Bible Chapter: II Chronicles 23 & 24

Because the Bible is practical, here are some statements to get you thinking.

1.  Write one or two key thoughts that come from today’s reading.
    Jehoiada the priest was used of God to point Judah to the Lord again.  He organized the Levites to protect a child.  Joash was seven years old and was established as the king.  They drove Athaliah out of power.  She was killed.  Then Jehoiada made a covenant with the people that they would be God’s people.  They tore down the temple of Baal and killed the heathen priest.  Joash became the king and he did the things that were right in the sight of the Lord.
    Jehoiada the priest was one hundred thirty years old and he died.  After he was buried with honors, Joash turned from the Lord and went back to what was destroyed when he was made king.  It appears that he was following the influence of the priest and didn’t have a heart to serve God.  He rejected the prophet who was sent to call them back to the Lord. This brought God’s judgement against the nation.

2.  What can I apply in my life from the reading?
    Why serve God?  Why go to church or read the Bible?  Is it only because someone forces the issue?  Is it out of guilt?  Is it for business reasons?  It appears to me that while Joash started out well, he didn’t have a heart for God.  He didn’t serve God with the right motivation.  When the “opportunity” arose to go back to the old ways, he jumped at it.  I must ask myself this critical question, why serve God?  My service to Him must be because my heart is committed to Him.  The Bible says salvation comes to the one who believes in their heart that Jesus is Lord.

3.  How can I help someone?
    I know many religious people.  They feel pressure to go through the religious rituals.  What do they really accomplish?  They don’t know the personal relationship with Jesus.  I want to help people see the difference between form and ritual and really knowing and loving Jesus.