2 KINGS 12:1-2 – In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”

THEME OF THE DAY.  RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.  Today’s scripture introduces us to King Johoash.  Forty years he fulfilled the demanding responsibilities of being king.  Just think what his days were like.  Constant demands, kingdom decisions to make, important people to see, places to go . . . the life of a king would be full and stressful.  Now none of us are kings, but we know about full lives and stress. We each know upfront and personal the constant demands for our time and person. We, too, face many decisions to make, people to see and way too many tasks and activities to complete and attend.  No, we may not be kings, but we know about king-like lives.  Yet at the end of King Johoash’s reign of forty years, he received the greatest commendation a person may ever hear – “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days.”  This good king managed to live his life for the Great King.  What a staggering thing to be said of a person whose life was on constant display!  To be labeled as a man or woman of God who walks with Him consistently and sincerely in the daily arena of life is the highest form of affirmation a Christian may receive. And notice the little phase – “all his days.” Johoash took his walk with God seriously as to live it not just in part of his days, but all his days.

So, could that be said of us by others?  Would those who know us best be able to say, “(Our names) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of our lives?”  Before we become discouraged because we see all our many failings, remember that “doing right before the Lord” doesn’t mean “perfect conduct” before the Lord.  King Johoash was a sinner but did right. He failed but did right.  A life pleasing to the Lord; a life lived right before Him will be characterized by two things – consistency and sincerity.  Let’s define this type of life lived before the Lord.

First, a consistent Christian life, lived right before the Lord, is one striving to make one’s profession of faith in Christ affirmed by one’s practice of faith in Christ.  The consistent Christian seeks to put obedience to God’s Word into their lives, and when sin gets the upper hand, they are quick to confess and repent. And in the process of obedience and failing, they grow into a life of consistency right before the Lord.

Next, a sincere Christian life, lived right before the Lord, is one striving to be aware of God’s presence all the time.  This does not mean the felt presence of God, but a cognitive, faith-based, awareness of God’s presence.  This means being a Christian, not sometimes, but all the time.  It is a sincerity of being the same person in private as we are portrayed in public. It is being the same Christian in our homes as we are in our churches.   Sincerity comes from knowing we are constantly in the presence of God.

King Johoash is a great model of a busy man who managed to live a life pleasing to the Lord; right before His eyes all his days. And we may also by striving for a consistent Christian life of obedience and a sincere Christian life of living always aware of the God who is always there.

PRAYER: “Father, may I live my life, one day at a time, for Your glory and purposes.”

QUOTE: “To live a life pleasing to the Lord, consistency and sincerity are the two virtues making it happen.”

In the Affection of Christ Jesus,

Pastor Jim