Read: 2 Chronicles 29:1-36; Romans 14:1-23; Psalm 24:1-10; Proverbs 20:12
Hezekiah started his reign running. He understood why Judah was like it was and how to change it to get God’s favor. He began by commanding the priests to open the doors of the house of the Lord and repair them. He did this on the first day of the year which is Roshashana. On this day, spiritually, the doors of heaven are opened and anyone can come in. It is the time of soul searching and repenting for the Jews. They believe that the doors of heaven close on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles and then it is too late to repent. The feast of tabernacles started on the 15th and went for 7 days. The priests finished sanctifying the temple on the 16th.
One day, these feasts will be literally fulfilled. Hezekiah was giving us the picture.
For the next days, the priests offered sacrifices and sang praises and worshipped the Lord. The king offered 7 bulls, 7 rams, 7 lambs, 7 goats. Seven means perfect; the perfect sacrifice was offered to the Lord by Hezekiah. Then the people brought so many animals to be sacrificed that the priests had to ask the Levites help them. God’s service in the Temple was reestablished and the people rejoiced. It is noted that this was done very quickly. When God gets ready to move, he does it suddenly.
In Romans, Paul talks about freedom and humbly loving one another. Not every Christian walks in the same freedom in Christ so the ones who are the freest need to honor the convictions of the weaker. Our freedom is not something we flaunt or judge another by but something that is personal to us. Everything we do should not be for anything but to honor God and his bride.
Lord, help us to walk in freedom but to love and respect other’s convictions. Help us to do everything to honor You.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Mon.’s Devo - Kings and Leaders
Read: 2 Chronicles 26:1-28:27; Romans 13:1-14; Psalm 23:1-6; Proverb 20:11
Amaziah’s life had not ended well. His sixteen year old son, Uzzah was made king. Uzzah means “he will strengthen”. He started out following the Lord under the leadership of Zechariah the prophet. As long as Zechariah was living, Uzzah had success. He defeated his enemies, rebuilt the wall that had been torn down during his father’s rule, restored the landscape and fortified his army and devised new weapons of war.
When he became famous and powerful, it all went to his head. His pride made him feel invincible so he decided he would burn incense in the temple like the priests. The priests tried to stop him but he broke out in rage against them as he was holding the censor to burn the incense. Immediately leprosy broke out on his head…the source of his pride. The priests saw it and rushed him out of the temple. The leprosy stayed with him till he died. His son, Jotham, had to take charge of running the palace and the land. He did what was right in God’s eyes, but the people did not. He grew powerful because of the favor of God and defeated his enemies and made them pay him tribute. He ruled sixteen years until he died and his son Ahaz became king. Ahaz means “possessor”. He was definitely possessed with the wrong spirit. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and worshiped Baal and other idols. God handed him over to Aram who took many of his people prisoner to Damascus.
God turned him over to Israel who killed 120,000 of his soldiers in a day. Uzzah’s son, and his first commander were killed and 200,000 of his people were taken to Samaria. They were met by the prophet Oded who told them to send those captives back to Judah. He rebuked Israel for being just as evil as Judah and having no right to take their people. The leaders did not want to add any more guilt to what they already had so they tended to their wounds, clothed and fed them and sent them back to Judah.
Then, to add to their sins, Ahaz asked the Assyrians to come and help him fight the Edomites who had attacked them and carried some of their people away as prisoners. Instead of being help, the Assyrians came in and took things out of their temple but didn’t help them against the Edomites. Ahaz turned to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him. He thought he could get favor with their gods to help him.
It is amazing to see how walking away from the Lord clouds your thinking and you can’t make good decisions. Ahaz tried everything but God, who was the only one who could really help him.
Romans 13 speaks of the government of God. We don’t have to read long in the Kings and Chronicles to know that the way the leader goes, so goes the nation. We are wrong to think that just because a leader makes a law that we must follow it if it defies God’s laws. Our souls must be subject to the higher power because that is God’s (verse 1). The people that govern nations are put there by him to do his purpose. We obey the laws of the Lord and pray for God to take care of the leader.
As Christians, our job is to walk in the light and put on love. When we trust in the Lord as our Shepherd he will prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Amaziah’s life had not ended well. His sixteen year old son, Uzzah was made king. Uzzah means “he will strengthen”. He started out following the Lord under the leadership of Zechariah the prophet. As long as Zechariah was living, Uzzah had success. He defeated his enemies, rebuilt the wall that had been torn down during his father’s rule, restored the landscape and fortified his army and devised new weapons of war.
