2 Chronicles 27:6
6 So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God.
We spoke last week about King Uzziah, He started right but finished wrong. Today we want to look at his son who had a somewhat shameful ascent to the throne but over time, as our verse says, "Became Mighty." His father falling sick with Leprosy for his breach upon God was what placed Jotham on the throne, seemingly prematurely. Yet he did not let this be a marker of the rest of his position, he outlived the shame of his father's latter years and "Became mighty." I thought about this position, it is akin to our position in Christ, Jotham was born to sit on that throne but he was born an infant, then became a child then a young prince. Kingship was his destiny but it was a position he had to grow into practically and he did. So it is with you Christian, when you were born again, you were born into a holy family, a righteous, blessed, just position, yet sometimes we fail to live up to the family name. Don't forget that becoming a mighty man/woman of God is an issue of "becoming mighty." It doesn't happen overnight, perhaps you've had a rough start, there are hurdles of sin and shame currently, don't let that define the rest of your Christian life, grow into the position you've been given in Christ Jesus, "become mighty."
What can we accredit his becoming mighty to? "Because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God." Prepartion was a key factor in his might, it didn't just happen. Nothing mighty in this world just happens, there are days, months, years, decades, and even centuries of preparation that lead men, families, and Ministries to greatness. Even Jesus himself spent more time preparing for the ministry than he spent in the ministry. We make a great mistake if our waiting on the Lord is used as an excuse to be idle, rather our waiting for him should be spent in preparation for the day we are flung into the position we have been waiting for.
Notice lastly, he did not prepare his way but his ways. I encourage you to read chapter 27 and look at all the ways Jotham prepared before the LORD. Verse 1-2 shows us the way he handled his rearing, he took the good things from his father Uzziah yet he did not sin like his father Uzziah. Sometimes the paths of our raising can be used as an excuse for the way we live today, but that is not the way. Honor your father, mother, and God by respecting and practicing the good they showed us, and shunning the sin they showed us. In verses 3-4 we see the way he worked, he was industrious like his father, but everything he built was to fortify Israel. All his industry was to God's kingdom, not his own. Then we see in verse 5 the way he fought his battles, He fought and won the victory, and instead of Him being led captive by the enemy, he captivated the enemy. He lived a life of victory, and so can you Christian, you can have victory over sin, self, and Satan!
Are we using the past as an excuse for how we are presently living? What or who are we building? Are we captivated by sin and lust? If the answer to these questions is yes, then we are not mighty but the good news is we can "Become mighty." Prepare your ways before the LORD your God. Lay out your raising before him and ask him to show you the parts to keep and the ones to shun, let him guide your building projects, and be sure you are fighting the right battles. One of the dangers of fighting the wrong battles is not just defeat, but winning the wrong victory. God is interested in the ways you take, all of them. The way you work, the way you worship, the way you live, the way you are raised, and the way you raise your children. Let all those ways be prepared in his sight, under his authority and that is how someone like you and me can become mighty as Jotham did.
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