2 Kings 12:20 "Joash's officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth-milio on the road to Silla."
Joash has been a fairly decent king for awhile, yet his life comes to an end when two of his officers assassinate him.
Verse 21 records that the two assassins were trusted advisers to Joash. Sometimes you just never know I guess. I'm not a cynical man but sometimes you just can't trust people. I can trust God though. At the end of the day, he is only the "person" I can truly trust. My hope and trust should not be in any other man, but in Christ alone. Men will always let me down, but Jesus never will.
Dear Jesus, help me trust in you today. Amen.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Trickeration
2 Kings 10:27 "They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day."
Jehu was charged by God to destroy the family of evil King Ahab and everything associated with Baal worship. He invites all the worshippers of Baal to Baal's temple and while inside, he orders all of his soldiers to kill the worshippers. Oh the "trickeration!" Jehu then has the sacred pillar taken from the temple and converts it into a toilet! A public toilet no less! Nasty! Does God also have a twisted sense of humor!?
As with so many other kings, Jehu doesn't completely turn from his sins and ends up disappointing God. But, for a moment, he destroys the evil in the kingdom. Fighting evil and sin is a constant effort. I must daily focus on Christ and squash the sin in my life. It's not a one time event. Each day, I must make the commitment to identify sin in my life and then eradicate it. What sin do I need to turn from today and ask God to forgive?
Dear Jesus, thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to pursue holiness today. Amen.
Jehu was charged by God to destroy the family of evil King Ahab and everything associated with Baal worship. He invites all the worshippers of Baal to Baal's temple and while inside, he orders all of his soldiers to kill the worshippers. Oh the "trickeration!" Jehu then has the sacred pillar taken from the temple and converts it into a toilet! A public toilet no less! Nasty! Does God also have a twisted sense of humor!?
As with so many other kings, Jehu doesn't completely turn from his sins and ends up disappointing God. But, for a moment, he destroys the evil in the kingdom. Fighting evil and sin is a constant effort. I must daily focus on Christ and squash the sin in my life. It's not a one time event. Each day, I must make the commitment to identify sin in my life and then eradicate it. What sin do I need to turn from today and ask God to forgive?
Dear Jesus, thank you for your forgiveness. Help me to pursue holiness today. Amen.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
In 24 Hours
2 Kings 7:18 "The man of God had said to the king, 'By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost one piece of silver, and ten quarts of barley grain will cost one piece of silver.'"
In Israel there has been a long famine. The king is desperate and angry, blaming God and his servant Elisha for the unending drought. The king goes to Elisha with the intent to kill him. Then Elisha predicts that in 24 hours the famine will be over. And sure enough in 24 hours, the drought was over.
God always provides. He provides what we need when we need it. I too often forget that and depend upon myself to get out of tough situations. I think I am in control and it's up to me. I then worry when things are beyond my control. I need to remain calm and understand that God will provide. He'll take care of me and I need to just trust him in all circumstances. Today I need to trust God with my house. It will sell when it's the right time. Maybe not in 24 hours, but at the right time!
Dear Jesus, help me trust in you and in your timing. And please sell my house in 2012! Amen.
In Israel there has been a long famine. The king is desperate and angry, blaming God and his servant Elisha for the unending drought. The king goes to Elisha with the intent to kill him. Then Elisha predicts that in 24 hours the famine will be over. And sure enough in 24 hours, the drought was over.
God always provides. He provides what we need when we need it. I too often forget that and depend upon myself to get out of tough situations. I think I am in control and it's up to me. I then worry when things are beyond my control. I need to remain calm and understand that God will provide. He'll take care of me and I need to just trust him in all circumstances. Today I need to trust God with my house. It will sell when it's the right time. Maybe not in 24 hours, but at the right time!
Dear Jesus, help me trust in you and in your timing. And please sell my house in 2012! Amen.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Holy, holy, holy
Revelation 4:8 “Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they keep on saying, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty-the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.’”
John paints this incredible picture of heaven and of all the angels worshipping Jesus day after day, and night after night. It’s like a scene only Michael Bay could create! But here it is, recorded in this wonderful letter written by John on the island of Patmos nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a picture of the end times and all of creation is worshipping Jesus proclaiming him to be holy, holy, holy. What a scene!
I learned in Bible school that the Bible often repeats itself and sometimes certain words or phrases are written three times in succession. This is done for emphasis and is the author’s way of saying, “hey this is really important- pay attention!” John records that the angels praise Jesus three times calling out to him, “holy, holy, holy.” I guess this means Jesus is holy! That’s the understatement of the century! I know at this time of year it’s easy to think of cute little baby Jesus in his manger with all the adorable animals, but our Jesus is really this mighty king who is holy, holy, holy. Revelation paints a picture of the future which gets really, really bad, but then gets really, really good forever. And at the center of this amazing ending is Jesus Christ who is holy, holy, holy. The angels understand this, but do I? Do I worship the holy, holy, holy, Lord and Savior of the universe? Today, I need to. Today I need to remember to worship him, just as the angels do in heaven.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being holy, holy, holy. I praise you for being holy, holy, holy. Amen.
John paints this incredible picture of heaven and of all the angels worshipping Jesus day after day, and night after night. It’s like a scene only Michael Bay could create! But here it is, recorded in this wonderful letter written by John on the island of Patmos nearly two thousand years ago. It’s a picture of the end times and all of creation is worshipping Jesus proclaiming him to be holy, holy, holy. What a scene!
