Failure in Success

“But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin”

2 Kings10:31 (NKJV).

Noted for his wild driving in 2 Kings 9:20, Jehu was very successful politically and militarily. He overthrew the dynasty of Ahab, had wicked Jezebel slain, had Baal worship destroyed in Israel, and established himself as king of Northern Israel. But while he was most successful in these areas, he was a great failure in character. Our verse discloses that he was inattentive to character, insincere in character, and therefore iniquitous in character.

Inattentive to character - “Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel.” Jehu did not care about character. Because he was more interested in his political and military pursuits, he “took no heed” to walking in God’s laws. Many people are like Jehu. Character does not interest them. They do not care whether or not they are obeying God. Their interests are in their earthly pursuits, not in living a godly life.

Insincere in character - “Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart.” The focus here is on the words, “with all his heart.” Jehu was insincere. He could talk big, but his walk was small. His heart did not correspond to his mouth. People of poor character can sometimes talk enthusiastically about character when it is necessary to impress people. But their heart is not in it. They are as phony as a three-dollar bill.

Iniquitous in character - “He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam.” If a person is not attentive and sincere about character, they will be corrupt in their conduct. There is much corruption in our land because there is much inattentiveness and insincerity in the matter of obeying the Lord. If people are not interested in godly character, they will be iniquitous in character. Social workers try to improve people’s character apart from God. It is a study in foolishness and futility. To improve character, people need to get right with God.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“If you want to have a heart for God, you must let God have your heart!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Depraved

In 2 Timothy 3:8 we read, “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith!” (NASB)

Depraved is the Greek word kataphtheiro (καταφθειρω). It is made up of two words: “kata” which intensifies the meaning, and “phtheiro” which means corrupt destroy. Hence the word means to corrupt, to destroy, to perish. Here kataphtheiro is used figuratively to describe a human mind that has become corrupted, decadent, entirely spoiled and in a sense ‘lain waste.’

In classical Greek kataphtheiro primarily means to destroy, to bring to naught. In the Septuagint kataphtheiro means to corrupt, to wipe out, destroy, spoil, ruin. In the New Testament there is only one occurrence of kataphtheiro, and it is here in 2 Tim. 3:8 where Paul used it to describe the “corrupt” minds of those who opposed the gospel, comparing them to Jannes and Jambres who had opposed Moses. The word is also in the perfect tense which pictures the unalterable, permanent corrupted condition of the minds of these men.

Bible Facts

“666” is the number of the beast in Rev. 13:18. Many interpretations of this number have been proposed. However, it is important to note that the number seven is used in the Book of Revelation as a symbol of God’s perfection. Conversely, the number six symbolizes human imperfection. So then, 666 symbolizes the number of a man - all human beings and their continued imperfection. Three sixes together (666) implies a trinity of imperfection; an imitation of the number seven.

Bible Quiz

According to Dr. Luke, what surprised a Pharisee when Jesus ate dinner at his house?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: According to James, what kind of man is like “the waves of the sea?” “A double minded man” (Jam. 1:6-8).

That’s in the Bible

“Straining at gnats”

“Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matt. 23:24 KJV).

A major characteristic of a Pharisee is his insistence on being what is called a ‘gnat-strainer’ i.e. one who harps on insignificant matters to the neglect of the more serious. ‘Straining at gnats’ is an apt description, for to see a gnat, you do indeed have to strain your eyes. To see the trivial faults of others requires the same. There are those who will use this Scripture to preach against all judgment of another’s sin, but this is an incorrect application of the teaching. Jesus didn’t condemn pointing out another’s sin, but he did say to remove the “beam” out of your own eye first; then, you will see clearly to remove the “mote” out of your brother’s eye.

Did You Know – Christian History

Peter Cartwright was born in Amherst County, Virginia. His father was a colonial soldier and his mother was a devout Christian woman, who opened their cabin home for preaching by the Methodist circuit preachers. It was at one these meetings that Peter Cartwright was converted at age 16. His new faith completely changed his life, and he immediately began to witness for Christ. One year later, he was licensed as an “exhorter” and began riding a circuit of his own. His appointments were few and far between, and he preached wherever people would open their homes, because meeting houses were few. This was the beginning of his long career as a circuit-riding Methodist preacher.

Cartwright was a hellfire-and-brimstone preacher after the style of Wesley, and his character and personality often matched his sermons. Often, he personally thrashed the rowdies who disturbed his camp meetings after which he saw many of them “get religion.” In over 50 years of traveling circuits in Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, Cartwright received 10,000 members into the Methodist Church, personally baptized 12,000, conducted over 500 funerals, and preached more than 15,000 sermons. He was strongly opposed to comfort in religion, education, and culture in the ministry. His equipment consisted of a black broadcloth suit and a horse with saddlebags, while his library was composed of his Bible, hymnbook, and Methodist discipline. He was the epitome of the Methodist circuit riders who preached, traveled, suffered, and firmly planted the old-time religion in the frontier of the infant United States of America.

A Little Humor

Sometimes women are overly suspicious of their husbands. When Adam stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset. “You’re running around with other women,” she charged. “You’re being unreasonable,” Adam responded. “You’re the only woman on earth.” The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve. “What do you think you’re doing?” Adam demanded. “Counting your ribs,” said Eve.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“It is impossible to drive in the wrong direction and arrive at the right destination!”