Ezra 1:1-2 "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah."
Limitless. There is nothing our God cannot do. His power extends beyond our wildest imaginations. Cyrus, kind of Persia, Judah's captor, the man who held the nation in captivity, was used by God. Who would have seen that coming?
Imagine being a Hebrew, taken captive, carried away from your home. All hope seems lost, you're probably doubting God's love and His promises. Then of the sudden, Cyrus, king of Persia, was stirred to action by the Lord. God is limitless in His power to work in the life of man.
What ways have I seen God act in my life or the lives of others that defies human understanding? In what ways would I like to see God do that in my life or the lives of others right now? Do I sincerely, truly believe that He can and will?
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
They Burnt The House of God
2 Chronicles 36:18-19 "And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof."
God is many things, but one of His qualities that we have a hard time accepting and wrapping our heads around sometimes is that of jealousy. To us, it is a negative emotion that we try and subdue, as well we should. However, since another of God's qualities also includes perfection, we know that He has the ability (unlike us) to be 'perfectly jealous' just like He has the ability to be 'perfectly angry' in a righteous way. This is unattainable for us considering the fact that we are not perfect (in case you hadn't noticed).
So we know God is a jealous God and that His dwelling place (at that time in Jerusalem in the temple) was a holy place. Yet God allows this destruction of that holy place. He could've stopped it and still had Judah go into captivity. But He allowed it to happen, I believe, to demonstrate a very important point. Judah had already done wickedly and polluted the temple. In essence God was saying "This temple is not what I care about, it's you that I care about. I want that relationship with you."
Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. In his book we read over and over again about how desperately God desires His people to turn back to Him. Just read Jeremiah 2, you can feel the emotion, the utter heartbreak of the Living God over His wayward people.
He is jealous, but not for physical things. He is jealous for His name and He is jealous for His children. Am I one of those children? Do I feel God's jealousy in my own life, pulling me back toward Him when I stray?
God is many things, but one of His qualities that we have a hard time accepting and wrapping our heads around sometimes is that of jealousy. To us, it is a negative emotion that we try and subdue, as well we should. However, since another of God's qualities also includes perfection, we know that He has the ability (unlike us) to be 'perfectly jealous' just like He has the ability to be 'perfectly angry' in a righteous way. This is unattainable for us considering the fact that we are not perfect (in case you hadn't noticed).
So we know God is a jealous God and that His dwelling place (at that time in Jerusalem in the temple) was a holy place. Yet God allows this destruction of that holy place. He could've stopped it and still had Judah go into captivity. But He allowed it to happen, I believe, to demonstrate a very important point. Judah had already done wickedly and polluted the temple. In essence God was saying "This temple is not what I care about, it's you that I care about. I want that relationship with you."
Jeremiah was called the weeping prophet. In his book we read over and over again about how desperately God desires His people to turn back to Him. Just read Jeremiah 2, you can feel the emotion, the utter heartbreak of the Living God over His wayward people.
He is jealous, but not for physical things. He is jealous for His name and He is jealous for His children. Am I one of those children? Do I feel God's jealousy in my own life, pulling me back toward Him when I stray?
Monday, May 22, 2017
Nevertheless Josiah....
2 Chronicles 35:22 "Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo."
God is not limited in the ways He can use people. Especially people that we would not expect Him to use. As far as we know, the people and kings of Egypt were pagan, and always were. Therefore, one can almost understand Josiah's reasoning - a pagan king can't be speaking the actual words of God, can he?
The mistake we see here is that Josiah made a snap decision without first checking with God. If Josiah seriously questioned the words of Necho, then he could have very easily asked God to confirm it. This blot on Josiah's otherwise committed life came as a result of Josiah having a limited belief in what and who God could use for His purposes.
How am I limiting God in my mind today? If I'm honest, what are some things that I don't sincerely believe He could or would use to change the direction of my life? What will it take to change these mistaken perceptions in my mind?
God is not limited in the ways He can use people. Especially people that we would not expect Him to use. As far as we know, the people and kings of Egypt were pagan, and always were. Therefore, one can almost understand Josiah's reasoning - a pagan king can't be speaking the actual words of God, can he?
The mistake we see here is that Josiah made a snap decision without first checking with God. If Josiah seriously questioned the words of Necho, then he could have very easily asked God to confirm it. This blot on Josiah's otherwise committed life came as a result of Josiah having a limited belief in what and who God could use for His purposes.
