Saturday, May 28, 2011

Little Is Much With God

King James Bible Study Daily Devotional

Message Title: Little Is Much With God
Date: Saturday May 28, 2011
Chapters: II Chronicles 25-27
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-may-28
Details of Today's Chapters: The reign of Amaziah over Judah, war between Judah and Israel, the reign of Uzziah, his successes, fame, and what caused him to become leprous, and the reign of Jotham in Judah.

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments...The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.“ - Matthew 19:16,17,20-24.

The number one reason why people do not want to follow God is because they do not want to give up the things they have in the world. The number one reason why Christians backslide is because they, having been blessed with many treasures, stop depending on God. God will give us anything we ask for as long as we are faithful to Him, but He will take it away if we lose sight of Him and stop ignoring His calls.

All throughout the Old Testament we learn of how blessed the people were, whether Jew or Gentile, when they followed God with all their heart. However, there are countless times we learn of their walking away from Him and the judgment they faced upon doing so. The thing was not that they sinned, everyone sins, it was that they were not willing to confess nor forsake the sin. King Amaziah, up to a certain point, walks with God, but not with a perfect heart. In weakness and with an unsteady step during a battle he hires an army out of Israel to help him, which was a severe mistake, but he listens to the prophet, and saves Judah from being defeated by Edom.

“Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together, and made them captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers, throughout all Judah and Benjamin: and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them three hundred thousand choice men, able to go forth to war, that could handle spear and shield. He hired also an hundred thousand mighty men of valour out of Israel for an hundred talents of silver. But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD is not with Israel, to wit, with all the children of Ephraim. But if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down. And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.” - II Chronicles 25:5-9.

Trusting in God means being willing to give up anything for Him, knowing that He can more than make up for any thing we will ever lose that the world has to offer. We all need to keep reminding ourselves that God will always provide us with everything we need to live a happy, prosperous life, little is much when God is in it. Jesus gave His life for us to give life to us, now He wants to live life through us. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” - John 14:12-14.

Amaziah might have listened to the prophet, which lead to their victory, but the next thing he did would cause Judah to be defeated by Israel. The Edomites worshiped the sun under different forms and with various rites, Amaziah took these objects, brought them into Jerusalem and began burning incense upon them. Amaziah's conduct in bringing these objects in Jerusalem was foolish, ignorant, and highly offensive to God, who sent a prophet to rebuke him for his apostasy, and warn him of the judgment that soon after came upon him.

“Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up to be his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them. Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?..And Joash the king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, at Bethshemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits.” - II Chronicles 25:14,15,23.

God's question, “Why has thou sought after the gods of the people which could not deliver their own people?” God asks this question to many even today, many who are quick to forsake God over a person, job, addiction, or lifestyle that will never satisfy them. All who put their trust in these false gods will face much affliction until they come to God in repentance. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” - Romans 2:9-12.

After Amaziah died his son, Uzziah (Azariah) reigned, he was one of the most successful kings of Judah. He was sixteen when he began to reign and as long as He sought God he prospered as a king, but the more successful he became the more he thought himself above the law. Uzziah became so over confident of his success that he thought himself above God, making himself to be as a high priest as he went into the Temple and burned incense.

“And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper...But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.” - II Chronicles 26:5,16-19.

Even though he was a great king, God still judged him, for no man is above the Law of God, over eighty men tried to warn him and when he did not listen God judged him. Because of his leprosy, Uzziah was an outcast from both his own palace as well as the Temple. God is not a respecter of persons, He will place judgment upon anyone who will not repent. However, He is faithful and just to forgive and forget all our sins when we humble ourselves before Him. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:8,9. Praise God!

We do not need all the riches of the world to be happy, little is much when God is in our lives, just think of the amazing gifts we will receive in heaven simply for believing in and accepting His Son. “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.“ - Matthew 6:19-21.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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