Category Archives: Teachable

Am I too late?, Grace / Forgiveness, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, How do I get started?, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Teachable

The LORD Will Not Turn His Face Away from You If You Return to Him

Israel had turned away from Yahweh and His ways for decades. Hezekiah became King and led the people back to the LORD’s ways. I am sure it was not easy, even for a king, to turn the hearts of the people. He was not content even to do so just in Judah, His kingdom, but sought to bring in all of Israel to join in returning to Yah’s ways.

While we are not kings and most will not have command over large groups of people in this way, we each can follow this example and seek to understand where we are no longer following the ways of Yahweh by carefully studying His word in scripture against what is taught and lived in our culture today, including in churches. Seek to return to the LORD’s ways and bring others with you!

If we return to Him, He will not turn His face from us.

2 Chronicles 30

All Israel Invited to the Passover

      1Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. 2For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month, 3since they could not celebrate it at that time, because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient numbers, nor had the people been gathered to Jerusalem. 4Thus the thing was right in the sight of the king and all the assembly. 5So they established a decree to circulate a proclamation throughout all Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem. For they had not celebrated it in great numbers as it was prescribed. 6The couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the hand of the king and his princes, even according to the command of the king, saying, “O sons of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that He may return to those of you who escaped and are left from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7“Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were unfaithful to the LORD God of their fathers, so that He made them a horror, as you see. 8“Now do not stiffen your neck like your fathers, but yield to the LORD and enter His sanctuary which He has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that His burning anger may turn away from you. 9“For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your sons will find compassion before those who led them captive and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate, and will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

      10So the couriers passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11Nevertheless some men of Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

Passover Reinstituted

      13Now many people were gathered at Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very large assembly. 14They arose and removed the altars which were in Jerusalem; they also removed all the incense altars and cast them into the brook Kidron. 15Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth of the second month. And the priests and Levites were ashamed of themselves, and consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. 16They stood at their stations after their custom, according to the law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood which they received from the hand of the Levites. 17For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves; therefore, the Levites were over the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was unclean, in order to consecrate them to the LORD. 18For a multitude of the people, even many from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than prescribed. For Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon 19everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though not according to the purification rules of the sanctuary.” 20So the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21The sons of Israel present in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day after day with loud instruments to the LORD. 22Then Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good insight in the things of the LORD. So they ate for the appointed seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD God of their fathers.

      23Then the whole assembly decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, so they celebrated the seven days with joy. 24For Hezekiah king of Judah had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep, and the princes had contributed to the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep; and a large number of priests consecrated themselves. 25All the assembly of Judah rejoiced, with the priests and the Levites and all the assembly that came from Israel, both the sojourners who came from the land of Israel and those living in Judah. 26So there was great joy in Jerusalem, because there was nothing like this in Jerusalem since the days of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. 27Then the Levitical priests arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please open our eyes to Your ways and clearly show Your people where we are not following You, but rather the traditions of men. Help us have courage to test everything against Your word. Raise up leaders and teachers to show us clearly how to follow Your word in our daily lives, how to return to You! Give us a teachable and humble spirit with courage to change and a hunger to pursue You more fully. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

Hezekiah’s Restoration – An Example for Each of Us

King Ahaz had been leading the people away from the LORD and His ways. As a result, Yahweh brought about judgment and Judah faced defeat and hardship. King Hezekiah came to the throne and set a good example for all of us on what we should do when we come to realize that we, our families or whatever group we influence, are not following the ways of God. Hezekiah took on the challenging task of restoration to return to God’s ways. Do not think this was easy. King or not, once the people are used to certain traditions, especially if they grew up with them and their parents before them, they are difficult to change. People will resist change. None the less, Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 29

Hezekiah Succeeds Ahaz in Judah

      1Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.

      3In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them. 4He brought in the priests and the Levites and gathered them into the square on the east.

