RTW 2022

He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother.  He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father and mother.
2 Kings 3:2

He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines,…
1 Kings 22:43b

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Of Joram, Israel’s King

He did what was evil in the LORD’s sight, but not to the same extent as his father and mother.  He at least tore down the sacred pillar of Baal that his father and mother. (2 Kings 3:2)

Of Jehoshaphat, Judah’s King

He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines. (1 Kings 22:43)

Avoid the comma “at least” and comma “however.”

Three responses to God’s commands; pause, cause, or clause.

• Obedience without pause: God says it; we obey, period, the end. The motive is love.

• Obey without a cause: God says it; we obey because we want Him to move mightily in our life and we know He will not unless we obey. The motive is self-serving.

• Obey without a clause: God says it; we obey, after we strike a deal with Him. The motive here is selfishness.

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Ahaziah wanted to know his future.

But the angel of the Lord told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover?‘”
2 Kings 1:3

Many want information from God about their future, but refuse to obey Him in the present. Am I guilty of this?

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Obey God without pause, cause, or clause. There’s so much joy in immediate obedience.