How am I limiting God in my mind today? If I'm honest, what are some things that I don't sincerely believe He could or would use to change the direction of my life? What will it take to change these mistaken perceptions in my mind?
Friday, May 19, 2017
While He Was Yet Young
2 Chronicles 34:3 "For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images."
What were some of the things on my mind when I was 8 years old? I certainly was in no position to rule a country. Yet would it have been said of me that 'while I was yet young, I began to seek after God'? The past is the past and cannot be changed. This is a challenge to me now, wherever I may be in my spiritual walk, to realize that complete commitment to seeking the Lord starts now.
It is also encouraging to see Josiah's progression in his relationship with God. He begins seeking God, then 4 years later that commitment to God spills over into purging Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, etc. Then 6 years later we see Josiah begin repairing God's house. Each milestone was a step along his spiritual journey. We should never expect to go from 0 to spiritual immediately. God knows our fallen state and our wicked hearts, yet He loves a heart that is dedicated to sincerely press on regardless of stumbles along the way.
No matter how old I am, or how far along I am in my spiritual journey, can I let the story of Josiah inspire me to seek God more? Can I let it inspire me to purge the sin from my own life? And finally, can I let it encourage me to build up the things of God within me?
What were some of the things on my mind when I was 8 years old? I certainly was in no position to rule a country. Yet would it have been said of me that 'while I was yet young, I began to seek after God'? The past is the past and cannot be changed. This is a challenge to me now, wherever I may be in my spiritual walk, to realize that complete commitment to seeking the Lord starts now.
It is also encouraging to see Josiah's progression in his relationship with God. He begins seeking God, then 4 years later that commitment to God spills over into purging Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, etc. Then 6 years later we see Josiah begin repairing God's house. Each milestone was a step along his spiritual journey. We should never expect to go from 0 to spiritual immediately. God knows our fallen state and our wicked hearts, yet He loves a heart that is dedicated to sincerely press on regardless of stumbles along the way.
No matter how old I am, or how far along I am in my spiritual journey, can I let the story of Josiah inspire me to seek God more? Can I let it inspire me to purge the sin from my own life? And finally, can I let it encourage me to build up the things of God within me?
Thursday, May 18, 2017
He Humbled Himself Greatly
2 Chronicles 33:12-13 "And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God."
The entire first part of the chapter is a litany of Manasseh's sins and evil, wicked deeds. And when things were going well for him, there was no end in sight of his wickedness. It took affliction and pain to jolt him awake, to see his sin for what it was.
The word 'humbled' here is the idea of being brought low and putting oneself into subjection under another. Every sin has a root of pride, where I act as if I know better than God, where I act as if I am the authority in my own life. Humility, willingly bringing myself into subjection under God, is the only cure for this.
Can I learn from the story of Manasseh today and humble myself before God now instead of waiting until the time of affliction? This life is so short, why waste time?
The entire first part of the chapter is a litany of Manasseh's sins and evil, wicked deeds. And when things were going well for him, there was no end in sight of his wickedness. It took affliction and pain to jolt him awake, to see his sin for what it was.
The word 'humbled' here is the idea of being brought low and putting oneself into subjection under another. Every sin has a root of pride, where I act as if I know better than God, where I act as if I am the authority in my own life. Humility, willingly bringing myself into subjection under God, is the only cure for this.
Can I learn from the story of Manasseh today and humble myself before God now instead of waiting until the time of affliction? This life is so short, why waste time?
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Fighting Our Battles
2 Chronicles 32:7-8 "Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."
Hezekiah is demonstrating here what it means to be a good leader. Even when it seemed ridiculous, he told the truth. Poor leaders shy away from the truth if they even know it in the first place. When circumstances appear to have altered what is true, a poor leader will alter their belief in what is truth. However, a good leader understands that truth does not change. A good leader understands that truth can be depended upon no matter the surrounding circumstances.
Hezekiah knew that God was all powerful. He also knew that this fact did not change just because he was surrounded by a huge adversarial army. He further knew that a people that sought the Lord could count on Him to fight their battles. Oh, that phrase is music to the ears of the weary. The All Powerful One will fight my battles. Praise Him.
The Truth is a resting place. A good leader will hold fast to the truth regardless of circumstances. What circumstances in my life have caused me to question the truth I know? How will I remind myself to hold fast to the truth regardless?
