Good is Found

And all Israel shall mourn for him and bury him, for he is the only one of Jeroboam who shall come to the grave, because in him there is found something good toward the Lord God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam. 1 Kings 14:13 (NKJV)

Jeroboam, the first king Israel, is doing evil in the sight of the Lord because he has led his entire nation in worshiping other gods. His son Abijah is ill, so he has his wife disguise herself and go to the prophet Ahijah to inquire about his fate. God sees through the disguise and Jeroboam's son dies. The whole nation mourns for Abijah, and he is the only one in the line of Jeroboam given a dignified burial. God honors Abijah despite the overall wickedness of Jeroboam's reign, because Abijah had qualities that were pleasing to God.

We may have been raised in a house without God, we may have felt we did not need Him, or that He didn't exist. We may have cheated, stolen, lied, or gone to prison. We may have judged others because of their living situation or life choices. We may read about Jeroboam and think he is so evil, yet we are just as evil. Like Jeroboam, God sees through our disguises and we are doomed. Everyone on earth has sinned and God sees it all the same. But good is found in us when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

If you have not accepted Christ, choose to accept Him as your Lord and Savior so that good is found in you. As a disciple of Jesus, you no longer are known for your former self, your identity is in Jesus. Choose to put away the sins of your past and show His love to the world. Choose to share His gospel and live by faith in the Son of God. We are all sinners and when you bring someone to Christ, good is found.