June 20; Day 27

2 Kings 4:8 - 2 Kings 14

Doing and believing are two separate things. As I read over the parts of the various kings I find myself always asking, why is one King good and the next king so bad? In many cases they are even father and son. Though their genetics are related, their actions really aren't. And then interspersed with the kings, the Bible records the acts of the "man of God." We see in some cases God blessing the nation because of its leadership and in other cases, God curses the nation because of its leadership.

As I read and contrast these various kings and prophets, I conclude that doing what is right by God does not always imply that you know who God is. In many cases, these kings knew what God's commands were and chose not to follow them. Of course this is disobedience and God cannot bless disobedience. In other cases they knew what God's commands were and followed them - or at least attempted to follow them - but there is never any mention about their relationship with God. The Bible doesn't record any conversation or prayer between these leaders and God. So God can appreciate the actions they took, but with out a relationship with Him, He cannot fully bless them either. In other cases - such as the case with Elisha - it records not only was he obedient (and walked in the ways of the Lord) but also his ongoing conversations and dialogues with God. We see he had a relationship.... and for this God was fully able to bless Elisha's actions and obedience.

So as I apply this to my life, in what way am I posing and pretending to know God? Am I simply being obedient to God's commands or is there on-going relationship and dialogue with God? Is he able to fully pour out his blessings on the "nation" that I'm leading because I'm doing more than complying with his laws? Simply following God's laws gets tiring. There are many times when I'm tempted to give in... to just be like the rest of the world. Yet, in those quiet moments when I take time to listen to God, he renews my strength to continue. He helps pull me back to reality and shows me the traps I'm about to walk into. HE helps me see what I would give up to gain a few moments of breaking the rules.

Help me do more than obey your commands... Help me know your heart and anticipate your ways.