Daily Devotional for Saturday, June 6

Amaziah’s Punishment

“And he took all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria,” 2 Chronicles 25:24.

A rational person would not replace a beautiful diamond with a cubic zirconia. Nor would anyone knowingly exchange their hard-earned money for counterfeit bills. So why are the precious things of God being replaced with things of no value? Amaziah exchanged the living God with the false idols of the Edomites. He bowed and offered incense to gods that were lifeless and therefore completely powerless to help. Because of his idolatry, the Lord used Israel to defeat Judah in battle and take the treasures from the house of God as well as Amaziah’s house.
It is easy to look at Amaziah and wonder why he was so foolish. Yet, we see many of God’s people replacing the priceless heavenly treasures with worthless things of the world. Sadly, the enemy has done a good job in deceiving many causing them to exchange the truth for lies. Reading and meditating on God’s Word has been replaced by social media. Sundays are now for family and sports rather than attending the house of God. We are so distracted with the busyness of life that we often neglect to tell the lost about Jesus.
Amaziah did not value the precious things of God and they were taken from him. You must be careful and consider what you hold dear. Do you truly love the Lord Jesus? Do you see your salvation as being the most precious gift you have been given? Then follow Jesus with your whole heart, fervently. Do not exchange eternal rewards for worldly possessions and selfish endeavors. It is all meaningless. May you give your Lord your full devotion as He gave everything for you.

REFLECTION
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). Where is your heart? Have you surrendered it fully to Jesus?

Darla Goodrum