2 Chronicles 25-26 and Romans 12
Good ol’ King Uzziah. We’re told that he had a lot of livestock, and people working his fields and vineyards, for he loved the soil. I can relate, because I too love the soil. I have animals, an orchard, a garden, and am working on a vineyard. Hey, here’s a guy I can identify with.
In 2 Chronicles 26:5, We read that king Uzziah, “… sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.”
Nice, I’m trying to follow God too, and God is giving me success. I’m still tracking with Uzziah. I like this guy.
We see in 2 Chronicles 26: 15 that “his fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.” Well, I wouldn’t say this is true of me quite yet, but maybe, given enough time… maybe?
Then in verse 16, we read, “But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God…” No! He had everything going for him. Life was good. Why did he blow it by turning away from God? And he was so much like me, too. I could relate to this guy. What happened?
But that’s the problem. All of us are in danger of being a lot like Uzziah, too. All of us need to be careful that we don’t fall, regardless of how strong of a Christian we perceive ourselves. I’m reminded of Hebrews 3: 12-13, which says, “See to it brothers, that no one of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
And this ties into the Romans 12 reading for today. Romans 12:1-2 says, “I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Here we find the answer. In Romans 12:1, we have to surrender our body to God. And this means once and for all. This is the right response 1) because of all that God has done for us (in view of God’s mercy), and 2) because it is the way we really worship God.
Then, in verse 2, we have to surrender our mind to Him. The word here is metamorphosis, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly. It is a total and complete transformation, and there is no going back. Only once we have surrendered our body and mind to God, God will transform our will, to make us want to live for him.
And this is the only way we can avoid becoming another Uzziah.
So, now go build your crystalis and start your transformation. Get into God’s word, pray, and emerge changed.
–Steve Mattison
Today’s Bible reading passages can be read or listened to at BibleGateway here – 2 Chronicles 25-26 and Romans 12
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