Always Ready

After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Judah with him abandoned the law of Yahweh. – 2 Chronicles 12:1

Rehoboam was the arrogant son of a foolish father (Solomon). When, as the king of Judah, he sensed that he needed God's protection, King Rehoboam was a picture of obedience to divine law. Yet, once his power base had been established, his service to God was abandoned. Like many political leaders, Rehoboam “ran” on one platform, but “ruled” from another.

In similar fashion, how often have we relied upon God in a crisis, only to pursue our own independent goals when that crisis passed? Do we see our relationship to God as something to be accessed in an emergency (like oxygen for those who struggle to breathe on their own) or instead do we see the Lord as essential to life as the air that we inhale very moment of every day.

Financial strength, physical health, or even peace can be an enemy of God's presence if we are not diligent in cultivating a daily walk with the Savior. History proves that the trials and tribulations of life seem most effective in driving us to seek God's presence and while this may be true, we must also work continuously to develop spiritual "habits" that maintain our intimacy with the Lord. If we learn to seek the Savior when the need is not so urgent, we will find the strength to endure when it is.

Christ wants a child's heart, but a grown-up's head. He wants us to be simple, single-minded, affectionate, and teachable, as good children are; but He also wants every bit of intelligence we have to be alert at its job, and in first-class fighting trim. – C.S. Lewis