2 Kings – Chapter 10

Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. ¹⁹Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 2 Kings 10:18-19 – In Romans 12 we are taught to not be slothful in our zeal of serving the Lord, and no one could say Jehu was that in the beginning of his reign as king. God had prophesied through Elijah that Ahab’s whole family would fall as a result of their sinfulness, and Jehu was the sword God used to bring that about. This chapter is filled with so much death because Jehu was zealous to wipe out anyone even remotely connected to Ahab’s line and any that worshipped Baal. While fulfilling the command of the Lord is good and destroying the worship of Baal in Israel was good, we see in the chapter Jehu’s heart wasn’t fully after the Lord but remained a worshipper of other idols in the land at that time. What then is our takeaway from this? Let’s be willing to examine our hearts to see why we are being zealous in our work for the Lord. Are we doing it out of our passion and obedience to God or are we zealous because the path God has us going down just so happens to line up with what we selfishly want too? Yet when God’s path isn’t anymore lined up with our desires, the zeal for God goes away. This was Jehu’s issue. He was passionate to get rid of anyone that might threaten his throne, and that lined up with God’s plan, but when that was done he was done following God. Be willing to be zealous for serving God when His plans line up with yours and even when they don’t. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3076

Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. 2 Kings10:28-29 – True repentance comes with a complete turning away from the sin and walking in a new direction of following God. What we see in Jehu’s life is something we often see happening even in our own stories. We let go of most of the sins we used to find ourselves in, trashing them and never going back. Yet we hold on to one or two things, never letting go, and never admitting these are something that shouldn’t be still a part of our story. While the temptation to continue holding on and entertaining those sinful behaviors is strong, remember that Christ died for you to be free from those things. He’s calling us to turn away from all the sin that entangles us. Cutting these sinful behaviors out of your life isn’t always quick and easy, but this is what repentance is all about; changing to walk in a new direction and not looking back. Know that Christ not only wants to challenge us to live a life free of sin, but He wants to lead us into that life. Meaning He’s not waiting at some imaginary finish line waiting for you to get your act together, He’s walking this journey right beside you wanting to strengthen your every step. That’s how much He wants your life to be free. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 381

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. 2 Kings 10:31 – When Jesus laid down His entire life for us on the cross do you think He desired us to give only part of our heart into following Him? No, Jesus gave it all and we need to give Him our all. Jehu was faithful, but God didn’t have his heart fully. Parts of himself were still be offered to other things. How fully does God have you? Is it fully or is there a part that you something else has? God desires you, the whole you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1033

Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel. 2 Kings 10:28 – How easy would it be to wipe out your god? True, the process to “wipe out Baal” took tricks, a massive gathering, a slaughter of many people, and a destroying of a temple, but the end result? The worship of Baal was gone from the land for this time. Know if in your story anything other than Jesus is your god it can be wiped from your life just like we saw play out in our passage. If a dream career is what your life is all about, a simple no or a broken bone could wipe that away. If money is your god, one unstoppable, nature disaster could take all you have from you. Do you really want to trust a god that can be wiped out like this? Know Jesus can’t be wiped out. No darkness can overtake Him and not problem is to heavy for Him. Trust in Jesus so you have a God that you can count on showing up when you need Him rather than fearing if the pressure crushed the one you were trusting in. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2216