Topic: Undone Cake [Saturday May 13, 2017]
Text: 2 Kings 13:3-7
Key Verse: “Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria” (2 Kings 13:6).
“Some often repent, yet never reform; they resemble a man traveling in a dangerous path, who frequently starts and stops, but never turns back,” so said Bonnell Thornton. He might have been referring to Israel, as did Charles Spurgeon who noted that, “Israel’s repentance was only half-hearted; they repented because they suffered.
They repented because of the suffering rather than because of the sin. They went back to the sin after they escaped from the sorrow.” The ascension of Jehoahaz to the throne was the beginning of the fulfillment of a promise made to Jehu (2 Kings 10:30). This dynasty – though founded on a violent overthrow of the previous royal house – continued because Jehu came to the throne doing the will of God, though, he later relapsed into the idolatry of Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:31). Jehoahaz followed in the footsteps of his father Jehu and his idolatrous lifestyle attracted the divine displeasure and judgment of God who delivered them over to be punished by the kings of Syria. Therefore, when in suffering, he cried unto the Lord in seeming repentance, God listened to his prayer because of His great mercy and care for Israel.
Although God answered the prayer and sent a deliverer, Israel continued in their false worship. This attitude, after God gave a respite, was proof that his prayer did not mark a lasting or real revival in his life. His repentance was like a cake not well baked. False repentance hinders the needed striving towards true, godly transformation of life and attitude.
Not only will it keep you from enjoying the fruit of repentance (the blessing of abiding in Christ), it also leads to enduring enslavement to sin. The sobering reality is that unabated false repentance will result in spiritual death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Repentance is essential for the Christian life. When someone truly repents from sin and turns to God by faith in Jesus, he receives pardon from God. Such repentance is genuine and He expects that from you today.
Thought for the day: Repentance without righteousness is like a car without an engine.
Bible Reading in one Year: 2 Chronicles 22-25
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