When he became famous and powerful, it all went to his head. His pride made him feel invincible so he decided he would burn incense in the temple like the priests. The priests tried to stop him but he broke out in rage against them as he was holding the censor to burn the incense. Immediately leprosy broke out on his head…the source of his pride. The priests saw it and rushed him out of the temple. The leprosy stayed with him till he died. His son, Jotham, had to take charge of running the palace and the land. He did what was right in God’s eyes, but the people did not. He grew powerful because of the favor of God and defeated his enemies and made them pay him tribute. He ruled sixteen years until he died and his son Ahaz became king. Ahaz means “possessor”. He was definitely possessed with the wrong spirit. He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and worshiped Baal and other idols. God handed him over to Aram who took many of his people prisoner to Damascus.
God turned him over to Israel who killed 120,000 of his soldiers in a day. Uzzah’s son, and his first commander were killed and 200,000 of his people were taken to Samaria. They were met by the prophet Oded who told them to send those captives back to Judah. He rebuked Israel for being just as evil as Judah and having no right to take their people. The leaders did not want to add any more guilt to what they already had so they tended to their wounds, clothed and fed them and sent them back to Judah.
Then, to add to their sins, Ahaz asked the Assyrians to come and help him fight the Edomites who had attacked them and carried some of their people away as prisoners. Instead of being help, the Assyrians came in and took things out of their temple but didn’t help them against the Edomites. Ahaz turned to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him. He thought he could get favor with their gods to help him.
It is amazing to see how walking away from the Lord clouds your thinking and you can’t make good decisions. Ahaz tried everything but God, who was the only one who could really help him.
Romans 13 speaks of the government of God. We don’t have to read long in the Kings and Chronicles to know that the way the leader goes, so goes the nation. We are wrong to think that just because a leader makes a law that we must follow it if it defies God’s laws. Our souls must be subject to the higher power because that is God’s (verse 1). The people that govern nations are put there by him to do his purpose. We obey the laws of the Lord and pray for God to take care of the leader.
As Christians, our job is to walk in the light and put on love. When we trust in the Lord as our Shepherd he will prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies.
Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Sun.’s Devo. - A Sad Ending to A Great Beginning
Read: 2 Chronicles 24:1-25:28; Romans 12:1-21; Psalm 22:19-31; Proverbs 20:8-10
Joash came to the kingdom at the age of seven. His name means “Jehovah has become man”. He was to be a picture of what Jesus would do when he came to earth. He and the priest, Jehoiadah worked hand in hand and restored the temple back to its original design and even stronger. They did it with the generous offerings of the people.
When Jehoiada died, it all went downhill. The people abandoned the temple of the Lord and God and started worshiping the Asherah’s and other idols.
God sent prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but they refused to listen. Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah finally stood before the people and told them that became they had abandoned Him, He had abandoned them. Joash had him stoned to death in the courtyard of the Temple.
God abandoned them which left them open to the enemy and they came in through the Armenean army. They defeated Judah with less men than Judah had. They killed all the leaders of the people, plundered their land and left Joash severely wounded. His own officers conspired against him and finished him off in his bed.
Joash’s son, Amaziah became the king and did what was right, but not with his whole heart. He had his father’s murderers killed but left their sons alive as the law said. He appointed new leaders for the families and drafted more men for his army. He also hired 100,000 warriors from Israel for 100 talents of silver.
After he had done this, God sent a prophet to tell him that these Israelites could not fight with them because they were God’s enemy and God would have to fight against them. The king was upset over the money he had used to pay them and the prophet answered, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”
Amaziah did what was right even though it seemed unwise - he sent the army from Israel home and took the financial loss. The men left dishonored and angry.
He then went to war against the Edomites and won a great victory. The angered Israelites caused havoc on their way home and killed 3,000 people and carried off their goods.
Amaziah fell when he brought back the gods of the Edomites and set them up as his own odds and burned sacrifices to them. God sent him a prophet to ask Amaziah why he would want their gods who couldn’t deliver them. The king had him silenced but not before he told him that God would destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.
Amaziah set out to prove the prophecy wrong and picked a fight with Israel. Israel tried to warn him but he was blinded by pride. Israel totally defeated him, carried off the ark and much of the temple treasures and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. Amaziah was taken captive and was later killed when he tried to escape.
