历代志下27：自己行得正还不够
 
GK611晨祷生命读经
13.07.11.2025
主讲：陈惠菁传道


引言：各人自扫门前雪
 
一、 约坦行得正之处（历下27:1-2b, 3-7）

约坦是敬虔的后裔，是祭司撒督的外孙。约坦这名字的字义是‘耶和华是完美的’。他的一生不像之前几位王先善后恶，而是从始至终，他都一直行神眼中看为正的事。
 
1.心存敬畏，拒恶守正（v1–2b）
约坦虽接续父亲的王位，却吸取父亲的教训。不因权位骄傲擅闯圣所。他的“正”，在于敬畏神、尊守神设立的律例和界限。
 
敬畏神的人，不是盲目模仿别人，而是懂得从前人的失败中学习，选择行正道。
 
2.殷勤建造，忠心护国（v3–4）
约坦并没有因不入殿而远离圣工，反而积极建造圣殿之门。为了阻挡这些国家的侵略，他也大规模地建城邑与防御措施。他在国政与属灵上的建造都显出殷勤和忠心护国的行动。

约坦的生命提醒我们，真正敬畏神的人，不是停留在言语上，而是在危机和信仰冷淡的世代中，仍然以实际行动殷勤做主工、忠心守护神所托付的事。今天，不管是在建造神实际的殿（教会）

还是属灵生命的殿，我们是否殷勤？对于真理和神国度的事，我们又是否忠心的守护？还是会随波逐流或遇到挑战就妥协或放弃？
 
3.持守正道，日渐强盛（v5–7）
约坦因在耶和华─他神面前行正道，蒙神眷顾，因此神在他讨伐亚扪人的王时，让他打赢了胜仗，并使亚扪人继续献上贡品。不但如此，神更尊荣他，使他所治理的国家日渐强盛。
 
力量的源头不在胜利的次数，而在所做的一切，是否“在耶和华面前行正道”。正直的脚步，蒙神悦纳，神也会与我们同站，并且使我们手中所做的都强盛发旺。
 
二、 约坦还不够之处（历下27:2c, 8-9）

虽然约坦守住了自己的地位，做了很多合神心意的建造，但生命中仍有不够和可以进步的地方：
 
1.没有引导百姓离开罪恶（v2c）
 约坦虽然自己在神面前行正道，以致日渐强盛。却没有行使神所赐予的权柄，除去国内的偶像敬

拜，带领神托付给他的羊群认罪悔改，使他们离开偶像和罪行，向神来归正。因此，百姓在他死后更变本加厉，破口越来越大，最终无法逃脱神的管教。明天28章，我们会看到国家快速沦陷在亚兰王手里，许多百姓被掳到大马色去。
 
今天，身为牧者、同工、小组长、团队领袖，对神托付的会众、组员、义工团队，我们是放羊吃草，任凭他们？还是当看到有必要纠正的事，我们会用爱心说诚实话，给予提醒呢？
 
此外，今天这个世代已经有很多人不想对别人的生命用爱心说诚实话。所以，当有人愿意对我们的生命给予提醒时，这是神的恩典。我们要感恩并调整，向神归正。
 
2．没有带来生命的影响力（v8-9）
虽然 约坦未驾崩前与儿子亚哈斯共同执政4年，但身为王和父亲的他，却完全没有办法将美好的属灵生命与福分传承给儿子。从圣经的记载，我们知道亚哈斯是极其邪恶。不止铸造巴力的像、在欣嫩子谷烧香、更用火焚烧他的儿女来献祭。

一个生命近乎完美的王，为何没有办法为百姓和儿子带来属灵影响力呢？
 
i）敬虔但不亲近神 
约坦为了惧怕与父亲犯同样的错，选择不入耶和华的殿。这也意味着他想与神保持距离。相反的大卫纵然犯了大错，他依然‘羡慕耶和华的居所’。
 
敬虔若缺乏与神关系的亲密，就会成为个人的‘道德修养’，而非可传递的‘属灵火焰’。
 
ii）正直但不牧养人 
 约坦为人正直、治国有方，但却不是一个好牧者。对于百姓仍然陷在宗教仪式与偶像崇拜中，他不但没有责备、也没带领百姓悔改、回转向神。约坦的信仰也没有‘进入家中’。他虽是个敬虔的父亲，却没像大卫那样，为儿子传承属灵遗产与神的异象。他的敬虔正直止步于‘自守’，却没对身边人产生影响的力量。
 
一个领袖若忽略对别人给予属灵引导，跟随的人

是没有被牧养到的。身为孩子们生活中最重要属灵导师的父母，不只要言教、更要以身教的牧养儿女。这样才能将真实的信仰代代相传。
 
总结：让生命影响更多生命

·‘个人的敬虔’如果没有带来‘群体的转化’，就没有活出耶稣所托付的大使命。
· 真正讨神喜悦的生命，不是‘只有我敬畏神’，而是‘因我敬畏神，别人也渴望敬畏神’。
· 自己不只要行得正，更要去以生命影响生命，建立更多人起来做主的门徒。


    
  

2 Chronicles 27：Doing Right Yourself Is Not Enough 
GK611 Morning Devotion
13 Nov 2025 
Speaker: Pastor Deborah Tan 

 Introduction: Everyone Sweeps Only Their Own Doorstep

I. Jotham’s Righteous Conduct (2 Chronicles 27:1–2b, 3–7) 

Jotham was a godly descendant and the grandson of the priest Zadok. His name means “The LORD is perfect.” Unlike some kings before him who started well but ended badly, Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the LORD throughout his entire reign.

