Tuesday, May 24, 2016

SOAP 05/21/2016; 2 Chronicles 21:20

Today's reading: 1 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 4; Psalm 98; Romans 2*

S) "20 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years; and he departed with no one’s regret, and they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."

2 Chronicles 21:20 (NASB)
*because there are already entries for each of these chapters, I also read 2 Chronicles 21

O) When Jehoram ascended the throne of Judah after his father, the good King Jehoshaphat, he had with him six brothers. He was the oldest, so his dad named him the successor, but he still left gifts and cities for his other sons. Like the gentile nations, though, Jehoram thought to secure his place on the throne by killing all others who could claim it. He also followed the ways of the evil kings of Israel, since he had married a princess from Israel. Through all of this, he sought to secure his line, but the LORD executed judgment on him. Consequently, he suffered revolts, struggled through wars, he was struck by a deadly disease, all in the span of only eight years.

A) There are a lot of ways to die, and only God knows how I will go. I cannot control that. Jehoram was certainly going to die, and maybe even at the age of forty years old. But, the fact that no one regretted his passing, that is a serious indictment. The only real way to ensure that my end is any more noble than that, is to heed the warning of Jesus, when He said that seeking to save my life will mean I lose it. Instead, I need to lose my life to Him, and then I'll be saved (see Matthew 16:25). More than that, by living a life submitted to Christ, by dying to myself, I will love others more and more. That is the legacy I want to leave behind, that people would still mourn my death. They won't mourn as others do (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13), but I hope I'm missed.

P) Father, my life is Yours. With the grace You have shown me, I am indebted to You. You purchased my life with the blood of Your Son. I couldn't save myself even if I knew how. There was no atonement I could make. There was no hope for my future. Help me to dwell on the gospel, and on the beauty of my redemption. Let me recognize, each day, that I cannot save myself. Instead, I will choose to lose myself in Christ Jesus, and trust in Your salvation alone. Keep me humble, Lord, whatever it takes. I willingly bow my knee before Your throne. I willingly submit myself to Your authority. Let Your will be done over me. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.

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