{"id":40411,"date":"2026-09-04T02:09:39","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T02:09:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldchallenge.kinsta.cloud\/devotion\/not-game\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T02:09:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T02:09:39","slug":"not-game","status":"publish","type":"devotion","link":"https:\/\/worldchallenge.kinsta.cloud\/it\/devotion\/not-game\/","title":{"rendered":"This Is Not a Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, was on his way home from being with Ahab, the evil king of Israel. The Lord sent a prophet out to meet him with strong words for the king. \u201cAnd Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, \u2018Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord? Therefore the wrath of the Lord is upon you.\u2019\u201d (2 Chronicles 19:2, NKJV).<\/em><\/p>\n

God was saying to Jehoshaphat, \u201cYou don\u2019t know the danger and consequences of what you\u2019ve done. You may think it\u2019s a light thing to join an affinity with someone who is against me. I have a controversy with you about this.\u201d<\/p>\n

At this point, you may be thinking, \u201cI understand that Ahab was evil. But as I consider my own friends, there\u2019s no way I can think of them as God\u2019s enemies.\u201d Yet, consider these passages from scripture.<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cHe who is not with me is against me\u2026\u201d (Luke 11:23)<\/em>. Does your friend take the Lord\u2019s side in all things or not?<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cRebellion is as the sin of witchcraft\u2026\u201d (1 Samuel 15:23)<\/em>. Is your friend\u2019s counsel full of rebellion?<\/p>\n

\u2022 \u201cHe who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord\u201d (Proverbs 17:15). Does your friend speak evil of godly people?<\/p>\n

This is not a game! Your friends are a serious matter to God because their actions have serious consequences. \u201cYou give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother\u2019s son. These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you\u2026 Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver\u201d (Psalm 50:19-22)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Thank God, scripture says, \u201cJehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah\u201d (2 Chronicles 20:3)<\/em>. God responded to Jehoshaphat\u2019s brokenness by giving Judah total victory against the Moabites. Finally, the Bible says, \u201cThen the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around\u201d (2 Chronicles 20:30)<\/em>.<\/p>\n

God does not tolerate our worldly alliances, but he is quick to restore a repentant heart, one that turns toward purity and commitment to him. He will be as a hedge of protection around those devoted believers.<\/p>\n

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