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- Oct 26, 2007
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For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him…" 2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV
Even good people change.
A king who usually depended on the Lord, Asa later used his own clever schemes to undermine the work of an adversary. Although his plan appeared to work, the prophet Hanani confronted Asa about his failure to depend on God. Instead of agreeing with Hanani and apologizing, Asa became so enraged “that he put him in prison” and “brutally oppressed some of the people.” Later, when afflicted with a disease in his feet, Asa “did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:10, 12 NIV).
What caused the drastic changes?
Maybe it wasn’t a midlife crisis, low blood sugar, or a deficit from his childhood. Maybe all that changed was that he became more committed to human resources than to God.
Could this happen to you?
Paul also used clever schemes to bend the will of his adversaries. The difference is that God encouraged most of those attempts and, whenever Paul erred in judgment, he apologized (Acts 23:5).
The “fully committed” man goes to God for help first, because God’s plans are trustworthy and “established for ever and ever” (Psalm 111:7-8 NIV)
Prayer: Lord, help me to ask You for advice and then to follow Your lead rather than my own resources.
Even good people change.
A king who usually depended on the Lord, Asa later used his own clever schemes to undermine the work of an adversary. Although his plan appeared to work, the prophet Hanani confronted Asa about his failure to depend on God. Instead of agreeing with Hanani and apologizing, Asa became so enraged “that he put him in prison” and “brutally oppressed some of the people.” Later, when afflicted with a disease in his feet, Asa “did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians” (2 Chronicles 16:10, 12 NIV).
What caused the drastic changes?
Maybe it wasn’t a midlife crisis, low blood sugar, or a deficit from his childhood. Maybe all that changed was that he became more committed to human resources than to God.
Could this happen to you?
Paul also used clever schemes to bend the will of his adversaries. The difference is that God encouraged most of those attempts and, whenever Paul erred in judgment, he apologized (Acts 23:5).
The “fully committed” man goes to God for help first, because God’s plans are trustworthy and “established for ever and ever” (Psalm 111:7-8 NIV)
Prayer: Lord, help me to ask You for advice and then to follow Your lead rather than my own resources.