I learned in Bible school that the Bible often repeats itself and sometimes certain words or phrases are written three times in succession. This is done for emphasis and is the author’s way of saying, “hey this is really important- pay attention!” John records that the angels praise Jesus three times calling out to him, “holy, holy, holy.” I guess this means Jesus is holy! That’s the understatement of the century! I know at this time of year it’s easy to think of cute little baby Jesus in his manger with all the adorable animals, but our Jesus is really this mighty king who is holy, holy, holy. Revelation paints a picture of the future which gets really, really bad, but then gets really, really good forever. And at the center of this amazing ending is Jesus Christ who is holy, holy, holy. The angels understand this, but do I? Do I worship the holy, holy, holy, Lord and Savior of the universe? Today, I need to. Today I need to remember to worship him, just as the angels do in heaven.
Dear Jesus, thank you for being holy, holy, holy. I praise you for being holy, holy, holy. Amen.
Thursday, December 08, 2011
Naaman and Rimmon
2 Kings 5:19 "'Go in peace', Elisha said, so Naaman started home again."
Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army has come to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. Upon being healed by Elisha's instructions to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times, Naaman confesses that there is but one true God. After this realization, he admits to Elisha that when he returns home, he still will have to enter the temple of Rimmon with the king and bow before Rimmon. Elisha, the prophet of this one true God, simply tells him, "Go in peace."
Do we blur the lines sometimes between the supernatural and the superstitious? Shouldn't Elisha have instructed Naaman to stay far away from Rimmon, never enter the temple again, burn all of Rimmon's books and boycott the Rimmon movie at the theater? Maybe, but maybe not. There is this crazy tension between separating ourselves from what is evil and sinful, but also relying on faith and knowing that in Christ, Satan has no power over us. I know I need to do my best to keep myself from anything that causes me to stumble, but also understand the grace and freedom we have in Christ is greater than any temple.
Dear Jesus, help me follow you and trust you wherever I am. Amen.
Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army has come to Elisha to be healed of his leprosy. Upon being healed by Elisha's instructions to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times, Naaman confesses that there is but one true God. After this realization, he admits to Elisha that when he returns home, he still will have to enter the temple of Rimmon with the king and bow before Rimmon. Elisha, the prophet of this one true God, simply tells him, "Go in peace."
Do we blur the lines sometimes between the supernatural and the superstitious? Shouldn't Elisha have instructed Naaman to stay far away from Rimmon, never enter the temple again, burn all of Rimmon's books and boycott the Rimmon movie at the theater? Maybe, but maybe not. There is this crazy tension between separating ourselves from what is evil and sinful, but also relying on faith and knowing that in Christ, Satan has no power over us. I know I need to do my best to keep myself from anything that causes me to stumble, but also understand the grace and freedom we have in Christ is greater than any temple.
Dear Jesus, help me follow you and trust you wherever I am. Amen.
Monday, December 05, 2011
All Scripture
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
The Apostle Paul is passing on some instructions to his protégé Timothy in his second recorded letter to him. Paul warns Timothy that in the last days there will be difficult times and there will be many who fall away from Christ and pursue wickedness. He warns of evil teachers and people who act religious but really reject Christ. In the midst of this warning, Paul encourages Timothy to stay true to his teaching and use God’s word as a guide. Scripture, it appears, is the guide that will help Timothy distance himself from false teachers and will help him stay on track.
All of scripture is inspired by God himself. They are his words. The Bible is not just an old book with some wise sayings that may be helpful sometime. The Bible is God’s story and his very thoughts and ideas recorded on paper for me to learn from. Paul may have written the letter of 2 Timothy to Timothy in the first century, but they are really God’s words for me today. Whether I am reading 2 Timothy or 2 Samuel, I need to be reminded the words I am reading are God’s words. And he tells me his words are there to help equip me and prepare me for every good work. Today, how am I using God’s words to motivate and inspire me to do his good work? Am I reading carefully? Am I reading closely? Am I putting his story and his words into action in my life?
Dear Jesus, thank you for speaking to me through your word. Help me rely on it and use it for every good work today. Amen.
The Apostle Paul is passing on some instructions to his protégé Timothy in his second recorded letter to him. Paul warns Timothy that in the last days there will be difficult times and there will be many who fall away from Christ and pursue wickedness. He warns of evil teachers and people who act religious but really reject Christ. In the midst of this warning, Paul encourages Timothy to stay true to his teaching and use God’s word as a guide. Scripture, it appears, is the guide that will help Timothy distance himself from false teachers and will help him stay on track.
All of scripture is inspired by God himself. They are his words. The Bible is not just an old book with some wise sayings that may be helpful sometime. The Bible is God’s story and his very thoughts and ideas recorded on paper for me to learn from. Paul may have written the letter of 2 Timothy to Timothy in the first century, but they are really God’s words for me today. Whether I am reading 2 Timothy or 2 Samuel, I need to be reminded the words I am reading are God’s words. And he tells me his words are there to help equip me and prepare me for every good work. Today, how am I using God’s words to motivate and inspire me to do his good work? Am I reading carefully? Am I reading closely? Am I putting his story and his words into action in my life?
Dear Jesus, thank you for speaking to me through your word. Help me rely on it and use it for every good work today. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)