Undecided, Agreeing or Letting?

In 2 Kings chapter 12, we see that the new king Johoash became king. It stated that he did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. However, the high places were not taken away; and the people still sacrificed and burned incense in the high places.

The King had the authority and means to destroy idol worship and false religious practices in Israel. Some of the Kings throughout history actually engaged in this sinful practice, others just allowed or ignored it. For comparison, a few chapters later listen to what Hezekiah did to these in 2 Kings 18: “He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze serpent called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.”

Later it states that Johoash did some good things for the Lord. It says he was responsible for seeing that The Temple was repaired.

However when the King of Syria threatened to attack Israel, Johoash bribed Syria with sacred temple articles, taking what was holy to the Lord as a payoff to an invading country rather than fighting.

In verse 20 and 21 that Johoash came to a very bad end, with his servants turning against him and killing him.

The question that occurred to me, is are there places where I let myself do things sinful and displeasing to the Lord AND do I let (or ignore) those in my realm of influence or authority do what is sinful and displeasing to the Lord? To be sure, we all sin, but there is a difference between sinning and repenting and knowing, willfully, repetitively sinning in an area one knows is wrong or after the Lord has made you aware of this sin and you refuse to stop and repent.

As we see, doing right (mission trips, time in the Word, church attendance, serving others, working hard) was not a free pass to keep on sinning and allowing sin in the people. I wonder if his cowardice in fighting the Syrian King, and instead offering the Holy Things, for which he was carelessly indifferent, if those seeds were planting back when he failed to address the issues, perhaps also because of fear and faithlessness in the Lord. In His fear, passivity, indifference, not being his brother's keeper, not trusting the Lord, not being responsible for and selflessly loving, those the Lord had placed under Him.

It is also not enough that we are doing right, and doing good things for the Lord, while we may be turning a blind eye to sin in others that the Lord would have us address? Are we ignoring those we are responsible for instructing, shepherding, leading, sharpening?

These are sobering thoughts. We must throw off passivity and make a decision for Christ and His ways. To not decide or to “let” is to side with the enemy of our souls and is idolatry.

Lord, show us where we have “let” thoughts that are ungodly or not from you remain.

Lord, show us where we have “let” lies we believed about ourselves or you remain and not cast them out. Show us where we have allowed self-pity, jealousy, fear, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, pride to live in our hearts.

Lord, show us where we have “let” unbelief rule in our hearts and minds.

Lord show us where we have “let” sin run rampant in our lives.

Lord, show us where we have “let” sin remain in our marriage for any reason.

Lord, show us where we have “let” sin remain in our homes for any reason.

Lord, show us where we have “let” sin remain in our children, unaddressed.

Lord, show us where we have “let” sin remain in the Church for any reason.

Lord, show us where we have been unfaithful, passive, afraid, lazy or self-focused in our realm of influence or authority. Show us where we have not heard your voice, or ignored your Word. Work in us the strength, courage, and love to do your will and be pleasing and wholly dedicated to you. Help us to serve and love you whole heartedly and in full repentence.  Thank you for your great love and mercy and for doing this in us.   Amen.