A Spiritual Duty

  July 4, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 24-27 / Acts 8

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 25:2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        A father and four-year-old daughter were heading off in the family car. When they got in the dad said, “Honey, you need to sit down and buckle your seat belt.” To which the daughter replied, “but daddy, when I sit down and can’t see out the window. I want to stand up.” The dutiful father said, “You have to sit down, it’s the law.” Now the daughter began to cry saying,” but daddy, I won’t be able to see everything.” The father, growing impatient said, “Sit down! If you do not, I will take you back in the house and leave you home.” Reluctantly, the girl sat down and buckled in. A few minutes into the trip the father glanced over at his daughter to see her sitting there with her eyes closed smiling just a big as he had ever seen. He asked her, “sweetheart, what has you smiling?” The little girl said, “I may be sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside.”

      In 2 Chron. 25:2 it says of King Amaziah; “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.” He performed his religious duties, however, not for the right reasons. His worship rituals were at best a halfhearted obedience. In verses 7-9 he questions God’s wisdom about a battle and complains about how much money was spent on the battle. He is reminded God can take care of both situations. Doing a spiritual duty just to get it done is not worship. It becomes work and is worthless.  

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Why do we pray, read our bibles, attend church, or serve in ministries? God designed all these things to help draw us closer to Him. Yet, doing them with little focus on God, and intending to just get them done, may not be helping.

Has Worship of God become a Spiritual Duty?

 

A Sad Departure

  July 3, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 21-23 / Acts 7:30-60

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 21:20 Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        I have thought in the past, one of the saddest sights to see is a person who has lived so long that they have outlived all their relatives and friends. They come to enjoy a very long life, but they come to this day of departure with no living earthly companions. No one to morn on their day of farewell. However, I have come to think there is one sadder than that. It is someone who has lived a short life, who has many family members, and those who have been brought up with them who are still alive, but at their passing, no one cares that this person is gone. Or worse, they are kind of glad for their departure. How sad. 

       Jehoram was given the kingdom of Judah, simply because He was the oldest son of King Jehoshaphat when he died. He started out as king following the wrong people. He married the daughter of wicked King Ahab of Israel. Instead of following his father’s example, 2 Chronicles 21:6 says he did evil like his wife’s father. Even God was displeased with him as King and sent him a message through Elijah the prophet. God says in 2 Chronicles 21:13 that his brothers, who he had killed, were better than he was. Verse 20 of this chapter records the end of his sad life. When it comes to the end of his short forty-year life, and dies from a disease God has given him, it says; “…and departed without being desired.” … Meaning no one cared or regretted his death. They would not even bury him with the former kings.. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        When we come to the end of our journey, we do not need to be famous or wealthy. What we do need is to have a testimony that God can use to lead others to himself, through a well lived life for Christ.

What will the preacher and God have to work with when you exit this life?

 

What’s Right

 July 1 & 2, 2023
 July 1 – Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 18-20 / Acts 7:1-29
 July 2 – NO READING

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” We have all heard these words as someone prepares to testify in a courtroom or takes the oath of office in the United States. This is not just a pledge. It is a pledge invoking the name of the Lord God Almighty. The one true God, who does not take pledging lightly. When you say I do, you are saying that you will not only tell the truth, but that you will tell all the truth to the best of your ability, and not make anything up that is not the truth. Judges are also required to take an oath before they set in judgment of others. Almost every oath includes an anti-bribery statement and a non-partisan statement. Where did they get that idea?

        In our text today, King Jehoshaphat set up judges to judge situations that might arise in the cities. He tells them in 2 Chronicles 19:6 “And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.” In other words, what you do is serious because you are judging for God, and He is watching. In the next verse, they are given three oaths to abide by. No iniquity, or sinful dealings. Nor respect of persons. No racial, economical, or gender biases. And finally, nor taking of gifts, or no bribes. That sounds like the anti-bribery, non-partisan statements of judicial systems today. Old fashioned, Bible Basics. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Whether standing before a courtroom full of people, or taking an oath of office, these are principles that God has always endorsed. Jesus died for all humanity, non-partisan. To pay for our sin, no iniquity. No gift can buy that, no bribery.

Do you see that as the whole truth?

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

      In the midst of our everyday lives, there is a Wonderful Reality. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We have seen that this week in:

  ● Wise Request
  ● Worshipful Rest
  ● Welcome Response
  ● Wrong Reasoning
  ● Worldly Relations
  ● What’s Right

      To know that God loves us, sent His Son Jesus to die for us, rose again, and ever lives for us is a Wonderful Reality.

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

Wonderful Reality

 

 Worldly Relations

  June 30, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 14-17 / Acts 6

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Every day we are faced with decisions. What do I have for breakfast? What clothes should I wear? Many of these decisions may not seem important, but we never know. For example, one lady every year, when fixing the Christmas ham, cuts two inches off each end before placing it in the baking pan. Her husband asked; “Why do you do that?” She said, “Mom always did that, so I do.” She called her mom and asked why she did that. Her mom said, “your grandma always did that, so I did too.” So, she called grandma and asked why did you always cut two inches off the ham before cooking it?” Grandma said, “Oh dear, I did so because the only pan I had to bake with was too small for the ham, so I cut some off each end to make it fit.”

        Asa, King of Judah, enjoyed years of peace in his nation. This peace resulted from his decision to follow God, and to lead Judah to do the same. 2 Chron. 14:5-6 said the kingdom was quiet before him because the Lord had given him rest. Even when there was a huge battle with the Ethiopians, Asa called upon and trusted in God, and God delivered for him a great defeat. Yet, later in his reign, when another battle came up, instead of trusting God again, he called upon the worldly Syrians for help. In 2 Chron. 16:7-9 he was told; because you did not rely on the God who has always blessed you and defended you, but instead trusted in worldly relations, your days of peace are over. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        I love the song, “This World Is Not My Home.” It reminds me that, even though I dwell in this place called earth, I have a Heavenly Father who loves and watches out for me while I am here, until I get HOME. Man will let you down. God will lift you UP! 

Who do you rely on for daily help?

 

 Wrong Reasoning

  June 29, 2023
  Daily Reading – 2 Chron. 10-13 / Acts 5:29-42

 GOD’S WORD:

2 Chronicles 12:1 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        As children we played a game called “Simon Says.” In general, one person stood up front. That person would say, “Simon says, touch your nose.” Immediately everyone touched their nose. “Simon says, touch your ear.” Again, everyone would touch their ear. However, if the leader did not say “Simon Says,” before a command, and anyone obeyed that command, they were out. This continued until one person remained. The name “Simon” carried a lot of authority in that game. Anyone not following his leading, was out.

        That is what happened to the children of Israel who stayed and followed King Rehoboam. This son of Solomon was not as wise as his daddy. He begins by refusing wise counsel from older men who served with Solomon, and instead, listening to a bunch of power-hungry guys about his own age that he grew up with. It splits the peaceful nation of Israel into two fighting fractions known as Israel to the north, and Judah to the south. Jeroboam, king of Northern Israel, totally rejects God to worship idols. However, Rehoboam begins right by worshiping God in Judah. Many of the children of Israel from the north and Levite Priests who wanted to continue to worship God came to Judah. This goes on for three years, making Judah and Rehoboam strong. Power and pride cause him to forsake God’s law, and it says, everyone followed his lead. Following Rehoboam and not God was wrong reasoning with horrible results. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Today we see people who want to be called “Followers of Christ,” yet are calling into question; “the Law of the Lord.” You cannot follow Christ, and not obey His Word. Man may lead you wrong for many reasons. God will never lead you wrong for any reason.

Do we follow man, or God?