The Unwavering Life
Daily Old Testament Reading: 2 Chronicles 27; Isaiah 9-11
Daily Focus Passage: 2 Chronicles 27
Living for Christ takes genuine commitment. We face temptations of various types that attempt to move us to the place of disobedience before the Lord. We face the pressure of the culture and the pressure from those we are close to. When we fail to live unwavering in our relationship with the Lord, our lives become unsteady and tossed by every dynamic we face. In 2 Chronicles 27, we find five traits needed to live an unwavering life in the Lord.
WE MUST NOT FOLLOW THE MASSES
King Jotham lived faithfully before the Lord. 2 Chronicles notes that he was "right in the eyes of the Lord." He pursued to live in holiness and obey the leadership of the Lord as he led the people. Yet, the Bible tells us that the people continued to live in corruption and reject the ways of the Lord. The king remained faithful and did not follow the example or pressure from the masses. He allowed the Lord alone to be the influencer in life. When we desire faithfulness, we must seek to live personally dedicated to the Lord. We must guard against the temptations of the masses from influencing our faith.
WE MUST BE STRENGTHENED BY THE LORD
2 Chronicles 27 tells us that King Jotham increased his strength because of his faithfulness in the Lord. Jotham's faith meant that he did not trust in the country's military power or ability; instead, he rested on the strength the Lord provided. He understood that the Lord's strength provided the strength for victory and endurance. Thus, he lived unwavering in his relationship with the Lord because he trusted the Lord for the required strength. We must follow Jotham's example and seek to trust the Lord for our needed strength. The Lord alone provides what is needed to remain unwavering.
WE MUST SEEK TO OBEY THE LORD IN ALL THINGS
Jotham did not select what areas of life he would obey the Lord. Instead, he gave the Lord complete control and authority over his life. When complete control is handed over to the Lord, we do not compartmentalize the Lord to only influence and work in certain areas of life. We give the Lord total occupancy and complete control over every component and area of life. King Jotham was an earthly king who gave his entire life to the Lord, trusted the Lord’s work, and led wholeheartedly.
WE MUST SEEK TO REMAIN FAITHFUL IN THE BIG AND LITTLE THINGS
King Jotham did not believe any detail or activity in life was too big or too small for the Lord. He trusted in the Lord as he navigated life's major and minor things. He knew that the Lord must be the Lord of all or not the Lord at all. Thus, he never attempted only to hand the big moments to the Lord. We must learn to hand everything over to the Lord. We must seek to trust him in the small and large moments in life. Trusting him demonstrates our reliance upon him.
WE MUST SEEK TO LIVE IN HUMILITY
Jotham did not think of the self more highly than he should. He recognized his position in the presence of the Lord. Thus, he lived in humility because he knew that without the Lord, he was nothing. Humility marks a proper perspective of who we are in the presence of the Lord and identifies our need for the Lord. When we consider our lives, we must strive to live in humility that provides complete reliance upon the Lord and creates an unwavering faith.
These traits are not an exhaustive list of truths for living an unwavering life. Yet, these five truths entirely promote a life trusting in the Lord. When you consider your life, do you feel tossed by the temptations and things of this world? Are you fully locked into Christ and allow him to provide the needed anchor to remain steady through it all? Is your walk wavering or unwavering?
