Preparing our Heart

"The Arrogance of Rehoboam"
Hans Holbein the Younger

Reading through the kings of Israel can be a rollercoaster of highs and lows with how they were regarded as godly (or godless) leaders. In fact, many positives and "highs" are still tainted with sin.

Some, like Rehoboam, not much good is to be said. In fact, when we read 2 Chronicles 12:14, we read: "And he did evil because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD."

... did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD ...

In other translations like ESV, we see "set his heart," but I find the King James (and NKJV) striking here as it is more clear about action, and not just direction.

Yet, what does this practically look like?

Later, we see another story, one of Jehoshaphat. Here is an example of those highs mixed with lows. While we could get into those stories, I just want to draw our attention to 2 Chronicles 19:3, again in NKJV:

“Nevertheless, good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land and have prepared your heart to seek God.”

What was this preparing?

Tearing down of idols, repenting from sin...

Is that really a surprise though, as this is the consistent message throughout Scripture, as even the first words of Jesus recorded during his ministry were to "repent."

Contrary to the often incomplete gospel message of the day, while God/Jesus is indeed loving, He still commands (and demands) that we first repent as our first step to prepare to receive the Gospel. We all have sinned and fallen short of the life that God has commanded us to live, yet in His mercy and grace, forgiveness is offered, but we must turn away, repent, and thus "prepare our heart" to receive Him; otherwise, we are hoping in a false gospel that will never save us.

... yet even as saved Christians, we must live a life of ongoing preparing and repenting on this pilgrimage here on earth. It is laborious but glorious!

Prepare your heart...

His, Matthew