KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus
Through Every Chapter
Date: Sunday,
May 08, 2016
Chapters: 2
Chronicles 9-11
Message: 2 Chronicles: Bearing Temptation

Hello
My Friend,

Temptation. Did you ever notice that the
second you tell yourself you are not going to do something there are
all sorts of temptations to entice you. We do not know how long Eve
starred at that fruit tree before she grabbed a piece from it, and we
do not know how long she held it in her hand before she bit into it,
but we do know that she took a bite because she saw it was something
to be desired. God never said that He would not allow us to be
tempted, He did say that He would give us a way out. “There
hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13.

It
is often said that in order to keep yourself from being tempted you
need to remove everything that would entice you. I use to think that
it did not matter if I removed the temptation, I am strong enough to
overcome it. While that can be achieved sometimes, the truth is, our
flesh is way too weak to avoid falling into temptation if it is
staring at us in the face every day. But in all honesty, we are
tempted every day, and most of the time we pay no mind to it. It is
only when we are mentally weak that we desire them, thus falling into
the temptation. As wise, wealthy, and famous as Solomon was, you
would have though that he would have left with a better legacy,
monarchs all over the world praised him and gave him an abundance of
things because they knew it was God that blessed him.

“And
king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to
hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart. And they brought
every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and
raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and
twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and
with the king at Jerusalem. And he reigned over all the kings from
the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of
Egypt. And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar
trees made he as the sycomore trees that are in the low plains in
abundance. And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out
of all lands.” - 2 Chronicles 9:22-28.

“And
all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon,”
There is something to be said about being desired. We all want
recognition, to be acknowledged, accepted, and praised for our good
work, but if we are not careful we forget that God is the one who
blessed us. Solomon had everything he ever wanted and needed, yet
something was amiss, it had to have been since he had a thousand
wives. He may have looked happy on the outside, but he desired
something much more than money, possessions, or women could give.
Nothing with God is more valuable than everything without Him. “There
is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and
that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I
saw, that it was from the hand of God. For who can eat, or who else
can hasten hereunto, more than I? For God giveth to a man that is
good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner
he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him
that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
- Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.

Now, after Solomon died, his son
Rehoboam reigned. It did not take long before he, desiring to be
accepted by his friends as the new king, caused the entire nation to
split. Every tribe, except for Judah and Benjamin, rejected him, even
claiming their namesake of Israel as well. “And
the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel
of the old men, 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. 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. 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. But as for the children of Israel that
dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 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. And Israel
rebelled against the house of David unto this day.” - 2
Chronicles 10:13-19.

“for the
cause was of God,” 1 Kings explains this in more detail, but
God was angry with Solomon for allowing the influence of his foreign
wives to bring false god and idol worship into Jerusalem, he even
began worshiping them himself. To keep his promise to David, God
caused the split. Why? To keep the corrupt Israelites from the godly.
You see, God knows well ahead of time what is going to happen when we
give into the mental desires that lead to temptation. “But
every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and
enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and
sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” - James
1:14,15.

Now, with the news that everyone scattered,
Rehoboam is fuming, he wants to show Israel who is in charge, he
gathers up an army to fight against them, but just as the battle
began God orders them to stop the fight. Once he realizes that all
this was under the hand of God he straightened up, and for three
years was strong in the Lord. “And when
Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and
Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were
warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom
again to Rehoboam. But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man
of God, saying, Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of
Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying, Thus saith
the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return
every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed
the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam. And
Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defence in Judah.
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their
hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice
unto the LORD God of their fathers. So they strengthened the kingdom
of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years:
for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.”
- 2 Chronicles 11:1-5,6,7.

“And
they obeyed the words of the LORD,” When we obey God that is
when we have the power to bare and escape any temptation. Sometimes
things do not make sense, anger, pride, depression, loneliness, these
are some of the many things that play a part in our mental desires
wanting to be fulfilled. When we are not right with ourselves that is
when we are most vulnerable to temptation, but Jesus, can help us
overcome any temptation when we look to Him. Jesus was tempted just
as we are, He used the power of God to help Him, so He can help us.
The key to overcome is not in our strength, we will fail every time,
it is in the strength of Jesus in us.

“But
we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the
suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the
grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for
whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are
sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call
them brethren, Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like
unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the
sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being
tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” -
Hebrews 2:9-11,17,18.

Jesus
Christ Revealed: Today, Jesus is reveled through the ivory
throne of Solomon’s kingdom. The luster of his kingdom illustrated
the glory of the coming of Christ’s kingdom, and is a faint
representation of His throne to be set up when He returns. “And
I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face
the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for
them.” - Revelation 20:11.

Today's
Prayer: God, You did not promise that we would not be
tempted after we receive Your Son as our Saviour, but You did promise
that You would give us a way out, an escape. It is not the temptation
itself that causes us to fall, it is our mental state. Lord, You are
our only strength to strengthen our mind, body and spirit to walk
away from temptation. Help us take control of those emotions that
make us vulnerable to temptation, lead us away from anything that
will cause us to think upon and desire these things. Give us Your
power to bare any temptation that does find us, let us be forgiving
to ourselves for any fall, and help us get back up if we do. In the
name of Jesus, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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