Paul tells us in Romans to have our mind renewed by the Holy Spirit. Then, we can walk in God’s grace and do what he has made us to do. We have all been given gifts according to the grace given us :prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading and mercy.
We do these with selfless love the kind that lays down it life for another. He gives us great practical advice on how to do this and sums it up with: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” A good reminder in our nation full of hate crimes.
Lord, help us to use the example of these kings to keep walking in righteousness to the very end of our lives. Help us to love with your love.
Joash came to the kingdom at the age of seven. His name means “Jehovah has become man”. He was to be a picture of what Jesus would do when he came to earth. He and the priest, Jehoiadah worked hand in hand and restored the temple back to its original design and even stronger. They did it with the generous offerings of the people.
When Jehoiada died, it all went downhill. The people abandoned the temple of the Lord and God and started worshiping the Asherah’s and other idols.
God sent prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but they refused to listen. Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah finally stood before the people and told them that became they had abandoned Him, He had abandoned them. Joash had him stoned to death in the courtyard of the Temple.
God abandoned them which left them open to the enemy and they came in through the Armenean army. They defeated Judah with less men than Judah had. They killed all the leaders of the people, plundered their land and left Joash severely wounded. His own officers conspired against him and finished him off in his bed.
Joash’s son, Amaziah became the king and did what was right, but not with his whole heart. He had his father’s murderers killed but left their sons alive as the law said. He appointed new leaders for the families and drafted more men for his army. He also hired 100,000 warriors from Israel for 100 talents of silver.
After he had done this, God sent a prophet to tell him that these Israelites could not fight with them because they were God’s enemy and God would have to fight against them. The king was upset over the money he had used to pay them and the prophet answered, “The Lord can give you much more than that.”
Amaziah did what was right even though it seemed unwise - he sent the army from Israel home and took the financial loss. The men left dishonored and angry.
He then went to war against the Edomites and won a great victory. The angered Israelites caused havoc on their way home and killed 3,000 people and carried off their goods.
Amaziah fell when he brought back the gods of the Edomites and set them up as his own odds and burned sacrifices to them. God sent him a prophet to ask Amaziah why he would want their gods who couldn’t deliver them. The king had him silenced but not before he told him that God would destroy him for turning to the gods of Edom.
Amaziah set out to prove the prophecy wrong and picked a fight with Israel. Israel tried to warn him but he was blinded by pride. Israel totally defeated him, carried off the ark and much of the temple treasures and broke down the wall of Jerusalem. Amaziah was taken captive and was later killed when he tried to escape.
Paul tells us in Romans to have our mind renewed by the Holy Spirit. Then, we can walk in God’s grace and do what he has made us to do. We have all been given gifts according to the grace given us :prophecy, service, teaching, encouraging, giving, leading and mercy.
We do these with selfless love the kind that lays down it life for another. He gives us great practical advice on how to do this and sums it up with: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” A good reminder in our nation full of hate crimes.
Lord, help us to use the example of these kings to keep walking in righteousness to the very end of our lives. Help us to love with your love.
Saturday, July 28, 2018
Sat.’s Devo - A Bad Branch
Read: 2 Chronicles 21:1-23:21; Romans 11:13-36; Psalm 22:1-18; Proverbs 20:7
The Chronicles are snippets of the kings lives. Jehoram’s snippets are not good. Here are a few: he killed all his brothers - men who God said were better than him. He walked in the way of Israel’s kings. He married a daughter or Ahab and did evil. He died in pain as his bowels fell out. When he died no one was sad. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. What a sad obituary.
All of his sons had been killed by raiders except his youngest whose name was Ahaziah. His mother was the infamous Athaliah who was the grand daughter of Omri. Omri was Ahab’s father making Athaliah Ahab’s daughter.
She raised him to do evil like Israel was doing. Ahaziah was counseled to go to war with Israel against Syria. Israel’s king, Jehoram was hurt in the battle and went home to heal. Ahaziah went to visit Jehoram because he was sick and while he was there Jehu was being used by God to bring judgment on the house of Ahab. He killed Jehoram and chased Ahaziah till he caught and killed him. Ahaziah was buried only because his father Jehoshaphat had honored the Lord.
