Devotion 377
“Ruling By Love”
Reference: 2 Chronicles Chapter 10
Many rule by fear. Adolf Hitler ruled Germany by fear. He was never able to bring the country together.
The Leader that rules by fear will never be able to bring his people together.
God rules by Love.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Perfect Love cast out all fear, and that’s what brings people together.
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
This Love is not our biological love but the Love of God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
This is the only Love that unites. No other form of feeling unites. Not even the brotherly love between families can unite.
Only the Love of God unites.
Let’s read:
2 Chronicles 10:1-7 “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. [2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. [3] And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, [4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. [5] And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. [6] And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? [7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.”
The Love of God is the source of good words.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Without the Love of God all spiritual gifts are nothing, because God is Love. If we do not have Love, we do not have God.
1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 10:8-15 “But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. [9] And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? [10] And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. [11] For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. [13] And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, [14] And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [15] So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”
Rehoboam did not go the way of Love because he was not of God. God forsakes us when we forsake Him. Solomon had forsaken God in his latter years.
1 Kings 11:29-33 “And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: [30] And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: [31] And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: [32] (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) [33] Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.”
The Way of God is Love.
When we forsake God, we forsake Love for others because Love is of God alone. The man or woman generated love is not the Love of God. The love of man or woman is subject dependent whereas the Love of God is not depended on the subject but on God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God Loves the sinner because His Love is unconditional. When we were yet sinners, God gave Himself for the ungodly.
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We conclude our reading:
2 Chronicles 10:16-19 “And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. [17] But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. [18] Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. [19] And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.”
Because the house of David (Solomon)rebelled against God.
Let the Word of God bring you to the Love of God. Believe and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. The unconditional Love of God, in Christ!
Reference: 2 Chronicles Chapter 10
Many rule by fear. Adolf Hitler ruled Germany by fear. He was never able to bring the country together.
The Leader that rules by fear will never be able to bring his people together.
God rules by Love.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Perfect Love cast out all fear, and that’s what brings people together.
1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
This Love is not our biological love but the Love of God.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; [6] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; [7] Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. [8] Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
This is the only Love that unites. No other form of feeling unites. Not even the brotherly love between families can unite.
Only the Love of God unites.
Let’s read:
2 Chronicles 10:1-7 “And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king. [2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. [3] And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying, [4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee. [5] And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed. [6] And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? [7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.”
The Love of God is the source of good words.
1 Corinthians 13:1-2 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. [2] And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”
Without the Love of God all spiritual gifts are nothing, because God is Love. If we do not have Love, we do not have God.
1 John 4:7-8 “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. [8] He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
We continue our reading:
2 Chronicles 10:8-15 “But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. [9] And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us? [10] And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. [11] For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [12] So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. [13] And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, [14] And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [15] So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.”
Rehoboam did not go the way of Love because he was not of God. God forsakes us when we forsake Him. Solomon had forsaken God in his latter years.
1 Kings 11:29-33 “And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field: [30] And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces: [31] And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee: [32] (But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) [33] Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.”
The Way of God is Love.
When we forsake God, we forsake Love for others because Love is of God alone. The man or woman generated love is not the Love of God. The love of man or woman is subject dependent whereas the Love of God is not depended on the subject but on God.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
God Loves the sinner because His Love is unconditional. When we were yet sinners, God gave Himself for the ungodly.
Romans 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
We conclude our reading:
2 Chronicles 10:16-19 “And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. [17] But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. [18] Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. [19] And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.”
Because the house of David (Solomon)rebelled against God.
Let the Word of God bring you to the Love of God. Believe and confess Christ the Word as we’ve revealed Him from the First Adam. The unconditional Love of God, in Christ!
Recent
Archive
2025
January
February
Devotion 146Devotion 145Devotion 144Devotion 143Devotion 142Devotion 141Devotion 140Devotion 139Devotion 138Devotion 137Devotion 136Devotion 135Devotion 134Devotion 133Devotion 132Devotion 131Devotion 130Devotion 129Devotion 128Devotion 127Devotion 126Devotion 125Devotion 124Devotion 123Devotion 122Devotion 121Devotion 120Devotion 119Devotion 118Devotion 117Devotion 116Devotion 115Devotion 114Devotion 113Devotion 112Devotion 111Devotion 110Devotion 109Devotion 108Devotion 107Devotion 106Devotion 105Devotion 104Devotion 103Devotion 102Devotion 91Devotion 92Devotion 93Devotion 94Devotion 95Devotion 96Devotion 97Devotion 98Devotion 99Devotion 100Devotion 101Devotion 147Devotion 148Devotion 149Devotion 150Devotion 151Devotion 152Devotion 153Devotion 154Devotion 155Devotion 156Devotion 157Devotion 158Devotion 159Devotion 160Devotion 161Devotion 162Devotion 163Devotion 164Devotion 165Devotion 166Devotion 167
Categories
no categories
No Comments