After the moral decline of Solomon’s reign and Reheboam’s unwise decision that split God’s people, his grandson, Asa, made a courageous move to rid Judah of its idolatry and return them to God (2 Chronicles 14). What will God do for His people when a good leader gets those in his sphere of influence to seek Him with their whole desire?
I. 2 Chronicles 15:1-15. Asa was given an ‘if’ by God, but unlike Solomon (1 Kings 3:14), Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:38), and Reheboam (1 Kings 12:7), he rose to the challenge. He entered into a covenant with the people he led to seek God with their whole desire, and because they did, God gave them rest, peace, and possession of the land.
II. Hebrews 13:7-17. We are to examine our leaders and imitate their faith. This would include Jesus, who suffered–meaning that we may need to suffer as well. Knowing their difficult position, we should make their job easier by obeying them. Jesus seeks us (Luke 19:10). But, do we want to be found (Luke 15:4-5)? We must also seek God (Matthew 7:7-8), who promises that we will find Him. Yet, we all are leaders in our sphere of influence (Matthew 25:20-27). Let us love God fully (Luke 10:25-28), seeking Him with our whole desire.
III. Ephesians 6:10-13. To seek God with our whole desire and get others to do so as well, we must take a stand by donning the armor of God. At the time of captivity, God searched for someone who would stand in the breach but found none (Ezekiel 22:30). God needs good leaders like Asa who will help a whole generation find Him. The church is not a club that does some good in the world. It is the spiritual vehicle to lead us to eternity (Hebrews 12:22-29). It is where we seek Him with our whole desire here, to spend eternity with Him there.
Are you seeking Him with your whole desire?