Earnestly Seeking – Sincerely Following

Amaziah became king at 25 years of age and the scripture says that “He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart”.  Amaziah was given victory after victory and then was deceived in his own mind and began to follow after other gods – forsaking the Lord. When Amaziah turned away from the Lord — no more victory — his own people sought after and then took his life.  Read the whole story yourself – 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Kings 13, 14)

This story can help us today.  We learn from Amaziah that when we follow God, but not with our whole heart – we will not only deceive ourselves, but we will be deceived and it will lead to our ruin.

It is easy to point out a person who is wicked when the wickedness plays out as murder, lying, adultery, etc.  But there are people who seem to follow after God who are also wicked.  There are those who do the things that look godly because they know how to look godly, but whose hearts are not at all for God.  I think we call them – Religious People.  I can’t speak for you — but I do not want to be one of these people.  

When I go to church; study the Word of God; help people; pray, etc. – I want to be doing it because my heart earnestly seeks Him and thirsts for Him.  If not, I am deceiving myself and others – and in the end our destruction will come swiftly.  Amaziah followed the ways of God but not wholeheartedly and became victim to unwise counsel, and was ultimately found to have turned away from God completely before he was killed.  We might not be killed, but there are things that are worse than (or as bad as) death!  To avoid ruin – it is important that we not just mimic the ways to God but that we seek to follow after His ways with our whole hearts.  This means that we do what we do for the Kingdom because of our sincere devotion to the King of Kings and out of a heart of gratitude for all that He has done and Is doing for us.

Father, Help us to love you with our whole hearts!  Teach us what it means to desire to serve you and to love You sincerely.  May our hearts shy away from seeking our own desires over Your perfect will and may we be found to be true seekers and true worshipers for all of our days.  Amen