we just get off track and do things that we shouldn't without even really thinking about it. But we also usually have no problem justifying what we do or don't do based on the standards we have created for ourselves or our culture has created for us. But what we do or don't do matters greatly to God.
In everything we do He is looking for one thing- a heart that is fully committed to Him. However, the biggest reason why we aren't more faithful to God is are those areas of our hearts that we have not yet fully committed to Him. However, once we settle the heart issue, faithfulness to God is sure to follow. There wil be a day when God evaluates each of our lives and tests the collective quality of our works (1 Corinthians 3:15). Rest assured that when He does, what will our lives look like from God's perspective? (the only one that really matters).
Father, we surrender our hearts to You and commit all that we are to You today. Help us in all we do to be found faithful to You and focus on the things that truly matter. Amen.
"1 In the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam...Abijah became king of Judah,...2 and he reigned in Jerusalem three years...3 He committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God,...8 And Abijah rested with his fathers and was buried in the City of David."
The book of Kings accounts for the reign of the rulers of Israel written from God's perspective. Often their entire life's accomplishments are recorded in a chapter or less. One such individual was named Abijah. He is given all of 8 verses about his life an his reign as King. You'd think someone that important would at least get some credit for his wealth, leadeship abilities, his popularity, his family, etc. But in short, God was able to sum up his life in 8 verses by stating what this guy did not do that truly mattered- his heart was not commited to the Lord and he was unfaithful. I'm sure he won many battles and did a lot of other "great" things that the masses thought were significant. But from God's perspective there's only one basic requirement in life- be faithful to Him.
We tend to spend our lives doing things that either matter to us or to others. But sometimes we get caught up in doing stuff that has no eternal value. Other times we just get off track and do things that we shouldn't without even really thinking about it. But we also usually have no problem justifying what we do or don't do based on the standards we have created for ourselves or our culture has created for us. But what we do or don't do matters greatly to God.
In everything we do He is looking for one thing- a heart that is fully committed to Him. However, the biggest reason why we aren't more faithful to God is are those areas of our hearts that we have not yet fully committed to Him. However, once we settle the heart issue, faithfulness to God is sure to follow. There wil be a day when God evaluates each of our lives and tests the collective quality of our works (1 Corinthians 3:15). Rest assured that when He does, what will our lives look like from God's perspective? (the only one that really matters).
Father, we surrender our hearts to You and commit all that we are to You today. Help us in all we do to be found faithful to You and focus on the things that truly matter. Amen.
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