"Absorbed by the World" June 1 Readings: 2 Kings 7-8, John 9:1–18, Psalm 69:7–13, Proverbs 14:13-14

Today's Readings - 2 Kings 7-8, John 9:1–18, Psalm 69:7–13, Proverbs 14:13-14

Devotional 

Jehoshaphat was a good king, a man who followed the ways of God and honored him, but he made a huge mistake in his life. He also befriended and partnered with Ahab, the wicked king of Israel.

A few days ago we read the story of Ahab's death, how Jehoshaphat went with him into battle against the enemy. Ahab surrounded himself with false prophets who told him exactly what he wanted to hear. Go up to victory, Ahab. Nothing can stop a great man like you. Jehoshaphat knew it was a setup and he asked to hear from a prophet of God. Micaiah was the prophet who spoke the truth Ahab didn't want to hear and refused to heed. He died for that mistake.

Jehoshaphat was a good king but he made a very bad friend. He stepped across a line that we face on a daily basis. We cannot isolate ourselves in this world. We have to engage a sinful society - we live in it, shop in it, drive in it, study in it, and work in it. In fact, the sinful people we engage on a daily basis are the purpose of our existence. We are here to bring them to the Cross for salvation.

But there is a line we must not cross. We are commanded not to be conformed to the ways of this world, but instead to be transformed, to be like Christ. While we engage this world in the name of Christ, we can never adopt its values, love its pleasures and the things it provides. We must walk circumspectly (how old-fashioned that sounds) and focus our lives on the glory of God. That is the line we must not cross.

Somewhere along the line, Jehoshaphat crossed that line and he paid a dear price for it. In 2 Kings 8:16 we are introduced to Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son who succeeded him to the throne. He did not follow in his father's ways but adopted the ways of his father-in-law, Ahab. Verse 18 says it all.

And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 

He married Ahab's daughter, molded himself to the ways of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. Jehoshaphat's compromise and his partnership with Ahab produced a bitter fruit in his son's life.

It only got worse with his grandson, Ahaziah. 2 Kings 8:27 gives the divine judgment on his life.

He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

He continued the spiritual absorption of the kings of Judah into the sinful ways of the kings of Israel and received the judgment of God for it.

The lesson here today is a difficult one. We must not be legalists, living by specific rules we have made up. Nor ought we isolate ourselves from sinners who need Jesus. But our values, our spiritual life, needs to flow from Christ, the Cross, the Word and Spirit of God, not from the sinful world.

When we allow ourselves to be absorbed into the world's ways, the price will be high, not only in our own lives, but in those of our children and grandchildren.

Father, may I engage this world, but live for you. May I love sinful people enough to love you first and to live for your glory and nothing else. 

Think and Pray

We have to be "in this world but not of this world" - to live in the sinful world without letting the sinful world take control of us.
Think through what that means and how you can avoid worldliness without avoiding ministering to people in this world.