Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 6

Asa’s Sin

“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,” 2 Chronicles 16:9.

Asa was a good king. He followed the commandments and commanded the nation to follow Jehovah only. He proclaimed that idol worshipers would be executed. He even deposed his own grandmother from being queen because of idolatry. Asa’s heart was righteous in the eyes of the Lord, but he was not sinless. 

            We often fall away from God for reasons that are not immediately clear. When we do, we must reexamine our lives with some difficult questions. Was there a turning point when you directly disobeyed God? Or did you, by omission, fail to do what God’s Spirit was leading you to do? Was it failure to keep daily appointments with your Father in prayer and Bible study? Are you harboring unforgiveness in your heart toward God, a family member or a friend? Or, perhaps, your heart has been penetrated by pride.

            It is difficult to face the truth about ourselves and even more difficult when the problem is a spiritual matter. We often run from God, looking for help in many other places, and neglecting the very One who knows us best. You and I will always be blessed when we look “into the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25). Confession and repentance toward God are the first steps, “Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh to you” (James 4:8).

            After a long life of serving God, Asa did not finish well. May we always remain humble and reach out to God, our only true source of help. As long as our Father leaves us here on this earth, let us be determined to finish our life of service to Him well.

REFLECTION

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

Karen Meigs