"Eye" Surgery.

In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Cole made the following observation (paraphrased here) that I would like us to consider today: Amaziah needed to make two important discoveries: First, though he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, he had a divided heart. Second, Amaziah needed to see that God was greater than he had imagined.

1. Do we realize that God is greater than we have imagined? Amaziah’s motive was to win an earthly war, but he initially moved forward without asking God to help him win the war. Using only his human, “earthly” eyes, Amaziah made an assessment and concluded that his troops of Judean and Benjamite men were insufficient for the battle at hand. After the king hired Israelite troops, God’s prophet intervened with a corrective word and warning: “These troops from Israel must not march with you… Even if you go and fight courageously in battle, God will overthrow you before the enemy, for God has the power to help or to overthrow.” (see Second Chronicles 25:7-8) This narrative cautions us to live not by what we see, but by what God says.

2. Have we made the error of serving the Lord with a divided heart? One of the biggest challenges of the Second Chronicles 25 passage is that, on the surface, it appears that Amaziah was perfectly within his rights and role as a Judean king to solicit assistance from the army of Israel. But Amaziah’s question, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” (Second Chronicles 25:9a) reveals two characteristics of the person who operates with a divided heart.

a) First, Amaziah initially sought assistance from Israel instead of initially seeking the Lord’s guidance. This is a serious warning to those of us who claim to know the Lord as God, yet never ask for His guidance in anything we do. We are reminded in Psalm 32:8 that it is God who will instruct us, teach us, counsel us, and guide us by informing us of His perspective. Why would we fail to go to God as our first, best, and only Guide?

b) Second, Amaziah made a series of plans about how to spend his resources without first asking the Lord for help. We sometimes forget that even the resources we already have, whether scant or abundant, are under God’s watchful eye. And for us today, we need to remember that our resources at hand are not only financial. We have wonderful opportunities each day to honor God’s sovereignty in our lives by asking Him to guide us in our home lives, our healthcare, our studies, our careers, and more.

Second Chronicles 25:2 says of Amaziah, “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.” May God help us to give ourselves to Him wholeheartedly: every day, with every thing we own, with every thought that is in us, forever submitted to His direction and will.

Yes, God: I know there is warfare all around... but my eyes see You. I will wait for Your instruction and direction.

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Net Loss: Zero.

Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about the hundred talents I paid for these Israelite troops?” The man of God replied, “The LORD can give you much more than that.” (Second Chronicles 25:9)

In Sunday’s sermon our Pastor Emeritus, Reverend Dr. V. Seymour Cole, spoke on the importance of being open to doing what God says without trying to second-guess his word or justify attempts at self-help. Today, let’s reflect on the following statement shared by Pastor Cole:

“Are you going to think more in terms of what you have to pay than you do in terms of what you owe? If so, then you will be stunted souls-- trying to ‘buy God off’ with your pennies or your dollars when you should be men and women of spacious spirit, who regard nothing too great to lay at the Master’s feet.”

King Amaziah, who received a prophetic warning to go into battle without using the soldiers he had hired from Israel, expressed his concern about the money he had spent. The prophet said, in essence, God doesn’t have a problem with supplying needs. For those of us who have submitted our lives to the Lord, we can rest in the assurance that He will make up every loss we have incurred in our life-journey.

Are you in a position where you sense God is telling you to walk away from a venture that seems logically sound, a venture where you have already invested time and resources? Trust God. If He has called you to do without a particular resource, then follow His leading. He will certainly keep you in His care.

Because God is on my side, I can joyfully lay everything at His feet. I pray that the same is true for you.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:26-30)

Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.