King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Seek God First
Date: Sunday May 13, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Chronicles 15-17

Hello My Friend,

This past year I found out that I have am gluten intolerant, it's been a bit of a struggle, it can be quite bothersome to have to read every label to make sure it does not have something that I cannot eat. However, I am adjusting, but noticing one thing that irritates me so much, the food is at least 3 times the cost of the regular stuff, talk about people making a fortune off others misfortunes. The amazing thing is that God provides me with the food I need and I am much healthier than I have been in years. I was talking with a woman from my church about my situation and she said, “I don't know how you do it, I could never afford to eat that way.” God knows what we are in need of, but if we only rely on ourselves to get the things we need we often settle for what we can get rather than what we really need. However, if we have faith and seek God first, He will give us exactly what we need.

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” - Matthew 6:30-34.

After their victory over the Ethiopians, Asa and his army got a visit from Oded, a prophet, he was not there to compliment them and congratulate them on their success, but to remind them of their duty. Asa and the rest of the people in Judah responded with a covenant. “And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD. And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.” - 2 Chronicles 15:8,9,12,13.

It does not matter who we are, rich, poor, male, female, ignorant, dumb, or smart, once we are at an accountable age, the age in which we know right from wrong, we face the same judgment. God is not a respecter of persons, all people born face death unless they seek the Lord, God of Israel, who is God of all. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:” - Romans 3:21-24,29.

Asa and the kingdom of Judah enjoyed many years of peace and prosperity, but later when Baasha, king of Syria, became a threat, Asa made a foolish decision to find peace. The result, there was war in Judah the rest of his days as king and he was struck with a disease and died because he stopped seeking God. “And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.” - 2 Chronicles 16:7-9,12.

Asa let his pride get the best of him, when he found out that God was angry at the decision he made he was ashamed to stand before him, so, instead of seeking forgiveness he forsook God. Had he just let go of his pride and humbled himself before God he would have been healed. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:8-10.

After Asa died his son Jehoshaphat reigned, now, for the first time in generations a godly king, one such as David reigned. “And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed forces in all the fenced cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had taken. And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim; But sought to the LORD God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of Israel. Therefore the LORD stablished the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour in abundance. And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.” - 2 Chronicles 17:1-5,10.

When a person puts God first they will prosper and not only will they prosper, so will everyone that does business with them, even more strange is that they will prosper even if they do not follow God themselves. How and why is that possible? Someone will be converted, God's purpose is always to see someone get saved. Now, should that person never want to be converted, God will take His servant elsewhere, leaving the unbeliever to his own devices. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” - Psalm 1:1-6.

While the same Jesus was looked upon to save both Old and New Testament Christians, Christians of the New Testament and still today have an advantage over the people of the Old Testament, the indwelling Holy Spirit. God's Spirit would come and go in a person before Jesus died on the cross and resurrected, but today it dwells in every believer of Jesus Christ. I read a quote that says, “If God seems far away, guess who moved.” God is always with us and never leaves us, but when we stop seeking Him first and circumstances arise it will seem as though He is no where to be found. To find Him all we have to do is seek Him, first. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” - 1 John 6:6-10.

Today's Psalm: 9:10 - “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.”

Today's Proverb: 28:5 - “Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.”

Today's Prayer: God, As much faith as I have in You and Your Word I still find myself struggling to find a way to get the things I am in need of. Help me to always seek You first so that I can truly get the things I truly need and not just the things I settle for. Give me faith that not only moves mountains, but crushes them, and help me to let go of any guilt or shame from the past or present that keeps me from moving closer to You and seeking You for what I truly am in need of. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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