1. Reverent in Heart, Reject Evil and Uphold Righteousness (v1–2b)
Although Jotham succeeded his father as king, he learned from his father’s failures.
He did not trespass into the sanctuary out of pride because of his position. His righteousness was rooted in his reverence for God and his obedience to the laws and boundaries set by God.

Those who revere God do not blindly imitate others, but rather learn from the failures of those who came before them and choose to walk the righteous path.

2. Diligent in Building, Faithful in Protecting the Nation (v3–4)
Even though Jotham did not enter the temple, he did not distance himself from God’s work. Instead, he actively built the upper gate of the temple. To defend against foreign invasions, he also constructed cities and fortresses. His diligence and faithfulness were evident both in national governance and spiritual matters.

Jotham’s life reminds us that true reverence for God is not shown in words alone. In times of crisis and spiritual indifference, those who truly fear God continue to work diligently for the Lord and faithfully guard what He has entrusted to them.

Today, whether we are building God’s physical temple (the church) or the temple of our spiritual lives, are we diligent? Are we faithfully protecting the truth and the mission of God’s kingdom? Or do we drift along, compromising or giving up when challenges arise?

3. Walking Uprightly and Growing Stronger (v5–7)
Because Jotham walked uprightly before the LORD his God, he found favor with Him. God gave him victory over the king of the Ammonites and caused the Ammonites to continue bringing tribute. God also honored him, and his kingdom became increasingly strong.

The source of true strength lies not in the number of victories won, but in whether what we do is “right before the LORD.” When our steps are upright, God is pleased and stands with us, making the work of our hands prosper and thrive.

II. Jotham’s Shortcomings (2 Chronicles 27:2c, 8–9) 

Although Jotham remained upright and accomplished much that pleased God, there were still shortcomings and areas for improvement in his life:

1. Failure to Guide the People Away from Sin   (v2c)
Though Jotham himself walked uprightly before God and grew strong, he failed to use the authority God had given him to remove idolatry from the land. He did not lead the people entrusted to him to confess their sins, turn from idols, and return to God.

As a result, after his death, the people became even more corrupt. The spiritual breaches widened, and eventually, they could not escape God’s judgment. In the next chapter (28), we see the nation quickly fell into the hands of the Arameans, with many people taken captive to Damascus.

Today, as pastors, co-workers, cell group leaders, and ministry heads—how do we treat those God has entrusted to us? Do we simply “let the sheep graze” without care? Or when correction is needed, do we speak the truth in love and give timely reminders?

In today’s world, few are willing to lovingly speak truth into others’ lives. So when someone dares to admonish us, that is God’s grace to us. We should receive it with gratitude, make adjustments, and return to God.

2. Failed to Impact Lives (v8–9)
Before his death, Jotham co-reigned with his son Ahaz for four years. Yet as both king and father, he failed to pass on his godly life and blessings to his son. Scripture records that Ahaz was exceedingly wicked—he made idols for Baal, burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom, and even sacrificed his sons in the fire.

How could such an almost flawless king fail to make a spiritual impact on his son and his nation?

i) Godly but Not Intimate with God
Out of fear of repeating his father’s mistake, Jotham chose not to enter the temple of the LORD. This symbolized a desire to keep his distance from God. In contrast, David—though guilty of serious sin—still “longed for the courts of the LORD.”

Godliness without intimacy with God becomes mere moral discipline, not a transferable spiritual fire.

ii) Upright but Not Shepherding Others
Jotham was upright and capable in governance, but he was not a good shepherd. When the people remained trapped in religious rituals and idolatry, he neither 

rebuked them nor led them to repentance. His faith did not influence his household.

Though a devout father, he did not, like David, pass on a spiritual heritage and divine vision to his son. His righteousness stopped at personal discipline; it did not influence those around him.

If a leader neglects to provide spiritual guidance to others, those who follow will not be shepherded. Parents, as the most important spiritual mentors in their children's lives, must not only teach by words but also by example in raising their children. Only in this way can true faith be passed down from generation to generation

Conclusion: Let Your Life Impact More Lives

Personal godliness, if it doesn't lead to the transformation of the community, hasn't fulfilled the Great Commission entrusted to us by Jesus

A life that truly pleases God is not one that says, “I alone fear the LORD,” but one that causes others to desire to fear Him too.

We must not only live uprightly ourselves but also use our lives to influence others, raising up more disciples for the Lord.