Reforms Begun

      5Then he said to them, “Listen to me, O Levites. Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry the uncleanness out from the holy place. 6“For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done evil in the sight of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him and turned their faces away from the dwelling place of the LORD, and have turned their backs. 7“They have also shut the doors of the porch and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 8“Therefore the wrath of the LORD was against Judah and Jerusalem, and He has made them an object of terror, of horror, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9“For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10“Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His burning anger may turn away from us. 11“My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense.”

      12Then the Levites arose: Mahath, the son of Amasai and Joel the son of Azariah, from the sons of the Kohathites; and from the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and from the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah and Eden the son of Joah; 13and from the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeiel; and from the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14and from the sons of Heman, Jehiel and Shimei; and from the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15They assembled their brothers, consecrated themselves, and went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the commandment of the king by the words of the LORD. 16So the priests went in to the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and every unclean thing which they found in the temple of the LORD they brought out to the court of the house of the LORD. Then the Levites received it to carry out to the Kidron valley. 17Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they entered the porch of the LORD. Then they consecrated the house of the LORD in eight days, and finished on the sixteenth day of the first month. 18Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed the whole house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all of its utensils, and the table of showbread with all of its utensils. 19“Moreover, all the utensils which King Ahaz had discarded during his reign in his unfaithfulness, we have prepared and consecrated; and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”

Hezekiah Restores Temple Worship

      20Then King Hezekiah arose early and assembled the princes of the city and went up to the house of the LORD. 21They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. And he ordered the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD. 22So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. They also slaughtered the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar; they slaughtered the lambs also and sprinkled the blood on the altar. 23Then they brought the male goats of the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them. 24The priests slaughtered them and purged the altar with their blood to atone for all Israel, for the king ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for all Israel.

      25He then stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, with harps and with lyres, according to the command of David and of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for the command was from the LORD through His prophets. 26The Levites stood with the musical instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27Then Hezekiah gave the order to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song to the LORD also began with the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. 28While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

      29Now at the completion of the burnt offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed down and worshiped. 30Moreover, King Hezekiah and the officials ordered the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshiped.

      31Then Hezekiah said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the LORD, come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all those who were willing brought burnt offerings. 32The number of the burnt offerings which the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD. 33The consecrated things were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34But the priests were too few, so that they were unable to skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brothers the Levites helped them until the work was completed and until the other priests had consecrated themselves. For the Levites were more conscientious to consecrate themselves than the priests. 35There were also many burnt offerings with the fat of the peace offerings and with the libations for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was established again. 36Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had prepared for the people, because the thing came about suddenly.

There have been centuries of moving away from Yah’s ways. In the name of Christianity, people have moved away from the Hebrew roots of their faith which Christ demonstrated and observed as our example. Though, we do not have the temple or Levitical priesthood anymore, there is much we can still learn and strive to obey to live according to Yah’s instructions. For more than a decade now, I have been on a personal journey to seek to better understand the Hebrew roots of our faith in Messiah and observe them.

It is hard. There are many opinions online, and few congregations to fellowship with that observe things like the Moedim from Leviticus 23 or observe Sabbath on Saturday or obey the dietary instructions recorded in God’s word. But the journey to restoration is well worth it and it is pleasing to God. I have found much deeper significance in observing His Moedim, like Passover and Sukkot, than in the man-made holiday traditions at Christmas and Easter. It is a journey to restoration of Yah’s ways.

I encourage you to study and learn more about the Hebrew Roots of our Faith. I have compiled a list of resources to help get you started on our page, Focused Ministries – Understanding Hebrew Roots

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for raising up more and more of Your followers to help lead and guide us in restoration of and return to Your ways. Thank You for those who are helping others on their journey to understand the Hebrew roots of our faith in Messiah and the implications that has on how we live. Thank You for grace and mercy when we don’t get it all right and we struggle to find the right path and continue to seek You. Please bring about more messengers and leaders to inspire restoration to Your ways. Help us as Your people to be teachable and submitted to You. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Grace / Forgiveness, Repenting from Sin, Teachable

I Am Sure That God Can’t Use Me. How Can He Even Forgive Me?