Hezekiah is demonstrating here what it means to be a good leader. Even when it seemed ridiculous, he told the truth. Poor leaders shy away from the truth if they even know it in the first place. When circumstances appear to have altered what is true, a poor leader will alter their belief in what is truth. However, a good leader understands that truth does not change. A good leader understands that truth can be depended upon no matter the surrounding circumstances.
Hezekiah knew that God was all powerful. He also knew that this fact did not change just because he was surrounded by a huge adversarial army. He further knew that a people that sought the Lord could count on Him to fight their battles. Oh, that phrase is music to the ears of the weary. The All Powerful One will fight my battles. Praise Him.
The Truth is a resting place. A good leader will hold fast to the truth regardless of circumstances. What circumstances in my life have caused me to question the truth I know? How will I remind myself to hold fast to the truth regardless?
Tuesday, May 16, 2017
Good and Right and Truth
2 Chronicles 31:20-21 "And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered."
The book of 2 Chronicles is filled with stories. Throughout the book, stories of prosperity and success parallel stories of failure and desolation. Whether the story is one of success or failure hinges on one thing - that person's relationship with God.
In the stories of men and women who loved God and served Him wholeheartedly we see prosperity. However, in the stories of men and women who loved themselves and forsook God entirely, we see failure and ruin. God was serious when He said, "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." (Deuteronomy 30:15) Too often, we try and have it both ways. We try and dabble in the good while keeping a foot in the bad. But the choice is this clear, the options are that cut and dried. Life or death.
How am I trying to avoid the choice between life and death today? What deception of sin is holding me back from full surrender?
The book of 2 Chronicles is filled with stories. Throughout the book, stories of prosperity and success parallel stories of failure and desolation. Whether the story is one of success or failure hinges on one thing - that person's relationship with God.
In the stories of men and women who loved God and served Him wholeheartedly we see prosperity. However, in the stories of men and women who loved themselves and forsook God entirely, we see failure and ruin. God was serious when He said, "See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction." (Deuteronomy 30:15) Too often, we try and have it both ways. We try and dabble in the good while keeping a foot in the bad. But the choice is this clear, the options are that cut and dried. Life or death.
How am I trying to avoid the choice between life and death today? What deception of sin is holding me back from full surrender?
Monday, May 15, 2017
Grace and Mercy, Judgement and Wrath
2 Chronicles 30:9 "For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him."
Sometimes it can appear to be difficult to find the loving God of the New Testament in the judgmental God of the Old Testament. However, we know for certain that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the unchanging God.
It's for this reason that we can read passages of Scripture that speak of God's fierce wrath and judgement and know that His love endures still. It is for this reason that we can read passages of Scripture that speak of God's unfailing mercy and matchless love and know that His hatred of sin remains. These two things are true at the same time, and it is up to us, how we respond to Him, that determines whether we enjoy His pleasure or His wrath.
Grace and mercy are what I want in my life. I don't want God turning His face away from me. How have I moved away from God recently? What would it look like for me to return to Him today?
Sometimes it can appear to be difficult to find the loving God of the New Testament in the judgmental God of the Old Testament. However, we know for certain that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the unchanging God.
It's for this reason that we can read passages of Scripture that speak of God's fierce wrath and judgement and know that His love endures still. It is for this reason that we can read passages of Scripture that speak of God's unfailing mercy and matchless love and know that His hatred of sin remains. These two things are true at the same time, and it is up to us, how we respond to Him, that determines whether we enjoy His pleasure or His wrath.
Grace and mercy are what I want in my life. I don't want God turning His face away from me. How have I moved away from God recently? What would it look like for me to return to Him today?
Friday, May 12, 2017
They Were The Ruin of Him
2 Chronicles 28:23 "For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel."
Anytime we look to anything besides God in our time of distress, the only possible outcome is our ruin. We know that God allows times of hardship into our lives for many reasons. Sometimes it is so that we will learn a lesson we couldn't learn any other way. Other times it is because our sinful actions have consequences. Whatever the reason for our being in that situation, the absolute worst thing we can do is to allow that situation to move further away from God.
Times of distress test us, they reveal what is really inside. If we truly, in our deepest parts desire God first and last, times of trial will reveal that, they will drive us closer to Him. However, if selfishness reigns in our innermost being, times of trial will make this clear.
