17/07/2015 - OBEDIENCE BRINGS PEACE

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So Abijah rested with his fathers, and they buried him in the City of David. Then Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land was quiet for ten years. 2 Chronicles 14.1

Abijah could have been a great king of Judah, but he was driven by the sins of his father, Rehoboam. The result was that he reigned only for three years. He was not a completely bad governor. In a certain occasion, with 400 thousand men, he faced Jeroboam – who had divided the kingdom – with 800 thousand soldiers. Anyhow, Abijah was steadfast, and when he saw Jeroboam surrounding him in the front and rear, he cried out to God, who delivered him (2 Cr 13).

Asa, his son, reigned in his place and looked towards the example of David, his ancestor, and imitated him. This should serve as a testimony to all Christians, for it is necessary to look to Jesus, our Example. He managed to clean his land from the witchcraft that was in Jerusalem and around the country since the last days of Solomon. Thus, he pleased the Most High, who gave him ten years of peace.

Abijah’s son understood the need to govern in his father’s place, and not to keep practicing the same things that he did. This must be how we behave, for we cannot let ourselves be led by the way that another person acts. One day, we will be accountable for God of all the things that we did and did not do. If we have been silent or careless about the Lord’s matters, we will certainly be punished.

Responsibility is personal. Whoever is in the ministry needs to understand that, one day, he will answer for his attitudes. We must be inspired in Christ, see how He dealt with things, and before the Father’s orientations in the Word, make our decisions. Asa ordered to destroy the places of witchcraft and idolatry, and ordered the people to seek the Most High and His commandments. The result was soon evident in all places.

When a king executes his duty with the fear of God, the Lord operates for him and through him. It is impossible to be different, for the Word promises it. Whoever gets married, for example, must seek the good example of his parents, if they truly served the Almighty, but they must act based on the Holy Book. We are the continuation of the divine work and not of our ancestor’s work. If they have done right, praise God; we, however, must not go wrong.

The land governed by Asa was in peace for ten years, but it could have been more. The king committed a terrible mistake, allowing fear to enter in his heart. He proposed that while there was peace, he would prepare for war. Afterwards, they saw a great threat coming, and this did not confirm that he had been right; on the contrary, he had been wrong. If he had trusted in the Lord, the enemy would not have even noticed him. The Most High makes the enemies of His servants to be in peace with them.

Prepare yourself to reign; after all, the Word says so in regards to all who accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior; we do not have to be worried about tomorrow, for God knows how to take care of those who belong to Him. Look to the occurrences in your house and come before the Father to denounce problems, solve them, and give an end to the evil action.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares