WALKING STEADFASTLY

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In Christ, Mark

** Writer’s Note: Today I am currently overseas for a few weeks. I will try to post as well as I can but there may be a break in The Christian Walk if I end up without Internet access. If that happens, I will resume upon my return in early August.

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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 rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel. He built towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.

Jotham waged war against the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand cors of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years.

Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God.

The other events in Jotham’s reign, including all his wars and the other things he did, are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

2 Chronicles 27

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Proverbs 4:26

Solomon’s words of wisdom were words all believers were to heed, then and now. As we have seen and will see in today’s passage from 2 Chronicles, Chapter 27, there is reward in carefully considering the ways we live our lives so that our steps are steadfast in obedience to God’s word, will, and way.

The word “steadfast” is one we don’t hear used enough today. Maybe it’s because we fail to see it put into practice enough, particularly when it comes to faith. The very meaning of the world reveals the challenge with the word for it means to be steady, firm, constant, or immovable. In other words, to be steadfast is to be stubbornly consistent in our adherence to something.

As we see in our scripture for today, we find King Jotham, the son of King Uzziah, assuming the throne at age 25. He would reign for 16 years and found a great deal of success during that time. We read where he did the following:

- Rebuilt the Upper Gate of the temple of the Lord and did extensive work on the wall at the hill of Ophel.

- Rebuilt towns in the hill country of Judah and forts and towers in the wooded areas.

- Waged war against the king of the Ammonites and conquered them. That year the Ammonites paid him a hundred talents of silver, ten thousand cors of wheat and ten thousand cors of barley. The Ammonites brought him the same amount also in the second and third years.

Through it all, Jotham grew powerful just as his father Uzziah and grandfather Amaziah had done. However, the one thing that distinguished Jotham from his ancestors was that he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did so steadfastly as he walked before God. He didn’t worship false gods like his grandfather had done. He didn’t rule with so much pride that he felt he could do whatever he pleased, like go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense as his father had done. No, Jotham committed himself to be steadfast and unwavering in his commitment to the Lord.

Today, we are to follow suit. God expects us to be unwavering in our dedication to Him just as He is unwavering in His dedication to us. Is it easy? No, because this world offers so many temptations that seek to lead us into sin and away from God. Our flesh cries out to have its selfish desires satisfied and wars against the Holy Spirit, who ever seeks to guide us on the path of righteousness. With this, we need to realize one key point:

We don’t possess the strength to withstand the temptations of sin on our own. We can only stand steadfast through allowing the strength of the Lord to live and abide within us, and that requires us to surrender ourselves and allow Him to be in control. When we do this, and only when we do this, we will be able to walk steadfastly with the Lord as Jotham did and find success.

There are other key benefits to being steadfast in our walk with God. They are as follows, underscored by scripture:

1. We need not fear for as we walk steadfastly with God, we know He is walking steadfastly beside us.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear. Psalm 112:6-8a

2. We can rejoice in gladness knowing we are steadfastly with God and Him with us.

My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul. Psalm 108:1

3. We will live in peace knowing that the God who can help us through all matters of life is by our side as we remain steadfast in our faith and trust in Him.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

A life free from fear. A life of rejoicing. A life of peace. A life full of love and grace and light.

Who wouldn’t want a life such as this?

It’s all within reach and all it requires is walking steadfastly with the Lord God Almighty each and every day of your life.

Won’t you commit to doing so today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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