Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 6; 2 Kings 7; 2 Chronicles 20; 1 Timothy 3
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:12 "O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
Observation: I love the prayer of Jehoshaphat that ends in verse 12. He clearly lays out the problem and asks for God's intervention. I particularly love his humility. "We do not know what to do..." he says. This is a hard thing for a king (or any leader) to admit.
Application: But so often, leaders are confronted with new challenges and opposition. These are frequently situations that have not been faced before and the leader really does not know what to do. I love the fact that King Jehoshaphat just says it. So often, people, especially leaders, put on a good face and pretend they know exactly what to do, even as if they had anticipated the problem in advance. But God doesn't require that we know how to handle every problem -- he just requires that we know him, and take every problem to him. He delights in helping his children when they call on him.
Prayer: Lord, right now I do not know what to do in my own ministry. We are facing great opponents of apathy and lethargy within and other opponents without. Our eyes are upon you. Give us wisdom and deliverance so that we may gain the victory that is our destiny in our community.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Title: Clueless King / Topic: No Discernment
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Chronicles 18; 2 Chronicles 19; Colossians 4
Scripture: 1 Kings 22:2, 4
2 ...in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel... 4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
Observation: Jehoshaphat is naive. He appears to be a bit of a simpleton. He gets together with Ahab, his counterpart in Israel, who, encouraged by his evil wife, Jezebel, has been one of the most godless and wicked kings ever. Jehoshaphat is a godly king who has been seeking to lead the people of Judah toward the Lord, while Ahab has been the opposite, actively wiping out any remnant of godliness from Israel. But Jehoshaphat is clueless about the significance of this. And he makes the statement, "I am as you are...", thus identifying himself with Ahab. What a mistake. In fact, his naiveté almost gets him killed as the sly Ahab convinces him to wear his royal robes in the ill-fated battle while he (Ahab) goes in disguise. (Of course, Ahab gets his comeuppance as he cannot thwart God's justice and is killed by a "random arrow" that "just happens" to penetrate the seam between his body armor plates.)
Application: Jehoshaphat is an example of well-intentioned believers who want to reach out to wicked people but compromise in the process. His desire not to offend anybody almost got him killed and did eventually bring judgment from the Lord.
Bottom line: Those who walk with God should never walk in fellowship with those who actively oppose him. There is a time for drawing lines between righteousness and wickedness. Discernment and courage are needed and not everybody will like you.
Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom and courage to not be afraid to demonstrate righteousness and challenge the wicked to repent. Help me not to me a hypocrite in my life but to be righteous and faithful.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: 1 Kings 22:2, 4
2 ...in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel... 4 So he asked Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."
Observation: Jehoshaphat is naive. He appears to be a bit of a simpleton. He gets together with Ahab, his counterpart in Israel, who, encouraged by his evil wife, Jezebel, has been one of the most godless and wicked kings ever. Jehoshaphat is a godly king who has been seeking to lead the people of Judah toward the Lord, while Ahab has been the opposite, actively wiping out any remnant of godliness from Israel. But Jehoshaphat is clueless about the significance of this. And he makes the statement, "I am as you are...", thus identifying himself with Ahab. What a mistake. In fact, his naiveté almost gets him killed as the sly Ahab convinces him to wear his royal robes in the ill-fated battle while he (Ahab) goes in disguise. (Of course, Ahab gets his comeuppance as he cannot thwart God's justice and is killed by a "random arrow" that "just happens" to penetrate the seam between his body armor plates.)
Application: Jehoshaphat is an example of well-intentioned believers who want to reach out to wicked people but compromise in the process. His desire not to offend anybody almost got him killed and did eventually bring judgment from the Lord.
Bottom line: Those who walk with God should never walk in fellowship with those who actively oppose him. There is a time for drawing lines between righteousness and wickedness. Discernment and courage are needed and not everybody will like you.
Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom and courage to not be afraid to demonstrate righteousness and challenge the wicked to repent. Help me not to me a hypocrite in my life but to be righteous and faithful.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Title: Christians Alive And Well / Topic: Loving Fellowship
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21; 2 Chronicles 17; Colossians 3
Scripture: Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Observation: This verse is vibrant! I see this group of believers that Paul is talking to and they are so alive as the "word of Christ" is alive among them. They are excited and interacting with one another -- contending with one another by teaching and having spirited debates correcting each other (that's what the word admonish means). These people are spiritually intimate with one another. The word has a prominent place in their lives and in their interaction -- it dwells among them richly. And there is music -- melodies of praise and worship fill their conversations and gatherings as they gratefully share of the goodness of God in song.
Application: I long to be a part of such a close group of believers. I see most Christians today retreating away from fellowship into their own worlds -- as our homes become more and more focused on entertainment and amusement. Many Christians don't seem to show a love for sharing their lives in deep, committed, accountable relationships like Paul describes here. I would like to be part of reversing the trend toward the isolated Christian where I live.
Prayer: Lord help us to get back to loving one another deeply -- from the heart. Lord, we are being seduced by a world of electronic entertainments that suck us in and captivate our attention, robbing our time until we have little or nothing left to give to our brothers and sisters. Help us to see that if we don't have the word dwelling among us richly, then I will not have the word living in me richly if at all. Your life must be shared to be fully experienced. Help your people to love one another and give their lives to and for one another.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scripture: Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Observation: This verse is vibrant! I see this group of believers that Paul is talking to and they are so alive as the "word of Christ" is alive among them. They are excited and interacting with one another -- contending with one another by teaching and having spirited debates correcting each other (that's what the word admonish means). These people are spiritually intimate with one another. The word has a prominent place in their lives and in their interaction -- it dwells among them richly. And there is music -- melodies of praise and worship fill their conversations and gatherings as they gratefully share of the goodness of God in song.
Application: I long to be a part of such a close group of believers. I see most Christians today retreating away from fellowship into their own worlds -- as our homes become more and more focused on entertainment and amusement. Many Christians don't seem to show a love for sharing their lives in deep, committed, accountable relationships like Paul describes here. I would like to be part of reversing the trend toward the isolated Christian where I live.
Prayer: Lord help us to get back to loving one another deeply -- from the heart. Lord, we are being seduced by a world of electronic entertainments that suck us in and captivate our attention, robbing our time until we have little or nothing left to give to our brothers and sisters. Help us to see that if we don't have the word dwelling among us richly, then I will not have the word living in me richly if at all. Your life must be shared to be fully experienced. Help your people to love one another and give their lives to and for one another.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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