After Rehoboam’s position as king was established and he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 12:1 (NIV)
Lord, as I look at Rehoboam’s reign following his foolish response to Jeroboam, it reminds me of the need to stay the course. Though he obeyed You not to attack Jeroboam (2 Chronicles 11:4) and though he acted wisely when it came to keeping the peace in his family (2 Chronicles 11:23), when he finally established himself and got comfortable being king, he then drifted away from following after You, and led others to doing the same.
Isn’t that how I get when things are going good? Don’t I get like Nebuchadnezzar, looking over the balcony of my life, thinking, “I’ve got it easy; who’s got it better than me?” It is in those times of complacency, when I let my spiritual guards down, resting on my past successes, that I am vulnerable to attacks from without and within. And like Rehoboam I can find myself slipping away from You. Not in a blatant way but subtly.
Your Word declares in 1 Corinthians 1:12, “let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” This is a reminder to me of how susceptible I am to stumbling, often without even knowing it. The good news is that You are faithful! Though the temptations come, You will always provide a way out (1 Corinthians 10:13). I pray today for spiritual vigilance. Please don’t allow me to become so comfortable with where I am that I drift away from where You are. Lord, I’m not asking for constant “enemies at the gate” to remind me of my need for You, though sometimes I need that. Instead, I pray for a sensitive spirit that recognizes my total dependence upon You, and a spiritual longing to be continually in Your presence.
Lord, I don’t want to be comfortable with this life. Contentment is just fine. Instead, I want my inner cup to be continually overflowing with Your grace and my heart to be a peace. I surrender all to You this morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me as You see fit. Discipline me when necessary. But please don’t allow me to stray away from You. Please keep me on a short leash to Your glory. Amen.