The most important thing to do right now is to examine ourselves before we get to that time of testing. Deep down, who am I? Deep down, what do I truly want? My own will, or His?
Anytime we look to anything besides God in our time of distress, the only possible outcome is our ruin. We know that God allows times of hardship into our lives for many reasons. Sometimes it is so that we will learn a lesson we couldn't learn any other way. Other times it is because our sinful actions have consequences. Whatever the reason for our being in that situation, the absolute worst thing we can do is to allow that situation to move further away from God.
Times of distress test us, they reveal what is really inside. If we truly, in our deepest parts desire God first and last, times of trial will reveal that, they will drive us closer to Him. However, if selfishness reigns in our innermost being, times of trial will make this clear.
The most important thing to do right now is to examine ourselves before we get to that time of testing. Deep down, who am I? Deep down, what do I truly want? My own will, or His?
Thursday, May 11, 2017
He Prepared His Ways Before the Lord
2 Chronicles 27:6 "So Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God."
The secret to success is no secret at all. Over and over, time and time again, throughout the Bible, God lays out a simple formula. It's almost as if our human minds balk at its simplicity so much that we cannot accept it.
"So Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." If we too would like that success, that might that Jotham had, all we have to do is look at the 'because'.
The word 'prepared' has to do with establishing, making something firm, settling it. In other words, Jotham would go before God when planning his 'ways', his actions, his goals, he would take all of these before God, seeking God's will in them. Jotham would make his plans in the presence of God, then follow through on the plans that God established.
This is a beautiful example of an intimate relationship with a God Who cares about us. How can I prepare my ways before God today? Is this a habit I already have, or perhaps something I need to start doing?
The secret to success is no secret at all. Over and over, time and time again, throughout the Bible, God lays out a simple formula. It's almost as if our human minds balk at its simplicity so much that we cannot accept it.
"So Jotham became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God." If we too would like that success, that might that Jotham had, all we have to do is look at the 'because'.
The word 'prepared' has to do with establishing, making something firm, settling it. In other words, Jotham would go before God when planning his 'ways', his actions, his goals, he would take all of these before God, seeking God's will in them. Jotham would make his plans in the presence of God, then follow through on the plans that God established.
This is a beautiful example of an intimate relationship with a God Who cares about us. How can I prepare my ways before God today? Is this a habit I already have, or perhaps something I need to start doing?
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Till He Was Strong
2 Chronicles 26:15b-16 "...And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense."
The life of Uzziah serves as a warning to each of us. He was definitely one of the better kings that we read about in this book, until the end. The word describing his heart being "lifted up" implies haughtiness, pride, arrogance. It is strange how most sin can be traced back to a seed of pride. Pride says that I know better than God what is good for me, therefore "justifying" my sin (whatever it may be).
It is also strange, and frightening, how quickly and quietly pride can steal into our lives. Under the watchful eye of Zechariah the priest, Uzziah no doubt remembered where his prosperity was coming from. Yet this only lasted "till he was strong." But we see clearly here that his sense of strength was only an illusion. That strength came from God and was the only reason for his success.
Can I examine my life today, seeking God to show me any seed of pride that may be lurking within me?
The life of Uzziah serves as a warning to each of us. He was definitely one of the better kings that we read about in this book, until the end. The word describing his heart being "lifted up" implies haughtiness, pride, arrogance. It is strange how most sin can be traced back to a seed of pride. Pride says that I know better than God what is good for me, therefore "justifying" my sin (whatever it may be).
It is also strange, and frightening, how quickly and quietly pride can steal into our lives. Under the watchful eye of Zechariah the priest, Uzziah no doubt remembered where his prosperity was coming from. Yet this only lasted "till he was strong." But we see clearly here that his sense of strength was only an illusion. That strength came from God and was the only reason for his success.
Can I examine my life today, seeking God to show me any seed of pride that may be lurking within me?
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
The Lord is Able to Give Thee Much More Than This
2 Chronicles 25:9 "And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this."
There are times in life when we give our best effort to a cause or a person. This may go on for some time, we've invested perhaps years of our own life into something, only to see it ultimately fail. Whether it be 100 talents of silver, or years of our lives, of ourselves, it is nearly unthinkable to see it slip away. "What shall we do...?" Is that investment, those years of our lives just gone? Wasted? To be forgotten?