All of us have made mistakes and rebelled against God at one point or another… choosing our own way over His. Sometimes we can rationalize that it was only a “small” rebellion and can be forgiven. Other times, we have done such terrible things we feel we cannot even be forgiven by God, let alone used for His glory. Without realizing it we are putting limits on God’s forgiveness and reconciliation through Christ.

Let us explore what the Bible has to say about Paul… easily one of the most influential Christians to ever follow and serve Yeshua. The Bible introduces us to Paul, while he is still going by the name of Saul. We can hardly recognize the Saul we meet early in the book of Acts as the Paul who writes so much of the New Testament and influenced so many in his time and for centuries after.

Acts 8:1-3

Saul Persecutes the Church

      1Saul was in hearty agreement with putting [Stephen] to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2Some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him. 3But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.

We meet Saul as he helps to execute Stephen. Exploring further back in Acts 6, we see why Stephen was executed… simply because he was so filled with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit that those who rejected Yeshua could not handle it. They had to destroy Him because they were unwilling to change their hearts and their lives to follow Christ.

Acts 6:8-10

     8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

We can only sit back in awe and wonder that our God has made so much forgiveness available to us as His people that someone like Saul, persecuting the followers of Christ zealously, could be turned from that path and toward the path of lifelong servant to Christ.

The truth about forgiveness through Jesus Christ is that there is no sin too great for God to forgive, if we come to Him with repentant spirit. We must be sorry for what we have done and turn away from repeating that behavior and turn toward living the way God says.

It is also true that to continue willingly disregarding God’s commands in any area, no matter how “small” we think it may be, leads to separation between us and God. God cannot have a close relationship with someone who consistently chooses rebellion and their own way over His way.

It is not the “size” of the sin… Yeshua died for all our sins and He is sufficient to cover them no matter what they are… but rather the genuine repentance in our hearts as we come before God that leads to forgiveness and reconciliation with God. God can use each of us as He used Paul… who started persecuting Christians and ended up profoundly serving Christ by teaching others about Him. Praise to God for making a way for us to be forgiven!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your forgiveness and grace through Yeshua. Please open my eyes to any areas of spiritual blindness or sin that I need to repent of. Please help me have courage to do so. Please help Your people everywhere to totally submit to You and turn toward Your ways. Please influence many who are currently persecuting Your people in positions of authority (government, business, healthcare, education, news media, social media, technology companies, and other areas) to open their eyes and see the truth of Your word and Your spirit, that they would turn from persecuting to proclaiming the gospel as Paul did. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Curse, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Doubt / Lacking Faith, Humility, Idols / False Gods, Repenting from Sin, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish, Wise

Do Not “Double Down” on Foolish

Ahaz became king of Judah at an early age of 20. He turned from the LORD and did not do right. As a result, we see record of a very dramatic series of defeats and problems that the LORD brings about as punishment for the people turning from His instructions.

Perhaps one of the true tests for each of us is not whether or not we make mistakes and get started down the wrong path, but what do we do when the LORD brings judgment? Do we repent and turn to Him or do we double down on the wrong answer and move further away from Yahweh? We can read about Ahaz’s choice and learn from it.

2 Chronicles 28

Ahaz Succeeds Jotham in Judah

      1Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do right in the sight of the LORD as David his father had done. 2But he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made molten images for the Baals. 3Moreover, he burned incense in the valley of Ben-hinnom and burned his sons in fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel. 4He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills and under every green tree.

Judah Is Invaded

      5Wherefore, the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Aram; and they defeated him and carried away from him a great number of captives and brought them to Damascus. And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who inflicted him with heavy casualties. 6For Pekah the son of Remaliah slew in Judah 120,000 in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. 7And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, slew Maaseiah the king’s son and Azrikam the ruler of the house and Elkanah the second to the king.

