2 Chronicles Chapter 31 verse 21 (NLT)
In all that he did in the service of the Temple of God and in his efforts to follow God’s laws and commands, Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful.
2 Corinthians Chapter 2 verse 9 (NLT)
I wrote to you as I did to test you and see if you would fully comply with my instructions.
Each of these verses teaches us about the importance of following God’s teaching wholeheartedly. When Hezekiah set his heart to completely follow God, God was able to use him, and he prospered, even in difficult circumstances. Prospering doesn’t mean that we don’t have times of hardship, but we can come through them in God’s strength.
In his time, Paul had issued a stern rebuke to the Corinthian church in his first letter to them, because of their behaviour and the way they conducted themselves. It would have been easy for them to dismiss the instructions in the letter, thinking that he wasn’t going to see them so it wouldn’t matter, but it seems that they took to heart what he had said, just as Paul (and God) had intended.
Sometimes we are only half-hearted in following teaching or counsel, but that is of no benefit to us. We need to learn from our mistakes and change our behaviour when we need to. When we follow God’s teaching wholeheartedly, we will blossom and prosper like Hezekiah.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for wise teachers and friends who seek to teach us Your ways. Help me to respond obediently and wholeheartedly. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.