E-Message Bible/Commentary

If God appeared to you right now and say to you, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you" would you be able to articulate exactly what you want?

One of our greatest problems when it comes to talking to God is that we are afraid to speak what is on our hearts and minds. We bet around the bush. Solomon did it right. He asked for what he wanted and needed at the time of the request. He said, "Give me wisdom and knowledge." God gave Solomon exactly what he said he wanted. Not only did God give Solomon wisdom and knowledge, but he also gave him wealth, riches, and honor (2 Chronicles 1:10-12).

It must also be pointed out that God gave Solomon more than what he asked for because Solomon knew the purpose of his desire. He wanted wisdom to govern God's people over whom God had made him king.
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What's In It For Me?
IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Advertisers know exactly how to get people to buy their products or use their services. They directly or indirectly answer the question every consumer asks: "What's in it for me?" They tell us how to obtain the things we seek to make our lives easier, more convenient, and more beautiful along with other benefits.  
 
Some people might not readily admit it, but we all have our radios tuned to WII-FM where the call letters mean "What's in it for me?" Whenever we are asked to do something, our antennas are set to hear the answer to that important question: "What's in it for me?" Nobody wants to do anything just to be doing it. There must be some personal benefits to motivate us to do whatever we do.
 
There is nothing wrong, evil, illegal or immoral about wondering what benefits we will receive from investing  valuable time, energy and money into something.  God knew we would wonder about those benefits. Therefore, the Bible is not silent when it comes to telling us exactly what we will receive when we obey God. For every "If" in the Bible, there is a "Then."
 
If we will do what God commands, then there is something in it for us. And that includes salvation, faith, hope, forgiveness, joy, peace, love, longsuffering, gentleness, grace, mercy, freedom, provisions, providence, promises, and the list goes on and on.
 
You ask, "What's in it for me?" The answer is simple: EVERYTHING!

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What would Jehoshaphat do? Jehoshaphat followed in the footsteps of his righteous father, Asa. During Jehoshaphat's 25-year reign, he took measures to protect Israel from war. He was powerful and successful, but he did not let his success go to his head. However, no one is perfect and neither was Jehoshaphat. He made one bad choice. He allied himself with King Ahab of the northern kingdom who was steeped in idolatry. Jehoshaphat did not heed the warnings of the prophets that Ahab and Jezebel were dangerous to his health. During a battle, Ahab was slain and God spared Jehoshaphat in spite of his bad judgment.

After being rebuked for his wrong choice, Jehoshaphat learned a valuable lesson. We can benefit from that lesson. He put the experience behind him and continued in his zeal for God. In order to correct his mistake of allying himself with the wicked king Ahab, Jehoshaphat's zeal for God increased. He did his best to stop the idolatry, but he was unable to get everyone to turn their hearts to God. God blessed Jehoshaphat for his efforts, and God blessed the nation because of his righteousness.

Two important life applications can be seen through Jehoshaphat's "reforming spirit in seeking God" (2 Chronicles 15:1-9) and his "delight in the ways of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 17:6).  #1 We are blessed because of the righteousness of our leaders. #2 God blesses our efforts even if the intended results are not completely accomplished.
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"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . ." (Hebrews 3:8) "Do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were; submit to the Lord . . ." (2 Chronicles 30:8)
 
(1) A HARDENED HEART. A person with a hardened heart is one who is stubborn and does not repent of sins. This person stores up wrath against himself until the day when God's righteous judgment will be revealed (Romans 2:5). A hardened heart is used metaphorically to denote one's dulled spiritual perception and blindness. When people follow their own gods instead of the true and living God, they develop hardened hearts that keep them from experiencing love, compassion and spiritual truths. Their hearts and minds become dull to feelings, and the truth is hidden from them. In other words, people with hardened hearts have become anesthetized to true living. They have eyes but cannot see and ears that cannot hear. They oppose God and are disobedient to His commandments.
 
(2) A STIFF NECK. "You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You resist the Holy Spirit!" (Acts 7:51). Stiff-necked people are characterized as wayward and as stubborn as oxen who would rather stiffened their necks rather than be directed by their masters. This is a metaphor to describe stubborn people who are unwilling to submit to God's will and be led by His directives. Stiff-necked people are not only stubborn, but also unyielding, arrogant and proud. Stiff-necked people are rebellious and disobedient. Like oxen, they turn their necks away from the yoke and refuse to follow directions.
 
What then is the cure for hardened hearts and stiff necks? "Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer" (Deuteronomy 10:16). In other words, cut and throw away anything that keeps you separated from the love of God. Learn to love and serve God with your whole heart . . . one made of flesh and not of stone (Ezekiel 11:19).
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Have you ever wondered why some battles are so hard to win? Have you been fighting for something and there is no end in sight for what you are going there? Perhaps it is time to reflect on the battle you are trying to win. Maybe you are fighting a battle that should be left alone. All battles are not to be fought. You should choose your battles. Ask yourself "Why am I fighting this battle?" "What would be gained if I won?" "What would be lost if I'm not victorious?" Some battles should just be walked away from and left us to God to handle.
 
There is a good way to know the battle that you should fight. Those battles are the ones revealed to you by God. Those battles are the ones that God has definitely told you to fight. Those of the battles that God has said He would be with you to help you fight. As far as the others are concerned, walk away from them!
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While Josiah was only eight years old when he became the 16th king of Judah, he was not the youngest king to reign. Following the idolatrous influence of other kings, Israel experienced peace, prosperity and reform during Josiah's 31-year reign.

What would Josiah do especially as a young king? King Josiah devoted himself to pleasing God and reinstituting Israel's observance of the Mosaic Law. Josiah "began to seek the God of his ancestor David" (2 Chronicles 34:3). He cleansed Jerusalem and Judah of idolatrous objects (2 Chronicles 34:3-7). When Josiah ordered the Temple to be repaired, a copy of the Book of the Law was discovered (2 Chronicles 34:14-15). When the book was read before Josiah, he was horrified to learn how far Judah had departed from the law of God. The discovery of this book helped Josiah to continue the reform that was already in progress.

What life applications do we learn from Josiah? #1 Being young or old doesn't excuse us from doing what is pleasing to God.  #2 Wicked people who preceded us or who are still in our midst don't have to be the standard for how we live and serve God.  #3 Reformation and restoration are possible no matter how much wickedness exists around us.

What would Josiah advise us to do? Josiah would advise all people both great and small to read and obey the word of God. He would advise us to "follow the Lord, keeping his commandments, his decrees, and his statutes, with all our heart and all our soul, to perform the words of the covenant that are written in the law of God." Then he would "make us pledge ourselves to it." (2 Chronicles 34:31-32).

Let's read the Bible daily and pledge ourselves to follow all that's written therein.

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