Date: September 6, 2014
Scriptures: 2 Chronicles 11:1-23

God's Message/Commands/Promises:
》Rehoboam's pride and disobededience to the elders cause him division among his kingdom.  Because he did not listen to the elders, Jeroboam and the Israelites rebelled against him and this cause the division of the nation.  But good thing about Rehoboam is that he learned his lesson.  When he made his people ready for battle against Jehoboam to take back what is his, God intervened and told him not to fight Jeroboam and this time, Rehoboam listened and obeyed.  He redeemed himself before God that in return God strengthened his kingdom despite of having only Judah and Benjamine by his side.  In the end, even the Levites went back to him because Jeroboam decided to stop the people from going to the temple i  offering to God and worshipping him, which is Jeroboam's greatest mistake.  So all the Levites who seek God came back to Rehoboam.
》Sometimes, God uses us to be a turning point or a lesson for another person but we end up taking that role or position to heart to a point that we forget or neglect the purpose why it was given to us in the first place. Jeroboam was told already by God the reason why he was chosen to lead the Israelites.  They disobeyed God and so God decided to divide the nation but God clearly told him that He will keep some to the lineage of David for David's sake.  And God told him that He will be with him if he obeys God and do what is right. Yet Jeroboam like most of us, only hears the part that God will be with us and blessed us and make us a dynasty of rulers but forgets that we ought to obey and do what is right before the Lord.  We only remembers God's part of the agreement but what about our part? God also told him the reason why God decides to divide the Nation, it was because of Solomon's disobedience including his son's, Rehoboam.  Yet even after Rehoboam humbled himself back to God, Jeroboam still sees Rehoboam as an enemy.  So his reign defeats its purpose because Rehoboam came back to the Lord, though inconsistently. Still Jeroboam should have recognized that and focus on obeying God but he was too focus on prolonging his reign as king that he led the Israelites in the total opposite direction of where God wants them. So God blessed Rehoboam by making his city strong and built their defense.  Not only that, God even blessed Rehoboam's family line while Jeroboam's family line was cursed and was wiped out totally. Let us all remember that everything we have or own or whatever title we are given are not ours but God's so in everything, we ought to seek Him and do what is right before Him.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus my King and Ruler, my only Lord.  I know that many times I fail to recognize your ownership and I tend to be entitked of the things i have, Lord help me to remember that all things belong to You. Give me a humble heart like David who always recognize You as hjs source for everything.  Nothing i do or earn or bought is truly mine because it all belongs to you and they were all given to me because of Your Grace and love over me.  Help me Lord to always know the rightful owner of everything, YOU! In Jesus' Name, Amen!