2 Chronicles 15:17–19: “But the high places were not removed from Israel. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was loyal all his days. He also brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated and that he himself had dedicated: silver and gold and utensils. And there was no war until the thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa.”

October 2nd, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Here is another sad commentary on the spiritual condition of both the king and the people of God. King Asa was following the Lord in part, but he allowed the high places, the places of idolatrous worship, to remain. He and the people were trying to keep one foot in the temple and one in the world. It seems Asa had been doing well as a believer; but somewhere along the road of life, he began to drift. We’re not told what started it, so we can probably assume it wasn’t a sudden change. Backsliding doesn’t usually happen over night; it is a gradual thing.

In the Northwest, springtime brings lumber harvesting. Great quantities of logs flow down the rivers. Sometimes a jam occurs, and a lumberjack must find the log that is causing the backup. When he finds the key log, he pulls it out of place and restores the flow of the rushing river. Spiritual logjams also happen in believers’ lives. When we lose our fire and enthusiasm, our interesting in personal devotions shrinks, an hour in church suddenly seems boring, and the Bible becomes a silent Book. We must search and find the key log that is blocking the flow of spiritual life from the Lord. It may be unforgiveness or jealousy or hypocrisy. When we find it, we pull the obstruction out of place (confess) and spiritual life will surge again.

“LORD, please don’t let us drift this day. We choose You; we choose life.”