relationships (2 Chronicles 26:1-23) Finding Approval

(2 Chronicles 26:1-23)  Now all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king lay down with his fathers. 3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, in accordance with everything that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him successful.

6 Now he went out and fought against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah, and his fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and at the corner buttress, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and carved out many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. 12 The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600. 13 Under their direction was an army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slingstones. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines of war invented by skillful workmen to be on the towers and the corners, for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. So his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was untrue to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him, and with him eighty priests of the Lord, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been untrue and will have no honor from the Lord God.” 19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they quickly removed him from there, and he himself also hurried to get out because the Lord had stricken him. 21 King Uzziah had leprosy to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, afflicted as he was with leprosy, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And his son Jotham was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, the first to the last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. 23 So Uzziah lay down with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He had leprosy.” And his son Jotham became king in his place.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

We all will battle pride until the day we die.  To say that we don't, would be prideful.  Before becoming a believer, one might have a logic or sense that there is no need for God, and/or that God will just deem everyone "good enough".  And I've heard some interesting arguments claiming that God's love is conditional - because - we are only saved when we humble ourselves and repent and ask Jesus into our hearts and lives.  

Understand that because He loves us all unconditionally, the Lord Jesus Christ (God, Himself) suffered and died for us whether we accept Him or reject Him.  Understand that because God is love, He desires that ALL come to know Him.  But also understand that because God is love, He created us with a free will.  God will not force anyone to become a believer.  

No one can be or become a child of God unless and until they choose to be reborn.  God is holy and cannot have a relationship with sin, and because He loves us, when we go to Him for His forgiveness, He clothes us with the holiness and righteousness of Jesus.  Accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, is to accept Him as our heavenly Father who then adopts us and will never disown us.

Another part of that argument claiming that God's love is conditional is that the Bible talks about certain things as being sin, deserving of death.  UNDERSTAND that unconditional love does NOT mean or include unconditional approval.  These are two completely separate actions.  We are all born with a sin nature, deserving of death.  It doesn't matter who we are or how "good" we are.  "Sin" is a term used in archery for when an archer "misses the mark".  We all miss the mark.  

Even once we become a Christian, we will still struggle with sin.  This means we should strive to remain humble, realizing that we still need God.  Because God loves us unconditionally, He will not force anyone to be or remain obedient.  Rather, He covers His children with His grace so that we cannot lose our salvation.  And because He loves us unconditionally and wants the best for our lives, He will discipline us to get us back to living according to His will, which is to protect, guide and strengthen us.

God loves us.  Period.  And because He loves us unconditionally, He wants to do everything for us.  The only way to find and gain His approval is to allow Him to work in and through us, with His love, strength and wisdom, doing all things to His glory.  We can and should give Him all the credit and the honor because He is worthy and deserves all the credit and the honor.  We can and should boast - but - let us boast in the Lord!