Yesterday the Bible reading showed us how reading with the wrong mindset can lead us to rather strange conclusions. We will think about things wrong if our mindset is wrong. Today we will see that if we really trust God it changes how our life unfolds.
As we read the Bible more we will see that very often God's people (Israel) did not have a mindset fixed on God; too often they went their own way thinking it was best. Because of this godless mindset Israel faced many disasters. But today we read of a rare exception - we meet Jehoshaphat (a king of Israel who reigned 873 to 843 BC).
A massive coalition army is invading the promised land. "Jehoshaphat was afraid." So what did he do? He is King - the human worldly response is to act. Let's gather the men. Let's train them up. Let's organize them. Let's arm them. Let's supply them. Let's deploy them. We will defend our land. That is the mindset of a human nation under attack. That is the mindset of most of us in life. We respond to circumstances in our own way. Our reaction is rational in the context of my understanding and my ability and my resources.
But here is the thing - Jehoshaphat chose differently; facing this invasion he called for fasting and prayer throughout the entire kingdom. The people gathered across the land, from all the cities to seek God in this time of need.
OK - that's ridiculous! We are being invaded by a massive coalition and the government wants us to stop eating, stand still, do nothing and pray. That's crazy.
So what happens? God responds to Jehoshaphat. "Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but mine". Side note: apparently the Bible says not to fear 365 times (you can count; I did not). Living without fear is God's desire for us. How is this achieved? By being in a restored relationship to God. How is that achieved? By having a mindset that seeks God first and trusts Him at all times and in all circumstances. Breach of trust (thinking we know better than God and doing our own thing our way) is the crisis that echoes across Scripture from the Garden of Eden, to the Cross to the end of the age. A symptom of being a Christ follower is the Christlike mindset that seeks God first in everything at all times.
So what happened? Jehoshaphat said to the people “Listen to me people of Judah and Jerusalem! We must put our trust in God, we must obey Him and He will save us.” According to God's instructions Jehoshaphat organized people to sing songs to God and other people to praise Him in liturgies; they all walked out to meet the enemy army singing and praising God together. Really? Can you imagine that? It's totally ridiculous! Meet a murderous invading army with songs and praise? Nonsense. Except, when they began singing and praising God He acted and invaders who had come against Judah were soundly defeated. The people then gave thanks to God.
In God we trust. Do we?
Our mental habit is to rely on ourselves not God - why? It reflects the truth that we don't really trust Him. We say it. But do we, really? If we did we would go to Him first and trust Him to act. Instead we go to ourselves first - we trust and rely on ourselves. But the mindset of the Christ follower begins with trust in God, it leads to obedience and thanksgiving and it ends in Love. The Jesus mindset seems abnormal - but it is a symptom of walking along a narrow path toward a narrow gate which leads to God.
As we journey through Lent and life, God give us, as your people your mindset. Guide us, work in us and mold us into a restored relationship with You. Draw us into the habit of seeking you first. Let our first reaction be to Love. Change our way of thinking so that we understand the needs of others as our own. Develop in us the attitude of Jesus. Amen
For today's full text click here
(It is important to read the full text! Hold me accountable if you feel it has not been handled well. It is what Scripture means when it says to wrestle with the Bible and mentally struggle with it and inwardly digest it.)
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