Faithful First

There are many distractions and temptations in our culture that can take my eyes off the Lord. I sometimes think I can do things in my own strength and with my own talent, but the Lord can always do much more with what “little” I have. I’m learning every day to be faithful to Him first and foremost above everyone and everything. He is the Creator of my life and He is also the Sustainer of my life. He has never let me down. He has done things different than I would have done them, but at the end of the day – I trust Him – period.

Solomon’s grandson Abijah was current King of Judah (the southern kingdom) and there was civil war between the nation of Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah. The northern kingdom had 800,000 troops and the southern kingdom had 400,000 troops. There was also a HUGE Variable – the southern kingdom followed the Lord. Abijah gave a speech to the northern kingdom and tried to avoid the conflict. Check this out…

10 “As for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him. The priests who serve the Lord are sons of Aaron, and the Levites assist them. 11 Every morning and evening they present burnt offerings and fragrant incense to the Lord. They set out the bread on the ceremonially clean table and light the lamps on the gold lampstand every evening. We are observing the requirements of the Lord our God. But you have forsaken him. 12 God is with us; he is our leader. His priests with their trumpets will sound the battle cry against you. People of Israel, do not fight against the Lord, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed.”

At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah. 16 The Israelites fled before Judah, and God delivered them into their hands. (2 Chronicles 13:10-12,15b-16 NIV)

The scripture goes on to say that the number of losses to the northern kingdom was around 500,000! The odds were now in favor of the southern kingdom. I don’t always understand the ways of God, but I trust Him. I don’t always like the position I find myself in, but I’m still learning to be faithful to Him no matter what.

I believe that the Lord honors faithful and consistent obedience over my words and my service to Him. He longs for a personal relationship with me. I’m just an ordinary person and He wants me to know Him more. I believe that the Lord wants my obedience over sacrifice. I don’t know what I will face in my life today, but I know He will be with me to walk through it. I’m not going to worry or fret about what today brings, because I know that He holds today in His hand and He goes before me and He stands beside me. My role is the life is to be faithful and to follow Him completely.

Pressing On!

Dwayne