Getting back on track
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 10, 11, 12 (NIV)
2 Chronicles 12:5-8; 12 (NIV)
5 Then the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak.’”
6 The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”
7 When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance. My wrath will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak.
8 They will, however, become subject to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”
12 Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah.
Good morning!
Whenever we return home from a vacation, I spend a little time looking at the many brochures and memorabilia while unpacking the suitcases. Most of these items will be scrapbooked along with a journal of memories to be enjoyed in the years ahead. I marvel at the Lord’s mercy. We travel to strange places, far away from home. It is easy to get turned around. I was trying to mentally count the number of times Jeff and I literally did a u-turn and headed back in the opposite direction. We did it so often, I think I lost count after the first ten or fifteen times. I believe it may be easier for a Christian to humble their heart and ask for directions, and be willing to turn around, especially since this is a discipline we practice every day while on our knees. After awhile, it becomes second nature, don’t you think?
It is always an adventure traveling with my husband. When we returned the rental car to the dealership, the gentleman inspecting the vehicle greeted Jeff with a resounding, “Good morning, Father.” It is impossible to adequately explain why a man wearing a clerical collar is holding hands with a pretty woman dressed in a windbreaker, short sleeved t-shirt and Capri pants. Can you imagine the look of surprise when they realize we share the same last name! I’ve grown accustomed to seeing the furrowed eyebrows of the people who pass us by as we walk hand-in-hand toward the airline boarding gate. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned,” I whispered in Jeff’s ear. “It has been almost thirty seconds since my last confession.” He smiles at me and I squeeze his hand, as we continue our journey through life together.
King Rehoboam asked for counsel and basically got two differing opinions. He made a poor choice by not listening to his elders, and lost the Lord’s favor in the process. Fortunately, he was not so proud that when confronted with his sin, Rehoboam humbled his heart and sought forgiveness. He understood the need to stop and turn around. Because of the prophet Shemaiah, God was merciful to Jerusalem. The Lord stopped the destruction, but allowed His people to become subject to Shishak, so they might learn the difference between serving the Great I Am and serving kings of other lands. There are times when we must realize that all the good intentions we offer may not mean a thing, if we are not serving our Lord. Sometimes, we have to stop and ask the question, “Are we doing this for Him, or are we doing this for us?”
When our global positioning system works properly, we hear the gentle reminders of the computerized voice speaking in a frantic tone, “Turn around now!” Thank God that He allows for u-turns. As we head off into the world today, do not be afraid to stop and turn around, especially if you’ve somehow managed to lose your way. Jesus is there to help you get back on track. A humble and willing heart is what God looks for in each of us. Are you ready to make a u-turn this morning?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: a humble heart and willingness to turn it around. It is easy to get lost in this crazy, fast-paced world. Jesus is waiting for you to seek Him out, amid the many distractions you face each day. When your global positioning system begins to sound a warning alarm, listen carefully to the instruction, and pray for grace and mercy. He will forgive a humble heart and help guide you back on the track that leads to life everlasting.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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