21 SEPTEMBER

FLUCTUATING OBEDIENCE

“Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him.”  (2 Chronicles 12:1, NKJV)

After the shaking from losing the ten tribes as a result of taking wrong advice, Rehoboam seemed to realise his mistakes; so he sought and obeyed God. He took in all the priests and Levites that Jeroboam, king of ten tribes of Israel had rejected.

He built fortified cities in Judah and prospered for three years. At the peak of his popularity and power, he forsook the law of God. The people followed him and transgressed against the Lord. The consequence was that God allowed Egypt to conquer Judah but not completely, because Rehoboam humbled himself in repentance. The king of Egypt took away all the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house.

Till the end of his days, Rehoboam had bronze shields he had made as replacement for the gold shields Solomon had made. His disobedience led to exchanging the most valuable for the far less valuable.

It seems that challenges push people, especially Christians, to more prayers, a closer relationship with God and more sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. More often than not, the smooth and good times tend to make us more complacent, self–sufficient, self–satisfied and less prayerful. This should not be. We should resist fluctuating obedience that makes us conceited when challenging times get better.

ACTION: Be vigilant over your life in challenging times, but be much more vigilant in the good times.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, make me a Christian that obeys you in all seasons.