True Reform

This passage tells the story of Asa, king of southern Judah, who boldly cut off the evil practice of idolatry handed down from his ancestors and sought God. Even in times of peace Asa did not let down his guard but built cities to prepare, and when he faced an enemy army that outnumbered his own, he acknowledged his weakness and cried out earnestly to God. His faith brought victory and peace from God, and through a prophet's encouragement he carried out deeper reforms, leading a work in which the people returned to God.

But in the course of Asa's reforms there was a great obstacle: the idolatry of his grandmother Maacah, one of his closest family. The sermon points out that for healthy character and the growth of the soul, it is sometimes necessary to boldly put an end to unhealthy relationships or weak areas. It explains that simply forcing a relationship to continue may not be unconditional love or loyalty, and that only when the vessel of our own faith stands firm do we gain the strength to truly save others. It stresses that to lead a loved one onto the path of eternal life, we need the resolve to accept discomfort and break ties, and that this is ultimately the way to create an opportunity for that person to stand before God.

Keeping in mind that our relationship with a loved one may be strained, why must we first stand firm in faith ourselves?