      8The sons of Israel carried away captive of their brethren 200,000 women, sons and daughters; and they took also a great deal of spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded; and he went out to meet the army which came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, He has delivered them into your hand, and you have slain them in a rage which has even reached heaven. 10“Now you are proposing to subjugate for yourselves the people of Judah and Jerusalem for male and female slaves. Surely, do you not have transgressions of your own against the LORD your God? 11“Now therefore, listen to me and return the captives whom you captured from your brothers, for the burning anger of the LORD is against you.” 12Then some of the heads of the sons of Ephraim—Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai—arose against those who were coming from the battle, 13and said to them, “You must not bring the captives in here, for you are proposing to bring upon us guilt against the LORD adding to our sins and our guilt; for our guilt is great so that His burning anger is against Israel.” 14So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the officers and all the assembly. 15Then the men who were designated by name arose, took the captives, and they clothed all their naked ones from the spoil; and they gave them clothes and sandals, fed them and gave them drink, anointed them with oil, led all their feeble ones on donkeys, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brothers; then they returned to Samaria.

Compromise with Assyria

      16At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help. 17For again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah and carried away captives. 18The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the lowland and of the Negev of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, and Soco with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages, and they settled there. 19For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had brought about a lack of restraint in Judah and was very unfaithful to the LORD. 20So Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him. 21Although Ahaz took a portion out of the house of the LORD and out of the palace of the king and of the princes, and gave it to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

      22Now in the time of his distress this same King Ahaz became yet more unfaithful to the LORD. 23For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him, and said, “Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they became the downfall of him and all Israel. 24Moreover, when Ahaz gathered together the utensils of the house of God, he cut the utensils of the house of God in pieces; and he closed the doors of the house of the LORD and made altars for himself in every corner of Jerusalem. 25In every city of Judah he made high places to burn incense to other gods, and provoked the LORD, the God of his fathers, to anger. 26Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27So Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel; and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

It was bad that Ahaz turned away from the LORD. It was worse that when the LORD brought judgment, Ahaz doubled down on pursuing false gods instead of Yahweh. He made a classic mistake that many of us may still make. We overlook the fact that Yahweh is disciplining us when things go wrong. Instead, Ahaz assumed the gods of the other nations were real and were stronger.

For us today it may seem a bit different, but the principles remain the same. If we are experiencing defeat beyond what seems logical or reasonable, and we conclude it is spiritual, do not overlook the possibility that it could be our Father disciplining us. Of course, at times it may also be Satan, but in those cases our Father is still allowing it. Consider the book of Job as an example.

At these times, repent and draw nearer to Yahweh. Do not double down on foolish and keep moving away from Him.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to know when You are disciplining me. Help me to hear Your message and understand. Help me to turn back to You with whole heart as David did. Help Your people around this nation and the world in this manner. Show me the error of my ways and give me the humility to change. Help me find the right path. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Holy / Set Apart, Humility, Obeying God, Parenting, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

Jotham Learned from His Father’s Right and Wrong Choices

The message of 2 Chronicles 27 is fairly simple on the surface. Do right in the sight of the LORD and draw near to Him. Things will go well for you. Of course, this does not mean everyone will be a powerful king. However, the principle is there… seek the LORD and live according to His ways.

A second principle that pops out is that the son learned from what his father did well, honoring God, and also from the mistakes his father made, entering the temple where only the priests should go. I hope to help my children learn from me in the same way.

2 Chronicles 27

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

      1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. 4Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year. 6So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. 7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help us learn from one another and draw nearer to You. Help fathers realize the impact they have on their children to lead them to live godly lives, following after You. Help them to make good choices. Where mistakes are made, help us to learn from them and our children as well. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Arrogance, Blessed, Consequences of Sin, Curse, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Idols / False Gods, Justice / Judgment, Obeying God, Pride, Provider, Repenting from Sin, Righteous, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish, Worldliness

Serve the LORD, but with a Whole Heart

It is good when we do right in the sight of the LORD and serve Him. However, let us learn a lesson from Amaziah to do so with our whole heart. It can be too easy to compromise and blend with the world and culture around us and then get defensive and angry at those who would rightly speak the word of the LORD to us calling us to repent.

