Sometimes....You Must Stand Alone

2 chronicles 27:1-3 -  Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother's name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok.  He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Uzziah had done, but unlike him he did not enter the temple of the LORD. The people, however, continued their corrupt practices.

 

Jotham was crowned king after his father’s death. He worked to rebuild and fortify the cities and army.  He successfully defeated the Ammonites and received money and food supplies in tribute payments for three years.  He became very powerful with God as he followed God…..but Jotham was never able to convince his own people to join him. His subjects went their own way…corrupted by the many gods and idols that had made their way into his kingdom.

 

Sometimes we are called to just take a stand for God on our own….and let his strength carry us as far as we allow it….no matter what the people around us think or feel.  We can model for them the power of God to sustain us and care for all our needs….but we can’t force them to accept God’s way of living for their own.

 

Paul added to this concept one other rule for dealing with those around you that don’t believe exactly the way I do.   He said we need to remember the importance of being kind and gentle when we share our testimony…never arguing with anyone about biblical concepts. 2 Timothy 2:24-25 says…. “ And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth.”

 

And James adds the importance of prayer in this situation…for the power of the Holy Spirit can convict even the strongest opposition to God.  He wrote in James 5:16…. “ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Perhaps part of Jotham’s strength to keep God’s laws…came from the prayers he offered up on behalf of his people.

 

Father…thank you for this reminder that I need to be patient with the part of this crazy world around me that does not believe in you.  Give me strength to stand strong and model for others your love. Show me how to share that love with others….and be a servant…kind…and prayerful. Guard my tongue from any arguments about your word….but help me continue to grow in knowledge…so that I will hide the truth in my heart…and use it to live a life that you would be proud of. Amen.