When Athaliah got news that Ahaziah had been killed she rose up and destroyed all the royal seed except the infant, Joash who was stolen away by his nurse, Jehoshabeath. The nurse was Jehoram’s (king of Israel) daughter and also Ahaziah’s (king of Judah) sister and also the priest - Jehoiada’s wife. So you can see that the kingdom’s had become crazily inmeshed.
Jehoshabeath and her husband, Jehoiada raised Joash in the temple for six years while Athaliah ran the kingdom of Judah.
In the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered the captains of the army and the Levites that had been scattered in Judah and the chief of the fathers and brought them to Jerusalem. They covenanted that the son of the king should reign. They divided into three groups. Jehoiada armed the soldiers with weapons from the spoils of David which were kept in the temple and the Levites surrounded Joash as they brought him out of hiding. They crowned him, gave him the law and anointed him king. Everyone let out a shout and blew trumpets. When Athaliah realized what had happened she cried, “Treason”.
The officers brought her out and slew her outside the temple. Joash was led to the king’s house and placed on the throne. Now, they could cleanse the nation of Baal worship and restore worship to the House of the Lord.
This is such a picture of what will happen on the seventh day of God’s week. He will restore Jesus whose glory has been hid from the earth these 6,000 years and restore him to his rightful place.
In Romans, Paul compares the Jewish heritage as a tree. The roots and the tree was good. It was the branches that have the problems. Some of the branches that grew from Abraham’s tree were good and some bad. The bad ones got cut off and the Gentiles were grafted in. Paul warned them not to be snug because the health and lifespan of our branch has to do with our faith just like it did theirs.
Our Psalms is the one Jesus was referring his disciples to when he said the first verse on the cross. Selah.
Lord, may our branches be shade to the weary and health to the nations.
The Chronicles are snippets of the kings lives. Jehoram’s snippets are not good. Here are a few: he killed all his brothers - men who God said were better than him. He walked in the way of Israel’s kings. He married a daughter or Ahab and did evil. He died in pain as his bowels fell out. When he died no one was sad. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. What a sad obituary.
All of his sons had been killed by raiders except his youngest whose name was Ahaziah. His mother was the infamous Athaliah who was the grand daughter of Omri. Omri was Ahab’s father making Athaliah Ahab’s daughter.
She raised him to do evil like Israel was doing. Ahaziah was counseled to go to war with Israel against Syria. Israel’s king, Jehoram was hurt in the battle and went home to heal. Ahaziah went to visit Jehoram because he was sick and while he was there Jehu was being used by God to bring judgment on the house of Ahab. He killed Jehoram and chased Ahaziah till he caught and killed him. Ahaziah was buried only because his father Jehoshaphat had honored the Lord.
When Athaliah got news that Ahaziah had been killed she rose up and destroyed all the royal seed except the infant, Joash who was stolen away by his nurse, Jehoshabeath. The nurse was Jehoram’s (king of Israel) daughter and also Ahaziah’s (king of Judah) sister and also the priest - Jehoiada’s wife. So you can see that the kingdom’s had become crazily inmeshed.
Jehoshabeath and her husband, Jehoiada raised Joash in the temple for six years while Athaliah ran the kingdom of Judah.
In the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered the captains of the army and the Levites that had been scattered in Judah and the chief of the fathers and brought them to Jerusalem. They covenanted that the son of the king should reign. They divided into three groups. Jehoiada armed the soldiers with weapons from the spoils of David which were kept in the temple and the Levites surrounded Joash as they brought him out of hiding. They crowned him, gave him the law and anointed him king. Everyone let out a shout and blew trumpets. When Athaliah realized what had happened she cried, “Treason”.
The officers brought her out and slew her outside the temple. Joash was led to the king’s house and placed on the throne. Now, they could cleanse the nation of Baal worship and restore worship to the House of the Lord.
This is such a picture of what will happen on the seventh day of God’s week. He will restore Jesus whose glory has been hid from the earth these 6,000 years and restore him to his rightful place.
In Romans, Paul compares the Jewish heritage as a tree. The roots and the tree was good. It was the branches that have the problems. Some of the branches that grew from Abraham’s tree were good and some bad. The bad ones got cut off and the Gentiles were grafted in. Paul warned them not to be snug because the health and lifespan of our branch has to do with our faith just like it did theirs.
Our Psalms is the one Jesus was referring his disciples to when he said the first verse on the cross. Selah.
