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.
Monday, May 8, 2017
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?
Monday, April 24, 2017
Art Not Thou God?
2 Chronicles 20:6 "And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?"
The first thing to notice is Jehoshaphat's attitude in verse 3 prior to approaching the Lord, "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
The second thing to notice here is that his prayer was not news to the Lord. God didn't hear those questions and think, "Oh, he's right, I'd forgotten." No, Jehoshaphat's prayers was his way of showing God that he, Jehoshaphat, believed the truth about Who God is. It was a demonstration of his faith in Who God is.
This chapter is so full of amazing verses! But for today, am I setting myself to seek the Lord? What would that look like? Do my prayers demonstrate my faith in Who God is?
The first thing to notice is Jehoshaphat's attitude in verse 3 prior to approaching the Lord, "And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah."
The second thing to notice here is that his prayer was not news to the Lord. God didn't hear those questions and think, "Oh, he's right, I'd forgotten." No, Jehoshaphat's prayers was his way of showing God that he, Jehoshaphat, believed the truth about Who God is. It was a demonstration of his faith in Who God is.
This chapter is so full of amazing verses! But for today, am I setting myself to seek the Lord? What would that look like? Do my prayers demonstrate my faith in Who God is?
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Deal Courageously
2 Chronicles 19:11 "And, behold, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good."
Jehoshaphat was a great leader for his country. His dedication to the things of God moved him to take action, to make sure that God's law was being honored in his kingdom. But at the end of all the instruction to the priests and judges, he brings out a very important point - doing what is right takes courage.
The kings that had come before him and not walked with God had been cowards. They did not trust that God's Word was true and therefore did not act accordingly. Jehoshaphat knew the other leaders throughout the kingdom would need courage to continue doing what was right. Doing what is right will always result in pressure to stop. It takes courage to push through.
Do I deal courageously in my own life? What faults in my life are due to a lack of courage, a lack of trust in God being Who He says He is?
Jehoshaphat was a great leader for his country. His dedication to the things of God moved him to take action, to make sure that God's law was being honored in his kingdom. But at the end of all the instruction to the priests and judges, he brings out a very important point - doing what is right takes courage.
The kings that had come before him and not walked with God had been cowards. They did not trust that God's Word was true and therefore did not act accordingly. Jehoshaphat knew the other leaders throughout the kingdom would need courage to continue doing what was right. Doing what is right will always result in pressure to stop. It takes courage to push through.
Do I deal courageously in my own life? What faults in my life are due to a lack of courage, a lack of trust in God being Who He says He is?
Monday, April 17, 2017
He Cried Out, and The Lord Helped Him
2 Chronicles 18:31 "And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart from him."
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Old Testament is full of His loving kindness, however I believe since often we aren't looking for it as much, we often can fail to see it.
Jehoshaphat had heard the prophesy of Micaiah, yet he still went to battle with Ahab. Yet despite that, his first response to trouble is to cry out to God. And God helps him. I think sometimes we get in this mindset that we need to have everything 'just so' before God will hear our prayers and come to our aid.
But the Bible does not bear this out. We know for a fact that if we regard sin in our heart, God won't hear us. But a life that is sincerely, though imperfectly, seeking God will see God answering prayers by simply crying out. And God's eternal loving kindness will help us.
Would someone, able to see into my heart, say that I am seeking God sincerely? Do I see God helping me when I ask? If not, could there be a sin in my heart that I am regarding?
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Old Testament is full of His loving kindness, however I believe since often we aren't looking for it as much, we often can fail to see it.
Jehoshaphat had heard the prophesy of Micaiah, yet he still went to battle with Ahab. Yet despite that, his first response to trouble is to cry out to God. And God helps him. I think sometimes we get in this mindset that we need to have everything 'just so' before God will hear our prayers and come to our aid.
But the Bible does not bear this out. We know for a fact that if we regard sin in our heart, God won't hear us. But a life that is sincerely, though imperfectly, seeking God will see God answering prayers by simply crying out. And God's eternal loving kindness will help us.
Would someone, able to see into my heart, say that I am seeking God sincerely? Do I see God helping me when I ask? If not, could there be a sin in my heart that I am regarding?
Friday, April 14, 2017
He Prayed
Matthew 26:39 "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt."
Every time I read this passage, I'm struck anew by the fact that Jesus prayed. It seems obvious that He would, but at the same time it almost seems odd that He would have to. After all, He was completely God and completely man. His relationship and communion with the Father was unbroken except for that moment on the cross when He took our sins and the Father turned His back on the Son.
The point here is that if Jesus, the Son of God, Who enjoyed perfect communion unobstructed by sin as we experience it, if Jesus needed to pray, how much more then do we. Jesus says several times that His life was an example for us.
He prayed like His life depended on it. He prayed the same prayer multiple times in such earnest desire that He sweat drops of blood.
What is my prayer life in comparison? Am I using Jesus as my example for prayer? What would my prayer life look like if I were?
Every time I read this passage, I'm struck anew by the fact that Jesus prayed. It seems obvious that He would, but at the same time it almost seems odd that He would have to. After all, He was completely God and completely man. His relationship and communion with the Father was unbroken except for that moment on the cross when He took our sins and the Father turned His back on the Son.
The point here is that if Jesus, the Son of God, Who enjoyed perfect communion unobstructed by sin as we experience it, if Jesus needed to pray, how much more then do we. Jesus says several times that His life was an example for us.
He prayed like His life depended on it. He prayed the same prayer multiple times in such earnest desire that He sweat drops of blood.
What is my prayer life in comparison? Am I using Jesus as my example for prayer? What would my prayer life look like if I were?
Thursday, April 13, 2017
The Testimony of a life Willingly Offered
2 Chronicles 17:16 "And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valour."
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Here is another character in the Bible of whom we know little. Yet what we do know is an inspiration. His willing sacrifice of himself to God was so notable that it had to be mentioned. His life could not be spoken of without noting that he was the guy who had willingly offered himself to the Lord.
Talking about Amasiah without talking about his dedication to God, would be like talking about Micheal Jordan without mentioning his basketball career. It was what defined him. It was who he was. What a testimony.
Have I presented myself willingly as a living sacrifice to God? How does my life look different as a result of that? Years after I'm gone, will people be able to mention my life without mentioning my commitment to God?
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
Here is another character in the Bible of whom we know little. Yet what we do know is an inspiration. His willing sacrifice of himself to God was so notable that it had to be mentioned. His life could not be spoken of without noting that he was the guy who had willingly offered himself to the Lord.
Talking about Amasiah without talking about his dedication to God, would be like talking about Micheal Jordan without mentioning his basketball career. It was what defined him. It was who he was. What a testimony.
Have I presented myself willingly as a living sacrifice to God? How does my life look different as a result of that? Years after I'm gone, will people be able to mention my life without mentioning my commitment to God?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)