2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah

      1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart. 3Now it came about as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, that he killed his servants who had slain his father the king. 4However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

Amaziah Defeats Edomites

      5Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield. 6He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. 8“But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.” 9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD has much more to give you than this.” 10Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger.

      11Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir. 12The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all dashed to pieces. 13But the troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 of them and plundered much spoil.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

      14Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” 16As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel

      17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.” 18Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush. 19“You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”

      20But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah. 22Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent. 23Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits. 24He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

      25And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

Yahweh does indeed have the power to help or to bring down, to bless or to curse. He can have much more influence in this matter than all of our best and most creative efforts. We should take great caution not to turn from His ways in order to pursue our success. We are called to serve Him and live according to His ways wholeheartedly, not half heartedly. It is not a matter of being less wicked or more righteous than the average person. It is about are we fully submitted to the LORD with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Prayerfully reflect on your own life. What evidence is there in your actions and words and thoughts that you may not be fully submitted? Honestly evaluate the evidence that would indicate you may be compromising or blending with the world and culture around you, even if unintentionally. Engage the help of a trusted friend and godly advisor or mentor. Avoid being defensive and angry. Listen. Don’t make the same mistake Amaziah made by dismissing the wise counsel.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please show me where I am blending with the world around me. Help me to see clearly and to set myself and my family apart for your use. May your Spirit open my eyes to areas in my life where I need to make changes and be more fully devoted and submitted to You. Send wise counsel and help me listen to it. Help me to serve as wise counsel for other believers. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Correction, Discipline / Guidance From God, Grace / Forgiveness, Repenting from Sin, Teachable, Wickedness / Evil, Worldliness

Learn From Your Mistakes and Trust in God Rather than Man

We should all strive to learn from our mistakes, especially when it is the LORD who rebukes you.

We have been discussing Jehoshaphat and you can read about him in 2 Chronicles 17-20. I encourage you to read through it if you have not done so recently. The summary context is that Jehoshaphat was a righteous king of Judah who made some mistakes, but then repented. In 2 Chronicles 18, he allies himself with an unrighteous King Ahab of Israel.  He goes to war despite warning from a prophet of the LORD in order to fulfill his alliance with wicked King Ahab. It goes poorly. Ahab dies. Jehoshaphat cries out to the LORD and is spared. Then in 2 Chronicles 19, he is rebuked for his alliance with the wicked king. He repents. It seems he has learned his lesson.

Even as a large army gathers against him in 2 Chronicles 20, he and his people turn to God, not man, for help. They fast and pray and obey what God tells them to do. In fact their faith is so strong that they lead with the praise and worship section leading in front of the army.

Then as we close in 2 Chronicles 20 we see Jehoshaphat again turn to make an alliance with a worldly king and God is displeased and there are consequences.

2 Chronicles 20:35-37

Alliance Displeases God

      35After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah allied himself with Ahaziah king of Israel. He acted wickedly in so doing. 36So he allied himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish, and they made the ships in Ezion-geber. 37Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat saying, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has destroyed your works.” So the ships were broken and could not go to Tarshish.

Jehoshaphat had previously experienced the lesson that Yahweh did not want him to make alliances with the wicked kings of Israel. Apparently as time passed, he fell into the same mistake and Yah again reminded him that this was a mistake.

We may not be kings leading nations or wars, but clearly we experience the same tendencies and risks as we can learn about from the scriptures regarding Jehoshaphat. Let us not make alliance with the wicked and worldly but depend on and look to the LORD Himself or our godly brothers and sisters in Christ.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for leading and guiding me! Thank You for forgiving me when I do wrong, even if I need to accept consequences for my wrong actions. Help me to keep a right attitude toward You when You rebuke me. Lead me to join up with fellow believers rather than the worldly. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Courage / Fear, Discerning / Judging, Discipline / Correction, Government, Grace / Forgiveness, Humility, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Merciful, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Teachable

Accept Righteous Rebuke and Learn From It to Draw Nearer to the Father

As we read about Jehoshaphat today, think of the principles in terms of how they apply to your life today. Don’t get distracted by the specifics such as “he was king and you are not”. Look at his walk with God and with man and see how he prospered and stumbled.