Lord, may our branches be shade to the weary and health to the nations.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Fri.’s Devo - The Victory is the Lord’s
Read: 2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37; Romans 10:14-11:12; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 20:4-6
Jehoshaphat was sent Jehu the prophet to rebuke him for aligning with Israel because Israel did not love the Lord and were wicked. God did approve of his ridding the land of idols.
This must have turned Jehoshaphat around because he traveled his kingdom setting up just judges instructing them to fear God in all their decisions. In Jerusalem, he appointed the Levites to uphold the law of Moses and warn the people not to sin. He set Amariah, the chief priest over matters concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah to be the leader of the tribe of Judah and himself.
Once he had his government in place, the enemy came to make war with him. They came from near and far to fight him but in his fear, he called out to the Lord and proclaimed a fast. He stood up and proclaimed the goodness of God and praised His name to the people.
God gave a word through Hazazeal that they just needed to take the position of battle and watch because God was going to fight their battle for them. They sang and praised God all the way to their position of battle and as they were singing, the Lord sent ambushes and defeated their enemies. They destroyed one another. Jehoshaphat found everyone dead and carried off the plunder. They returned full of joy to Jerusalem and went straight to the temple to have a time of praise and worship. This caused the fear of the Lord to fall on the other countries and kingdoms of the earth and they left them alone.
At the end of Jehoshaphat’s life, the king of Israel asked him to join with him on a ship building venture. He agreed to invest with him but God was not pleased. He didn’t want him aligning with those that did wickedness so the ships wrecked and were never used to trade.
In Romans we read that the gospel was preached to the Israelites but not all of them believed. It had been prophesied that God would send his message to the ends of the earth and Israel would become envious of the Gentiles that sought the truth and found it.
God didn’t reject his people, most of them rejected him but he always had and will always have a remnant of Jewish believers hidden away. Since the nation rejected God, then he hardened their hearts making it hard for them to repent, but one day he will soften their hearts and they will return.
Our Psalm is a great one to claim over our nation and our president!
Lord, we trust in you to fight our battles for us. We will stand in the position of praise and will behold with our eyes the fall of your enemies. May Your name be exalted today!
Jehoshaphat was sent Jehu the prophet to rebuke him for aligning with Israel because Israel did not love the Lord and were wicked. God did approve of his ridding the land of idols.
This must have turned Jehoshaphat around because he traveled his kingdom setting up just judges instructing them to fear God in all their decisions. In Jerusalem, he appointed the Levites to uphold the law of Moses and warn the people not to sin. He set Amariah, the chief priest over matters concerning the Lord, and Zebadiah to be the leader of the tribe of Judah and himself.
Once he had his government in place, the enemy came to make war with him. They came from near and far to fight him but in his fear, he called out to the Lord and proclaimed a fast. He stood up and proclaimed the goodness of God and praised His name to the people.
God gave a word through Hazazeal that they just needed to take the position of battle and watch because God was going to fight their battle for them. They sang and praised God all the way to their position of battle and as they were singing, the Lord sent ambushes and defeated their enemies. They destroyed one another. Jehoshaphat found everyone dead and carried off the plunder. They returned full of joy to Jerusalem and went straight to the temple to have a time of praise and worship. This caused the fear of the Lord to fall on the other countries and kingdoms of the earth and they left them alone.
At the end of Jehoshaphat’s life, the king of Israel asked him to join with him on a ship building venture. He agreed to invest with him but God was not pleased. He didn’t want him aligning with those that did wickedness so the ships wrecked and were never used to trade.
In Romans we read that the gospel was preached to the Israelites but not all of them believed. It had been prophesied that God would send his message to the ends of the earth and Israel would become envious of the Gentiles that sought the truth and found it.
God didn’t reject his people, most of them rejected him but he always had and will always have a remnant of Jewish believers hidden away. Since the nation rejected God, then he hardened their hearts making it hard for them to repent, but one day he will soften their hearts and they will return.
Our Psalm is a great one to claim over our nation and our president!
Lord, we trust in you to fight our battles for us. We will stand in the position of praise and will behold with our eyes the fall of your enemies. May Your name be exalted today!
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Thurs.’s Devo. - Be The Light
Read: 2 Chronicles 17:1-18:34; Romans 9:22-10:13; Psalm 20:1-9; Proverbs 20:2-3
Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat became king and he started out devoted to the Lord. He removed the high places and Ashram poles from Judah cleansing it of idolatry. He even sent priests to all the cities to teach the people the Word of God. God put fear in the other nations so they honored and gave tribute to Judah.
