I was reading today in 2 Chronicles 19 – 21. It talks about the life of Jehoshaphat. It was amazing to see the things that God used him to accomplish. His heart was turned toward following God. I noticed something though in looking at two things in this passage.
1. He didn’t tear down the high places. He left the window for the people to set their hearts on other things. I believe brothers we can do the things that God has called us to do, doing the WORK of ministry, but if we don’t work at helping people to grow and help them move toward God, then we leave the window open as well. Now I know that helping people should be the work of the ministry, but I have seen and experienced the busyness that we call ministry that has nothing to do with growing people. Jehoshaphat did follow God, he just didn’t lead the people to do the same. In chapter 20, verse 33, it states, “the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.”
2. That also had a trickle down effect in his own family. Jehoram was his son. If you read chapter 21, you find that he did not walk in the ways of his father, but in the ways of Ahab. Jehoshaphat had done well for himself, but neglected to train, teach, and disciple his own son in following God. It doesn’t say, but you wonder how many opportunities passed for him to tell Jehoram of the greatness of the God he served. I sometimes wonder if we don’t do the same. We can’t stress too often to our children of how awesome God is and explain all the amazing things that He has done in our lives.
I don’t want to allow myself to get so caught up in the ministry that I forget to grow people and forget to grow my family. I don’t want to get so caught up in the battle and in busyness that I forget to grow people and show them the way to relationship with Christ.
Joe Summers
Byesville A/G
May 8, 2010 at 1:27 am
Thank you Joe!
“the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their fathers.”
The high places: the leftover influence from godless religion and lifestyle, remained in tact and continued to assault true relationship with God. Today our high places scream that we do not need to set our hearts fully on God. We fight that philosophy in so many of our people. Most church goers live their lives partially committed to God. The church itself strengthens the lie.
As leaders, we have to continue to sell out to God on greater levels. If I am not wholly after God, my life strengthens the high place. I cannot lead people where I have not gone. My wholesale sell out to God is what tears down the high place and cuts the power of the lie. My hot coals of passion for God soon ignite the wood around me. White hot passion is the only hope for lives soaked in half hearted love for God.
White hot passion burns away frustration and discouragement that comes when people fail to respond. Tethered securely in the life giving vine, my relationship with Jesus allows me to love my brothers and sisters deeply from the heart even when they are slow to change.
Go after God! Go after God’s people! Do not settle for anything but the fruit of the spirit flowing 24-7 from my life.