"The high places, however, were not removed; the people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers." (2 Chronicles 20:33)
I call this obeying what we want to obey, and not obeying what we do not want to obey.
The Covenant People have been engaging is such behavior from the beginning.
The Hebrew Word in our text for, "directed," means, "to be firm, fixed." The Letter to the Hebrews commands us to, "Consider Jesus...," and, "....let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus...." These are other ways to say, "Direct[] [your] hearts to the God of [your] fathers."
Today's text is in the chapter which contains the oft quoted, "You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf...." There was, indeed, a great victory that day. There was only one problem, however, which affected their future. We read later that, "The people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers." Pray; read the Bible; declare; march. Our text overrides all.
Church-- America-- Nations of the world: Hear the Words of, "The Word of God," Jesus, the Christ. "Direct your hearts to Me." And I ask, Where is my heart today? No nation, no individual will ever overcome the enemy if, "The people had not yet directed their hearts to the God of their fathers." May, whatever this means in fulness, our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit write in our hearts and minds.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I have no greater prayer than my heart be, "directed to the God of [my] fathers." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