Jehoshaphat’s downfall began when he aligned himself with Ahab and married one of her daughters making him obligated to fight with Ahab against the Syrians who had taken Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat had enough spiritual sense to ask God whether they should fight them but not enough to follow the advise God gave. He followed the advise Ahab’s prophets gave instead. Ahab’s prophets told the kings that they would have great success. When Jehoshaphat insisted on finding a prophet of the Lord, they found Micaiah who finally told them that he saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. This got Micaiah thrown in jail and Jehoshaphat and Ahab went out to war. Ahab told Jehoshaphat to dress like a king while he wore a disguise. What a set up! Syria was after the king. God saved Jehoshaphat but a random arrow killed Ahab. Jehoshaphat would be repromanded later.
In Romans, Paul asked a thought provoking question. He asked, “What if, God choosing to show his wrath and make his power know, bore with great patience the objects of this wrath - prepared for destruction, that me might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared before time for glory?” In other words, God carefully and with much thought, crafted and created vessels (people) to carry on his wrath so that his glory would shine more brightly.
This reminds me of my painting classes. My teacher would always say when you paint light you always need to paint darkness so the light will have something to contrast it and make it stand out more. Dark people make God’s children of light stand out more.
God’s chosen people are both Gentile and Jew believers in Christ. Israel as a nation rejected grace and chose to follow the law and establish their own righteousness. But whoever finds their righteousness in Christ is saved.
Lord, remind us to turn to you in the midst of every battle because you have the victory and you have the answer.
Asa’s son, Jehoshaphat became king and he started out devoted to the Lord. He removed the high places and Ashram poles from Judah cleansing it of idolatry. He even sent priests to all the cities to teach the people the Word of God. God put fear in the other nations so they honored and gave tribute to Judah.
Jehoshaphat’s downfall began when he aligned himself with Ahab and married one of her daughters making him obligated to fight with Ahab against the Syrians who had taken Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat had enough spiritual sense to ask God whether they should fight them but not enough to follow the advise God gave. He followed the advise Ahab’s prophets gave instead. Ahab’s prophets told the kings that they would have great success. When Jehoshaphat insisted on finding a prophet of the Lord, they found Micaiah who finally told them that he saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd. This got Micaiah thrown in jail and Jehoshaphat and Ahab went out to war. Ahab told Jehoshaphat to dress like a king while he wore a disguise. What a set up! Syria was after the king. God saved Jehoshaphat but a random arrow killed Ahab. Jehoshaphat would be repromanded later.
In Romans, Paul asked a thought provoking question. He asked, “What if, God choosing to show his wrath and make his power know, bore with great patience the objects of this wrath - prepared for destruction, that me might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had prepared before time for glory?” In other words, God carefully and with much thought, crafted and created vessels (people) to carry on his wrath so that his glory would shine more brightly.
This reminds me of my painting classes. My teacher would always say when you paint light you always need to paint darkness so the light will have something to contrast it and make it stand out more. Dark people make God’s children of light stand out more.
God’s chosen people are both Gentile and Jew believers in Christ. Israel as a nation rejected grace and chose to follow the law and establish their own righteousness. But whoever finds their righteousness in Christ is saved.
Lord, remind us to turn to you in the midst of every battle because you have the victory and you have the answer.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Wed.’s Devo - God’s Great Mercy
Read: 2 Chronicles 14:1-16:14; Romans 9:1-21; Psalm 19:1-14; Proverbs 20:1
Abijah had been a good king, but his son, Asa was even better. He removed the idolatry from the land and commanded Judah to seek the Lord and obey the law. Because of this, the land prospered and they built and fortified their towns. He also built up his army and armed them.
When things were going good, the devil couldn’t stand it so he sent Zerah the Cushite. Zerah means “a rising” and Cush means “terror”. So the Cushiness went around causing fear to arise in their enemies. They came against Judah with their vast army full of chariots and met near Mareshah which means “headship”. The enemy will always attack the headship first.
Asa called on the Lord and God responded. The Cushiness were crushed before the Lord because the terror of the Lord had fallen on them. God used the very thing they were known for against them. Judah carried off much booty.
When the devil tries to scare or intimidate you, remember that God can turn the very thing that he is using against you back on him and we can leave with the plunder.