Jehoshaphat started as King following a righteous example of David’s earlier days and Yahweh was with him and blessed him.

 2 Chronicles 17:3-6

 3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, 4but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6He took great pride in the ways of the LORD and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.

Jehoshaphat chose to ally himself with a wicked king of Israel. This seems like perhaps a good decision at first as it helps keep the peace, but if you read along through all of 2 Chronicles, you see how that led to his then going to fight alongside the wicked king for his purposes.

2 Chronicles 18:1

 1Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab.

Even when Jehoshaphat asked for a prophet of God, he did not heed the word of God delivered. He was drawn into the earthly alliance instead of listening to God. If I make a quick metaphor… partnering wickedness with righteousness is a bit like making chocolate milk… things start to blend and get hard to separate afterwards. Reading 2 Chronicles 18 we can see the full record of how the battle went and also with the warning of the prophet. It did not go well.

Yahweh spared Jehoshaphat’s life in the battle as he cried out to Yahweh. It was gracious and merciful. However, we see two important follow ups in 2 Chronicles 19… the LORD rebukes Jehoshaphat and Jehoshaphat repents and applies his learning diligently to running his kingdom going forward.

2 Chronicles 19

Jehu Rebukes Jehoshaphat

      1Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned in safety to his house in Jerusalem. 2Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, “Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD and so bring wrath on yourself from the LORD? 3“But there is some good in you, for you have removed the Asheroth from the land and you have set your heart to seek God.”

      4So Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem and went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.

Reforms Instituted

      5He appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city. 6He said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment. 7“Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

      8In Jerusalem also Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and priests, and some of the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD and to judge disputes among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 9Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and wholeheartedly. 10“Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty. 11“Behold, Amariah the chief priest will be over you in all that pertains to the LORD, and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the ruler of the house of Judah, in all that pertains to the king. Also the Levites shall be officers before you. Act resolutely, and the LORD be with the upright.”

Prayerfully reflect on how these principles apply in your life. It could be a business partnership or an employer for whom you work, rather than a wicked king, that draws you away from your righteous walk. Take caution and evaluate. Share what God brings to your mind with a trusted mentor, spouse, or friend. Get an external perspective, but be careful not to pick someone who just rationalizes what is “normal” in the world of business instead of what is right according to God’s word. Anchor in the Bible and test your circumstances, not anchor in “normal” ways of men and rationalize why it is ok to be different than biblical principle.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please lead and guide me with a humble spirit. Help me to seek You first and give me wisdom in any partnerships or alliances with the worldly or wicked. Help me instead partner with the righteous. Give me courage to pursue Your ways even when it seems to put me at risk on the surface in challenges I may face in my life. Thank You for grace, mercy, and forgiveness! Help me to repent of any wrong decisions I have made and bring trusted mentors and friends into my life that will challenge me to follow You more passionately and rebuke me appropriately when I need it. Help me have wisdom and courage to rebuke others when needed also.  Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Holy / Set Apart, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Provider, Purposeful / Intentional, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Repenting from Sin, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

The Cure for Anxiety: Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness

We may have many stresses in life and many competing priorities. We may worry about food and clothing and shelter, or in some cases we already have all those essentials and we worry about the luxury items we can get with having more money. Yeshua directs us to a cure for this anxiety.

Matthew 6:25-34

The Cure for Anxiety

25“For this reason I say to you, [q]do not be worried about your [r]life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they? 27And which of you by worrying can add a single [s]day to his [t]life’s span? 28And why are you worried about clothing? Notice how the lilies of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin thread for cloth, 29yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ 32For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

34“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [x]worry about itself. [y]Each day has enough trouble of its own.

As we continue to read in Chronicles, we also see another good example of God’s provision for those who love His law and commandments as David did in his early days. We are not all promised to be super rich or king or president, but if we humble ourselves and seek the LORD first and rejoice in His ways, He will provide. Often he provides an abundance beyond what we need.

