2 Kings: Complete In Christ

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Chapters: 2 Kings 12-14
Message: 2 Kings: Complete In Christ

Hello My Friend,

Good, Complete or sufficiently perfect in its kind. God made everything good, people, animals, plants, trees, they are all good. There is another meaning to the word good, Having moral qualities best adapted to its design and use, or the qualities which God's law requires; virtuous (moral); pious (godly); religious (devoted to God); applied to persons, and opposed to bad, vicious, wicked, evil. There is this perception that as long as you are “good” you get to go to heaven, if not you would be in hell with the devil. The truth is, no one is Complete or sufficiently perfect, we can thank the devil for that as he was the one who brought sin into heaven first (he was an angel) then the earth when God cast him out of heaven. Do you think that the devil is in hell right now? Nope, he is somewhere on earth, and he is not looking forward to an eternity in hell no more than we are, but one day he will be, along with everyone else who is not good (complete. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:10,15.

To be complete one must have a body, soul, and spirit, since the curse of death came upon us through Adam we are born incomplete, meaning we have a body and soul, but are missing the Spirit of God, which makes us good. While we are all a creation of God, we are not good, meaning we are only complete through Jesus Christ, who is good. Christ as well as all God’s promises is something no one can alter. When Athaliah made herself queen and destroyed all the males in line of the throne, she tried to alter that promise, and failed when Joash was saved. Joash became king at the age of seven, he dedicated his success to God and the godly men and women who taught him in the temple. When he was old enough to start making decisions on his own, his first order was for the priests to repair the temple. Shortly after, we learn that Joash fearing a siege buys off Syria.

“Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem. And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.” - 2 Kings 12:17-21.

“and sent it to Hazael king of Syria:” Joash erred in trying to buy peace with Syria. This may have slowed them down, but they would be back because now they know they have control over Judah. Christians are never to try to buy peace with the world, God is the strength of every Christian, and if we all band together we can defeat them. However, if we cave in and submit to them then we will be the ones defeated. If we are complete in Christ, why would God not take care of all our needs. Let me tell you, there are too many people selling themselves out to the devil out of fear. We need not fear anything when we are complete in Christ. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” - Colossians 2:10,16,17.

Now, before Jesus got here salvation was based on their works, if they were moral, godly, devoted to God, and atoned of their sins through the animal sacrifices they made they were saved. Now, Israel has always had its ups and downs with God, to this day they believe they are complete because they are God’s chosen. And while God will always protect Israel as a nation He does not do it based on their being good, he does it because He made a promise to Abraham many years ago. We are reminded of this when God gave them up into the hands of Syria once again, and Jehoahaz seeking His help to end the battle.

“And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael, all their days. And Jehoahaz besought the LORD, and the LORD hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. (And the LORD gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime. Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.) Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.” - 2 Kings 13:3-7.

“And the LORD gave Israel a saviour,” God did not help Jehoahaz because he sought God for help as he knew that he would not repent and return to God nor did He save them from judgment because they were good. God was saving Israel from being completely destroyed, not the man who refused to forsake his false gods and turn to Him. Those who are complete in Christ are not saved by any good that they do, but by the finished work of Christ, who is perfect and complete. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” - Ephesians 2:8,9.

There is a man that joined our church he came from a church we left because of some corrupt things they had going on, and this man was part of that group. As much as I believe that we cannot judge anyone of their past, that still does not stop me as a human from wondering if he is deceiving the church to do the same thing there. When Joash died his son Amaziah reigned, he walked in the ways of his father, he was sought out by Jehoahaz to give his daughter to his son for a wife, but Amaziah refused and he did not take it too well.

“Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle. Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee? But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah. And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents. And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Bethshemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits. And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.” - 2 Kings 14:8-14.

“And Judah was put to the worse before Israel;” You finally find a king that would not be influenced by anyone, including his own people and he gets attacked. We can expect things like this to happen, I do not know how many times people have turned on me because I would not do something for them. Their response is always, “I thought you were a Christian?” Refusing to go against our beliefs can often come with great opposition and persecution, but it is better to die on the right side of God than the wrong one. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” - 1 Peter 3:12-14.

Jesus Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is revealed in the savior that God sent to relieve Israel from judgment. Jesus is not only the Saviour to all those in Israel who believe in Him, He is the Saviour to all who believe. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” - 1 Timothy 4:10.

Today's Prayer: Jesus, I knew that the day I believed in and received You as my Saviour I was complete. I could feel the power of God come over me as I put all my faith and trust in You as the only one who can save me from the judgment of my sins. Lord, I want Your light to shine in me so much that all the world sees You in me. I know that as long as You shine in me I will face suffering and persecution because of my faith. You are my strength to defeat any person that tries to get me to alter my faith or compromise with them. You are my hope, my courage, my LORD and Saviour, and nothing can separate us. Keep me faithful to Your promises and never let me forget all that You have done for me. In Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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