“Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandment and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah”
2 Chronicles 17:3-6
This is a beautiful description of King Jehoshaphat who loved the Lord. He was not just a hearer of the word but a doer as well. His actions proved that he really loved the Lord. The northern kingdom of Israel had long left the God of their fathers but not Jehoshaphat. He not only sought the Lord but actively removed the places of idolatry from the land. Because of his actions God secured his rulership in Judah by turning the heart of the people toward him. They gave him gifts and honored him greatly.
Noticed how God blessed Jehoshaphat ‘because’. Now we know that in the New Testament order of things we do not earn God’s love and forgiveness, all we need do is humbly receive it. The Scripture says: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). However, it is one thing to receive the love of God and to quite another to please him. Humanly speaking, a father’s love for his son is not based upon his performance but because of the fact that he is his very own flesh and blood. Yet at the same time, while loving the son, a father can be greatly displease with his actions. So also it is with our Heavenly Father. His love is constant and undeserved but His pleasure in us in conditional — we must live a life that is pleasing to God. Paul prayed for the church in Colosse “that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God . . .” (Colossians 1:10).
Don’t be foolish enough to think that just because of God’s love for you that you need not please Him. We have all received more than we deserve through His love and kindness but let us not take advantage of his grace. We must seek the Lord. In seeking Him we are looking for understanding of what we must do in life and for what pleases God.
How does your life show that you are taking delight in the Lord?