2 Chronicles 17

Jehoshaphat Succeeds Asa

      1Jehoshaphat his son then became king in his place, and made his position over Israel firm. 2He placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had captured.

His Good Reign

      3The LORD was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the example of his father David’s earlier days and did not seek the Baals, 4but sought the God of his father, followed His commandments, and did not act as Israel did. 5So the LORD established the kingdom in his control, and all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat, and he had great riches and honor. 6He took great pride in the ways of the LORD and again removed the high places and the Asherim from Judah.

      7Then in the third year of his reign he sent his officials, Ben-hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah; 8and with them the Levites, Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah and Tobadonijah, the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. 9They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

      10Now the dread of the LORD was on all the kingdoms of the lands which were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. 11Some of the Philistines brought gifts and silver as tribute to Jehoshaphat; the Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats. 12So Jehoshaphat grew greater and greater, and he built fortresses and store cities in Judah. 13He had large supplies in the cities of Judah, and warriors, valiant men, in Jerusalem. 14This was their muster according to their fathers’ households: of Judah, commanders of thousands, Adnah was the commander, and with him 300,000 valiant warriors; 15and next to him was Johanan the commander, and with him 280,000; 16and next to him Amasiah the son of Zichri, who volunteered for the LORD, and with him 200,000 valiant warriors; 17and of Benjamin, Eliada a valiant warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bow and shield; 18and next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 equipped for war. 19These are they who served the king, apart from those whom the king put in the fortified cities through all Judah.

The LORD was with Jehoshophat because he put his heart toward the LORD, loved the commandments, and led his people in the ways of the LORD. He took responsibility to remove idols that were offensive to God even though I am sure the people did not want to give them up. He overcame adversity and led his people in the ways of the LORD. Don’t assume it was easy just because he was king. Try leading change in a large (or even small) organization or family on something so personal to people as turning away from Christmas for the LORD’s appointed times. Do you think that is easy even if you are the head of that family or organization? Imagine a nation then, who had embraced false gods.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for blessing us with knowledge of Your commandments, Your law. Help us have discernment, be Spirit led, and anchored in Your written word as we try to chart our course for obeying Your commandments in our lives today. Give us courage to put You first. Help us to trust in Your provision for our needs. Help us to rejoice in Your ways. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discerning / Judging, False Prophets / Teachers, Seeking God, Study the Word, Teachable

Learn To Discern Truth From False Teaching or Be Led Astray

It always amazes me. Less than a week after the crowds came out to welcome Yeshua as He entered Jerusalem, the “triumphal entry”, they are easily manipulated to call for His painful execution. And who is leading them in this way? Those that identify as the spiritual leaders of the people. The people failed to discern truth from false teaching and were quickly led astray.

The Roman leader, Pilate, even knew that Yeshua was innocent and tried to release Him. He knew the chief priests were trying to kill Yeshua out of envy. The people would not have it. Ultimately, Pilate remains responsible as well for executing Yeshua alongside the chief priests. He knew Yeshua was innocent and allowed the execution.

Mark 15:1-15

Jesus before Pilate

      1Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. 2Pilate questioned Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3The chief priests began to accuse Him harshly. 4Then Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You not answer? See how many charges they bring against You!” 5But Jesus made no further answer; so Pilate was amazed.

      6Now at the feast he used to release for them any one prisoner whom they requested. 7The man named Barabbas had been imprisoned with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the insurrection. 8The crowd went up and began asking him to do as he had been accustomed to do for them. 9Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10For he was aware that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy. 11But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask him to release Barabbas for them instead. 12Answering again, Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” 13They shouted back, “Crucify Him!” 14But Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify Him!” 15Wishing to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas for them, and after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

We must each study the scriptures and pray for the Father for wisdom in discerning truth from false doctrine. We are to seek truth and then stand up for it. We must not just accept what we are told by men without challenging and verifying they speak truth. To do so results in easily being led astray to reject Yeshua and embrace the world.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? Are you living today filled with the peace and joy of truly knowing and following Jesus Christ? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.