Today you should read: 1 Kings 15:1-34
I’m an only child. Whether or not you think I fit different stereotypes of being an only child aside, one thing I never had to fight growing up was living in the shadow of an older brother or sister. I would often hear different teachers in my classes comparing a person to their brother or sister in either a positive or negative light. Some of you may be compared to siblings or even parents. We often compare what we are currently experiencing to what we have experienced in the past.
This is kind of what we’re seeing in today’s passage. This book has been following the line of kings since David and Solomon. Today’s passage is no different, as kings are being compared to the character of David. Abijam is shown to be someone who walked in the sins of his father before him, who also didn’t follow in the example of David. Asa, on the other hand, had a heart that was “wholly true to the LORD all his days.” (v. 14) Even in the midst of a mixture of good kings and evil kings, God withheld showing justice on their sin for a long time because of David, who “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.” (v. 5)
What are some things that are practical for us to take away from this passage?
- God honors a pure heart towards Him. This of course will not guarantee earthly success, but it can represent the value of being someone who purely loves God and desires to live for Him. The success comes as you begin to live out God’s design for your life and begin to see your priorities and values come more into line with what God prioritizes and values. And from this passage, we see an example of God blessing generations because of the pure heart of David.
- You are leaving a legacy. While there is no way to be in full control of the outcome of your children or your children’s children, it is amazing to see the effect that one generation can have on future generations. Why would we not seek to do everything possible to model what it looks like to live for God, love God, and love other people to our children and future generations? We have a responsibility to do all that we can to allow the gospel to take root in the lives of future generations.
By: Graham Withers — Pastoral Ministry Apprentice
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