2 Chronicles 19:9 KJV
“And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.”
Devotion:
Blessed day mga kapatid, while reading the scribed about King Jehoshaphat , I remember last week’s preaching; mostly talks about being faithful and standing strong for God. In this chapter, kakabalik lang ni King Jehoshapat galing sa digmaan na alyansa nila ni haring Ahab ng Israel. At sabi nga ng propetang si Jehu ay hindi ito ikinalulugod ng Panginoon. Yet God also saw the good in Jehoshaphat’s heart. Sa halip na manlumo dahil sa kanyang nalaman, Jehoshaphat responded with action. He went throughout the land, turning the people back to God, and appointed judges in every city of Judah. These words in verse 9 are his charge to those judges, the standard he set for every person entrusted with responsibility before God.
Proverbs 9:10 KJV
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Jehoshaphat did not charge his judges to be clever, experienced, or well-connected. The very first requirement was the fear of the Lord. Hindi ito yung pagkatakot na nangangatog, bagkus, ito ay tanda ng paggalang. Ito yung awareness natin na lahat ay nakikita ng ating Panginoon, na kaya ka Nya hatulan kahit kelan or kahit saan, at paano, at yung standard Nya ay nagiisa lang at yun lang ang ating dapat sundin.
A person who truly fears God does not need to be watched. They do not serve faithfully because someone is looking. They serve faithfully because God is always looking.
1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV
Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
The word “faithfully” speaks to consistency over time. It is easy to serve God well on the day of appointment, lalo na kapag may mga nakatingin, pero yung iniutos ni Jehosphapat sa mga tao na dapat nating tularan ay faithfulness na hindi nagbabago kahit pa walang nagmamasid, kahit mahirap ay hindi susuko.
God does not require you to be the most gifted, most educated, or most experienced. He requires faithfulness. Faithfulness is within reach of every believer, in every calling, every day.
Psalm 101:2 KJV
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart
“perfect heart” does not mean sinless perfection. Jehoshaphat was calling for servants whose hearts were not split between God and the world, between duty and self-interest, between ano ba yung pinapakita natin in public o sino ba talaga tayo in private.
2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
God is actively searching for people with undivided hearts. Hindi perpektong mga tao bagkus yung mga taong ang puso ay inilalaan talaga sa Kanya.
At hindi naman lingid sa ating kaalaman ang mga napatunayan na ng Panginoon sa buhay natin lalo na sa ating mga naniniwala sa kanya.
Jehoshaphat charged the judges on his time , pero this verse speaks to every believer in every role. You may be a parent, an employee, a leader, a friend, or a full time servant in our church. Whatever God has placed in your hands, ang Kanyang mga pamantayan ay hindi nagbabago.
Colossians 3:23 KJV
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
The fear of the Lord, faithfulness, and a perfect heart ay hindi lamang sa mga pili o mga ispesyal na mga tao. They are the daily calling of every child of God, mapa sa office ka man, sa tahanan, o sa church, and in the quiet moments when nobody else is watching, atin itong alalahanin at isapuso.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for the words that you have provided us to remind us every day of our life how to serve you properly with fear, faithfulness and with a perfect heart. Guide us o Lord, kung papaano namin ito makakamit and to glorify You even more.
In Jesus Mighty Name,
Amen