No Partiality

7Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” 2 Chronicles 19:7 
These words were spoken by Jehoshaphat as he was setting up judges in the different cities under his rule. Let the fear of the Lord be upon you. God does see everything we do and the words of our mouth This scripture stood out to me. I thought back to a time when someone advised me when I was seeking counsel between me and my first wife. I remember his words did I not support the family, and that I could persuade the church I belong to, to support my cause because I am the one paying money to the church. I remember feeling this is not Godly advice. That incident came to my mind as I read this passage. As I compare this passage of scripture to that time, I was not a judge or in any position of authority other than to be the leader of the home. As I think of that time, it feels like that would have been on the order of a bribe. Consider my part to carry more weight because I am the one bringing the money into the home. I felt in my spirit this was not from God. When God advises us through his word or through another person it will align with his word.  Fear of the Lord is respect, it is not a fear like God is going to squish us like an ant if we do wrong. We give weight to his words, we consider God's words and use them to guide our response and the way we live in this world.  God does not look at the husband as more valuable than the wife because he may be bringing home more bacon.  There is no partiality with God. God does not consider the wealthy more important than the poor. God looks upon the heart. As MLK once said in his I Have a Dream speech, look at the content of our character. God is just, he deals fairly with man, he does not consider the wealth, or the good looks, or perhaps our intelligence. God does look on our hearts. Is our character, the content of our heart in line with his precepts, his ways. Jehoshaphat was in good standing with the Lord because he had led the people of Judah back to God. He made a mistake when he made an alliance with Ahab because even though Ahab was the King of Israel, the other part of God's people, he was an ungodly king and did not follow the ways of God. In that battle where Ahab and Jehoshaphat fought together that Ahab was killed and Jehoshaphat was spared. The commander of the army they were fighting against had told his chariots to go after the King of Israel. Jehoshaphat went into battle in his kingly robes, and Ahab went in disguised, without his royal robes. Yet it was Ahab that was killed, and Jehoshaphat was spared. You cannot fool God. God protected Jehoshaphat and allowed Ahab to be struck down as he had spoken through his prophet. God judges according to the content of our hearts. God is more concerned with our character than our comfort. I read that statement in a book once and it comes to mind. There is no partiality with God as far as wealth or good looks, God judges by the content of our hearts. Those were the words God spoke to Samuel as he was looking over the sons of Jessie for the King of Israel to replace Saul. That is how we want to live in this world, to judge by the content of our character and not by the color of our skin, or wealth, or good stature. God bless, LVZ.