Daily Devotional for Monday, June 1

Evaluation of Amaziah’s Behavior

“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. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart,” 2 Chronicles 25:1, 2.

From kindergarten through high school, every student receives a report card. Included in the report card is your academic grade and your conduct grade. The teacher evaluates your learning ability and your conduct in the classroom. You can see through the account of King Amaziah that the Lord evaluates your behavior in the assignment of keeping His commands, and the grade that is most important to the Lord is the actions inwardly of your heart as you do His commands. Second Chronicles 25:2, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart.”
King Amaziah was doing the right thing outwardly by fighting against Judah’s enemies in obedience to God’s instructions. However, inwardly he was not loyal to the Lord and turned to the idol gods of the defeated enemy and began to worship them. What foolish behavior and waste of time! Obedience to God must be from your heart. Anything less leaves you to your own ways and leads you away from God. First Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” Your desire should be to serve the Lord in sincerity rather than serving him hypocritically.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Eagerness to do what is right with transparent motives is a character quality that receives a good grade from the Lord.

Andrew McClung