One of the Good Ones.

The kingdom will likely now revert to the house of David. If these people go up to offer their sacrifices in the temple of Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam, king of Judah. They will kill me and return to king Rehoboam. – 1 Kings 12:26-27

There were 39 kings of Judah and Israel. Only 8 of them were considered good. The rest lived very selfishly and served Gods other than the One True God. I can’t name them. When I finish this trip through the entire Bible here in a month or so, I plan on going back and specifically reading Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles and finding out for myself.

Jeroboam was the first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. A prophet told him all that would happen. Instead of following God with his whole heart, he began to care more and more about himself. He began to care more and more about his own kingdom. Fear gripped his heart, and he began to worry about what others would do. Because of this, Jeroboam would not be considered one of the good kings of Judah and Israel.

So many people consider themselves Christians today. I consider myself one. I constantly examine my heart and see what is in there. More often than not, I really don’t like what I find. I hate what I know I would become if I didn’t daily read the Word, talk to the Lord, and do my best to make Him truly the Lord of my life. Even with all of this, I still mess it up. I still don’t listen when I should have listened, and I react in what I think is my own best interest. If 8 out of 38 Christians are considered good, I want to be one of those 21%. Unfortunately, I don’t think the percentage in America is that high . . . but what do I know? I know that God only reveals to me what is in my heart. He never reveals to me what is in another person’s heart. I am only responsible for my story.

You are responsible for yours.

Be one of the good ones.

Lord, this morning, half of the American people are happy, and the other half are disappointed. There are Christians who never think about how Your people, Israel, and Judah, sat under 31 bad kings. I pray that You will bless the USA. I pray that we will have a series of good Presidents who love You and love people. You said that people would come to know You because Your people had love one for another. You said that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Yet, here we are, almost perfectly divided into two political parties with faction upon faction within each. If only each person knew real peace that passed all understanding. If only they knew that this world is passing away, but the word of the Lord will stand forever and ever. If only they knew that sooner than later, we will stand before You. Every knee and every tongue will confess that You are the Lord, one way or the other. Change our hearts, Lord. Change our minds. Hasten the day when You rule this world. Hasten the day when we are led by the one true God. Lead us, guide us, and protect us until then. I love You, Lord. Amen.