Halfhearted Devotion August 30, 2015
2 Chronicles 25:1-2 Amaziah was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.
His heart wasn’t completely in tune with God. He had a halfhearted devotion.
Hosea 7:8 Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
This speaks of a half baked cake, which is worthless. It had all the ingredients but lacked devotion. Amaziah hired an extra 100,000 soldiers from Israel but God was not with them (they had turned from God). Amaziah reluctantly heeded the word of God through the prophet and God gave him the battle. But instead of being thankful, he was angry because he was proved wrong. In his pride he turned to the idols of the enemy that he had defeated; and the prophet told him God would destroy him. Idols cause the halfhearted approach to God that ends in complete defeat.
Solomon was another example of not going on with God wholehearted. He said, “vanities of vanities” – just emptiness.
1 Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
His wives became his idols. He put relationships to others above God. His heart was not perfect (complete). A little leaven leavens the whole lump. Man would say Solomon was better compared to what David did; but not God.
1 Kings 11:5-6 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
God is after complete surrender. Half heartedness doesn’t sit right with God and it won’t with you. He loves you with a godly jealousy. Like any good parent does, He wants you to have the best. He wants you to be filled with all the fullness of God – now. Delay is the halfhearted approach; it gives room for the enemy to come in. God brings monumental moments to each of us that bring full surrender in our lives. Take this. Will you go? Take the correction.
David thanked the Lord for the correction and he surrendered. Apollos was mighty in the scriptures and he was an eloquent, powerful preacher. A little couple took him aside and testified of a more perfect way, the whole counsel of God. Instead of saying, “who are you to tell me?” He did not hesitate, and he surrendered, took the correction, and humbled himself. He was teachable. What will it be for you? Is the word of God just moderately important to you or is it everything to you? Every life surrenders to something. It’s either Jesus Christ or it’s something of this world. My will or His will. The devil doesn’t need half of your life to destroy you, just a little bit. May God help us. All the ingredients are there, but if half in the world and half with God you are as valuable as a half baked cake. Surrender your life to him today. Idols never work. Lay it all on the altar. Endure hardness as a good soldier. Our citizenship is in heaven. This world tries to divide you. Today give Him everything.
Download FilesMP3