Last week I read something interesting in the bible that stopped me in my tracks. If you read the books of Kings or the Chronicles in the bible, it follows the stories of the kings of Israel and Judah. In fact, the opening lines of each story paints a picture of what to expect of each king by putting them into two camps: He did what was right in the eyes of God or He did evil in the eyes of God. But this week, the opening line to King Amaziah’s life made me pause for a second.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheatedly.

2 Chronicles 25:2 NIV

That totally caught me off guard! I spent the rest of the week mulling over that and on Sunday, the sermon made it so much clearer. When we do not live in full surrender to God, there is a gap between the perfect plan God envisages for our life and the reality of what our lives are on earth. The example the pastor gave was the fact that in Revelations 7:9 shows a vision of every nation, every tribe and every tongue before the throne of God and yet in the reality of our world today, churches are segregated and even racism and discrimination permeate the hallowed sanctuaries! There is a gap…

And it is in this gap that the enemy seeks to take dominion over God’s people. We know the enemy prowls around seeking whom he may devour and it is in the gap that he finds us prey. Amaziah’s story starts well… but because he was not wholeheartedly devoted to God, the end of his life was a different story. Arrogance and pride filled the gap between doing what was right in God’s eyes and doing so wholeheartedly and that arrogance and pride brought about his downfall and destruction. Paul cautions:

…and give no opportunity to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27 ESV

Jesus admonished that when the prince of this world, Satan comes, he will find nothing in him and as followers of Jesus Christ that must be our confession too. So this week mind the gap. Pay attention to your inner thoughts and your self-talk. Pay attention to your actions. Are you living the life Jesus envisioned for you? Are you walking in His purpose? I have been humbled by Amaziah’s life and so I conclude with this prayer:

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Yours Truly.

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