We serve the Great Redeemer. He takes what is broken, what is wasted, and redeems it. Whatever we feel we have lost, if we surrender to Him, He is able to give us much more than this. Whether it is 100 talents of silver or our own life and self, He is able to restore and redeem if we commit to Him and do what is right. We can't change the past, but God can turn its ashes into beauty beyond our wildest imagination.
What are my "100 talents of silver" that I can't get back? What new direction is God calling me to go that feels like I'll be losing those "talents"? Am I trusting Him, that He can and will give much more than this? What beauty could He be bringing out of this situation?
There are times in life when we give our best effort to a cause or a person. This may go on for some time, we've invested perhaps years of our own life into something, only to see it ultimately fail. Whether it be 100 talents of silver, or years of our lives, of ourselves, it is nearly unthinkable to see it slip away. "What shall we do...?" Is that investment, those years of our lives just gone? Wasted? To be forgotten?
We serve the Great Redeemer. He takes what is broken, what is wasted, and redeems it. Whatever we feel we have lost, if we surrender to Him, He is able to give us much more than this. Whether it is 100 talents of silver or our own life and self, He is able to restore and redeem if we commit to Him and do what is right. We can't change the past, but God can turn its ashes into beauty beyond our wildest imagination.
What are my "100 talents of silver" that I can't get back? What new direction is God calling me to go that feels like I'll be losing those "talents"? Am I trusting Him, that He can and will give much more than this? What beauty could He be bringing out of this situation?
Monday, May 8, 2017
That Ye Cannot Prosper
2 Chronicles 24:20 "And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you."
There are many things in the Bible that are simple, yet not easy. God makes it very plain and simple in His Word the things we must do to have true success. Yet those things often go completely against our flesh and sin nature. Therefore, though they are simple they are not easy to do.
God has given commandments in His Word and very often these commandments come with promises attached. Fulfill the commandments and blessings will follow. Transgress the commandments and suffering will follow. Simple, yet not easy.
Everyone of us has a desire to prosper. There is no one on this earth who desires to fail. Yet even when the choice is clear, we choose our own way, we choose sin, which we know will lead to failure. Why would we choose to transgress His commandments when we know this will not allow us to prosper? A question to ponder today.
There are many things in the Bible that are simple, yet not easy. God makes it very plain and simple in His Word the things we must do to have true success. Yet those things often go completely against our flesh and sin nature. Therefore, though they are simple they are not easy to do.
God has given commandments in His Word and very often these commandments come with promises attached. Fulfill the commandments and blessings will follow. Transgress the commandments and suffering will follow. Simple, yet not easy.
Everyone of us has a desire to prosper. There is no one on this earth who desires to fail. Yet even when the choice is clear, we choose our own way, we choose sin, which we know will lead to failure. Why would we choose to transgress His commandments when we know this will not allow us to prosper? A question to ponder today.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
Then All the People
2 Chronicles 23:17 "Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars."
It is amazing how loath we are to act on our own. Even when we know something is the right thing to do, we as humans are constantly looking around to make sure we aren't acting alone. And then, even when we know we aren't alone, sometimes we still hesitate because we want to make sure the leadership in our life also approves.
Here we see Israel ready for a new king, ready to be done with Athaliah and Baal, ready to commit to serving God as a country. However, they did not act on this until someone else took charge, until Jehoiada made the first move in that direction.
When we know the Truth, we have a duty to act upon it "though none go with me". Our Leader is God Himself, and we are to follow Him. No waiting on fellow men's approval.
What truth in my life am I hesitating to act upon? What is holding me back? How can I overcome that today?
It is amazing how loath we are to act on our own. Even when we know something is the right thing to do, we as humans are constantly looking around to make sure we aren't acting alone. And then, even when we know we aren't alone, sometimes we still hesitate because we want to make sure the leadership in our life also approves.
Here we see Israel ready for a new king, ready to be done with Athaliah and Baal, ready to commit to serving God as a country. However, they did not act on this until someone else took charge, until Jehoiada made the first move in that direction.
When we know the Truth, we have a duty to act upon it "though none go with me". Our Leader is God Himself, and we are to follow Him. No waiting on fellow men's approval.
What truth in my life am I hesitating to act upon? What is holding me back? How can I overcome that today?
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