God sent Asa a prophet to tell him that God would always be with him when he was with God. The world was not safe at that time because of all the unrest in the nations but God told Asa that it was Him that was troubling the nations. And as for him, he could be strong and not be afraid or give up because his work would be rewarded. What a great word for us! Our world is in the same turmoil but we don’t have to be discouraged because our work will be rewarded.
Obed’s words strengthened Asa to have even more courage to continue cleansing the land and building up the work of the Lord. He assembled the people and sacrificed 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep from the plunder they had brought back from their victory. They determined to follow the Lord as a nation and God gave them rest on every side…in the midst of a world of turmoil.
In Asa’s 36th year, Israel started building Ramah which was the gateway from Judah to Israel. This was Israel’s way of keeping them out of their land. Instead of turning to the Lord, Asa hired Ben-hadad, king of Aram to keep Israel from building Ramah. They were successful but God was not happy and sent Hanani, the seer to ask Asa why he didn’t ask Him for help instead of hiring Ben-hadad. He reminded Asa for how He had fought for them against the Cushites. Asa was so angry, he took it out on the seer and his own people. He got a disease in his feet and refused to ask the Lord for help. Instead he sought the help of physicians. Asa’s walk had become polluted. It finally killed him. It was a sad ending to a mostly good king.
Romans 9 is one of the most misunderstood concepts. It takes control totally out of our hands and puts it in God’s. He is the one who decides who he will give mercy to and who he will not. This totally goes against what we think of as being just or fair, but it should make us more appreciative for our salvation. It has nothing to do with anything we did. God chose us from the foundation of the earth to be his children - period. We have control over how closely we will walk with him and how much of him we will allow to be manifest through us. It should make us love him more.
Lord, we don’t understand your selection but we are so honored to be called your children. May our lives, today, bring you glory.
Abijah had been a good king, but his son, Asa was even better. He removed the idolatry from the land and commanded Judah to seek the Lord and obey the law. Because of this, the land prospered and they built and fortified their towns. He also built up his army and armed them.
When things were going good, the devil couldn’t stand it so he sent Zerah the Cushite. Zerah means “a rising” and Cush means “terror”. So the Cushiness went around causing fear to arise in their enemies. They came against Judah with their vast army full of chariots and met near Mareshah which means “headship”. The enemy will always attack the headship first.
Asa called on the Lord and God responded. The Cushiness were crushed before the Lord because the terror of the Lord had fallen on them. God used the very thing they were known for against them. Judah carried off much booty.
When the devil tries to scare or intimidate you, remember that God can turn the very thing that he is using against you back on him and we can leave with the plunder.
God sent Asa a prophet to tell him that God would always be with him when he was with God. The world was not safe at that time because of all the unrest in the nations but God told Asa that it was Him that was troubling the nations. And as for him, he could be strong and not be afraid or give up because his work would be rewarded. What a great word for us! Our world is in the same turmoil but we don’t have to be discouraged because our work will be rewarded.
Obed’s words strengthened Asa to have even more courage to continue cleansing the land and building up the work of the Lord. He assembled the people and sacrificed 700 cattle and 7,000 sheep from the plunder they had brought back from their victory. They determined to follow the Lord as a nation and God gave them rest on every side…in the midst of a world of turmoil.
In Asa’s 36th year, Israel started building Ramah which was the gateway from Judah to Israel. This was Israel’s way of keeping them out of their land. Instead of turning to the Lord, Asa hired Ben-hadad, king of Aram to keep Israel from building Ramah. They were successful but God was not happy and sent Hanani, the seer to ask Asa why he didn’t ask Him for help instead of hiring Ben-hadad. He reminded Asa for how He had fought for them against the Cushites. Asa was so angry, he took it out on the seer and his own people. He got a disease in his feet and refused to ask the Lord for help. Instead he sought the help of physicians. Asa’s walk had become polluted. It finally killed him. It was a sad ending to a mostly good king.
Romans 9 is one of the most misunderstood concepts. It takes control totally out of our hands and puts it in God’s. He is the one who decides who he will give mercy to and who he will not. This totally goes against what we think of as being just or fair, but it should make us more appreciative for our salvation. It has nothing to do with anything we did. God chose us from the foundation of the earth to be his children - period. We have control over how closely we will walk with him and how much of him we will allow to be manifest through us. It should make us love him more.
Lord, we don’t understand your selection but we are so honored to be called your children. May our lives, today, bring you glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)