Full Commitment

Jehoshaphat was a good king, following the ways of his father, Asa. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight. During his reign, however, he failed to remove all the pagan shrines, and the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors. [2 Chronicles 20.32-33] 

Even with the unmistakable, undeniable, miraculous victory Judah, under the leadership of Jehoshaphat, experienced against the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites (see 2 Chronicles 20.1-30 and The Battle Is God's), the people never fully committed themselves to follow the God of their ancestors.

We should understand the huge indictment this statement makes to the powerless "Church" today:

If Judah experienced the power of God like they did, and they were still not fully committed to God, how much less committed to God then are those who do not experience His power at all?

It should be understood that the "power of God" means a miracle so overwhelmingly, unmistakably, and undeniably attributable as the supernatural work of God and God ALONE that no one would even attempt to say, "That could have just happened randomly..."

In today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, there is further evidence of this:

One day Israel’s new king, Ahaziah, fell through the latticework of an upper room at his palace in Samaria and was seriously injured. So he sent messengers to the temple of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether he would recover. But the angel of the LORD told Elijah, who was from Tishbe, “Go and confront the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, ‘Is there no God in Israel? Why are you going to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, to ask whether the king will recover? Now, therefore, this is what the LORD says: You will never leave the bed you are lying on; you will surely die.’” So Elijah went to deliver the message. [2 Kings 1.2-4]

The point of the whole Bible (the passages above included) is to show us that God demands full commitment to Him ALONE. In stark contrast to the modern Church's claim that God uses man's "way of life" costly industries of debt, insurance, medicine and technology, the Bible, when read for what it actually says, overwhelmingly declares otherwise. 

Furthermore, and unironically, "New Testament" Jesus demanded no less full commitment while demonstrating limitless, mountain-moving faith as the way of God (that pleases Him):

If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)] 

The Bible is crystal clear on this topic. In contrast, religion, sects, denominations, and the powerless "Church" they all represent, have blinded people with Biblically baseless arguments that "bad things can happen to good people" making it unremarkable that God's power does not manifest among "His people." 

All the while, the "Church" today is immersed in gross idolatry trusting any and everything but God. And, even if they do acknowledge God, they do so claiming their idols ("way of life" costly industries of man's making) are "God's way" to meet their needs. This is NOT the spotless bride Jesus will be returning for! 

The "Church" described above is not only a whore, but a whore who pays its adulterous lovers (idols)!

So, what do we do? We, as individuals, and as the Church, need to become fully committed to God ALONE.

Our full commitment starts with the repentance appropriate for an adulterous, whorish bride understanding that repentance is not an emotion, but an action - turning away from adulterous lover idols and turning to God ALONE (following Jesus). We make a daily practice of intentionally recognizing, giving up, and ridding ourselves of any and everything that even hints of "man's way" (our way). We fearlessly "take up our cross" acknowledging that our lives are NOT ours to preserve in any way, but God's. And therein, we set about to promote the miraculous distinction of the Kingdom of God and the Good News that Jesus makes that distinction (grace) possible in exchange for the undivided devotion of faith - full commitment.

For the record, I am not the first to acknowledge the difficulty of full commitment but I am merely confirming what has already been said:

“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. [Matthew 7.13-14]

Father, open our eyes first to "see" that we have in fact rendered ourselves an adulterous, whorish bride through our trust in idols and, in that condition, are not fully committed to You. May Your Word strike a chord in our hearts calling us to full commitment. So be it.