July 4, 2023
Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 24-27 / Acts 8
GOD’S WORD:
2 Chronicles 25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:
A father and four-year-old daughter were heading off in the family car. When they got in the dad said, “Honey, you need to sit down and buckle your seat belt.” To which the daughter replied, “but daddy, when I sit down and can’t see out the window. I want to stand up.” The dutiful father said, “You have to sit down, it’s the law.” Now the daughter began to cry saying,” but daddy, I won’t be able to see everything.” The father, growing impatient said, “Sit down! If you do not, I will take you back in the house and leave you home.” Reluctantly, the girl sat down and buckled in. A few minutes into the trip the father glanced over at his daughter to see her sitting there with her eyes closed smiling just a big as he had ever seen. He asked her, “sweetheart, what has you smiling?” The little girl said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.”
In 2 Chron. 25:2 it says of King Amaziah; “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” He performed his religious duties, however, not for the right reasons. His worship rituals were at best a halfhearted obedience. In verses 7-9 he questions God’s wisdom about a battle and complains about how much money was spent on the battle. He is reminded God can take care of both situations. Doing a spiritual duty just to get it done is not worship. It becomes work and is worthless.
GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:
Why do we pray, read our bibles, attend church, or serve in ministries? God designed all these things to help draw us closer to Him. Yet, doing them with little focus on God, and intending to just get them done, may not be helping.
Has Worship of God become a Spiritual Duty?
“Getting people into the Word of God…
… and the Word of God into people.”
Romans 10:17
Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12