Seeds of the Kingdom 6 May 2022 Daily Devotional || By Ellel Ministries International
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TOPIC: Could Have Done So Much Better
SCRIPTURE: Because Rehoboam humbled himself, the LORD’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah. – 2 Chronicles 12:12, NIV
Seeds Of The Kingdom 6 May 2022 Devotional MESSAGE
I’m not sure if the same sort of thing would be written on a child’s school report now, but in days gone by (well in my school days anyway), one expression seemed to appear quite often. “Could do better!”
When the chronicler gives his assessment of the reign of King Solomon’s son Rehoboam you get the feeling that he is saying something along similar lines. “Could have done so much better!”
I guess that coming after his father Solomon (‘the wisest man that ever lived’) was always going to be an incredibly hard act to follow. But Rehoboam made a very unpromising start by deliberately choosing to ignore the guidance of his father’s more experienced and mature advisors and listening instead to the younger men in his own circle (2 Chronicles 10).
The result was disastrous: the division of Israel, which left Rehoboam ruling over the much-diminished southern kingdom of Judah. Even then, though, the migration of many priests and Levites from the northern kingdom to Judah seemed to strengthen his position (2 Chronicles 11:13-17). However, it was after things had settled down, and Rehoboam’s position as king was established (2 Chronicles 12:1), that he committed his gravest mistake. ‘He and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.’
Because Rehoboam was unfaithful to the LORD, he exposed both himself and his people to attack from the king of Egypt. And it was only when Rehoboam humbled himself, that the LORD’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good in Judah (2 Chronicles 12:12).
How easy it is for any of us to fall into the same trap! When we go through times of struggle, we call out to God for help. But when things are better, and we feel strong again, how easy it is to forget the God who came to our rescue and rely instead on our own strength!
I guess the point of a report card which suggests we could to better is to encourage us to try harder. But for those of us who follow Jesus, it’s not more effort that’s required, but more reliance on the LORD. The God who made us, actually shaped us to need Him in all circumstances. We’re designed to seek Him, to lean on Him, to walk closely with Him. In times of struggle and in times of blessing may this be so.
Seeds Of The Kingdom 6 May 2022 PRAYER
Dear Father, thank You for the lessons we learn from so many of the characters we read about in Your word. Thank You for the lessons from Rehoboam that sometimes our greatest danger is not when we are struggling, but when we are not. Help us always to keep in step with You and walk humbly with our God. Amen.
Seeds Of The Kingdom 6 May 2022 Daily Devotional written by John Sainsbury. After a 16-year career in banking, John went to London Bible College where he completed a degree in theology and met his wife Sue. John then worked for 20 years in a number of church and other Christian contexts including establishing and leading a Missional Community in the Lake District before becoming the Lead Pastor at Garstang Free Methodist Church in 2012.
Whilst on a sabbatical break in 2019, John and Sue attended a wonderful marriage retreat, Time Out, at Ellel Ministries Canada and subsequently heard a call to join the team. They joined the Flagship school in the Autumn of 2020 and now serve on the Leadership team at Ellel Grange. John has a real passion for the Word of God and longs to see people become life-long followers of Christ.
When not walking his dog Poppy, John loves a good film, a good book and seeing Chelsea win the Champions’ League!