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?
Monday, May 15, 2017
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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