Spiritual Restoration
Spiritual Restoration. Jehoshaphat was a "hands on" king; he went out among the people seeking to bring them back to the Lord. He put judges over the people to admonish them. Isn't it interesting that Jehoshaphat used the courts of law to bring the people back to God.
4 So Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba
to the mountains of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD God of
their fathers. 5 Then he set judges in the land throughout all the
fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, “Take
heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the
LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore, let the fear of
the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with
the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
2 Chronicles 19:4-7, NKJV
Spiritual Restoration
In the next several devotions we will discuss the restoration, spiritually, of nations and individuals and even some parables of Christ.
Webster defines restoration as, a bringing back to a former position or condition.
In this devotion we will look at the life of one of the good kings of
Judah, Jehoshaphat. His reign was not perfect; as a matter of fact he grievously
displeased God when he came to the aid of Ahab, the wicked King of
Israel. Yet, God saw that Jehoshaphat had prepared his heart to seek
God.
Jehoshaphat was a "hands
on" king; he went out among the people seeking to bring them back to
the Lord. He put judges over the people, giving them this admonition,
“Take
heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the
LORD, who is with you in the judgment. 7 Now therefore, let the fear of
the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with
the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.”
Isn't
it interesting that Jehoshaphat used the courts of law to bring the
people back to God. It does make one wonder what the true state of a
nation is that makes laws completely contrary to the commandments of
God!
We are not saved by
keeping the law of God, but the law of God gives us a true understanding
of what is or is not sin. Believers in Christ desire to be obedient to
the Lord; though they can not possibly keep the commandments of God
perfectly, they go to Him continually asking for help to be obedient to
His Word.
When Jehoshaphat addressed the people, he reminded them that there is no sin or inequity in God. He does not take bribes, but He, rather, judges rightly. God knows our heart of hearts. Though we make look pretty good to the people around us on the outside, yet God sees our hearts. He knows our innermost thoughts, intents, and desires.
In other words, there is no fooling God. To be restored spiritually will not completely happen until we are in heaven with the Lord. But, by the grace of God, great strides can be made while we are still on this earth. Let us seek to please God from our heart of hearts and not worry about what people will or will not think.
During our life on
this earth, we often find ourselves in need of spiritual restoration.
Take time today to ponder your spirituality before God and seek His help to be restored spiritually.
More Devotions on Spiritual Restoration
Restore the Joy, Psalm 51:10-12
Restore Comforts, Isaiah 57:15b-16 and 18a
Return to God, Jeremiah 3:22-23
Who is Wise? Hosea 14:1b-3 and 9
Depths of the Sea, Micah 7:18-19
The Prodigal Son, Luke 15:11-23
You Who are Spiritual, Galatians 6
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