Today’s Reading 2 Chronicles 13-17
Focal Scripture: 2 Chronicles 15:3-4 “For many years Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without instruction, but when they turned to the Lord God of Israel in their distress and sought him, he was found by them.”
Israel and Judah forgot the statutes that God gave them. They lead in their own strength and worshipped idols. A few good kings were in place but the majority turned their backs on the law and on God. This caused division amongst the people and a loss of identity.
King Asa was a good king. He wanted to follow the statutes of the Lord. He destroyed the places of worship that belonged to idols. He made sure the people worshipped God alone. He wanted to remind them of their history with God and his provisions.
The application for believers is that they focus on the teaching of Gods commands, apply those commands, and turn to God in times of distress. This can only happen if people are being lead to know the Bible. To often in our culture people say they don’t have time to know God.
The Old Testament up to this point demonstrated that not knowing the word causes damage. Not just personally but corporately. I encourage you to attend a church that systematically teaches the Bible. A pastor that makes theology and doctrine important. Also a pastor that wants people to know the word.
Biblical discipleship is teaching people what the Bible teaches. We were commanded to teach disciples everything that Jesus taught. A shallow preacher will create a shallow church.
How do I know this? Because a shallow leader created a shallow nation. The Bible has given us a warning.
Be encouraged today that this is something that you can address in your life. You don’t have to settle for mediocrity. We don’t worship the Bible but we do examine it because it explains to us the one we do worship.
Find a place that emphasizes the Bible. Also be a person that runs to the Lord in difficulty. Depend on him. This is why teaching matters.
Tomorrow I plan on reading 2 Chronicles 18-20
