by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 21-22
These kings just can’t seem to stay on track. Jehoshaphat has seen some terrific moments with God, yet in his last years, he allies with the king of Israel. The Word says, “He acted wickedly in so doing.”(20:35)
The high places had not been torn down, and when Jehoram, Jehoshaphat’s son takes the reigns, he reverts back to doing evil in God’s sight. He wants to be like the kings of Israel. (They must seem more sophisticated to him). The greatest abomination is that he marries the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, two of the most evil people in the Bible.
Jehoram slays all of his brothers so that he won’t have any competition. His days are numbered. He dies after eight years as king , departing “with no one’s regret.”(21:20)
Ahaziah, his son, rules in Jehoram’s place, but for only one year. He also walks in the counsel of Ahab and Jezebel, and is killed by Jehu.
So Athaliah, his mother takes over the kingdom. The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, she is an incredibly wicked person. Athaliah kills every member of the royal family (including her own grandchildren).
Only one grandchild, Joash, is hidden from her sight so that he is safe during Athaliah’s reign.
When we look at Ahab and Jezebel we see the epitome of evil, and it’s hard to imagine anyone wanting to be like them. Yet the arrogance that goes with such evil, causes some to be swayed in that direction. Especially the young and foolish.
Today there are some incredibly evil people who project such confidence and sophistication, that they tend to lure others into their camp. There are those who want to look good to men, and they can be fooled.
When I look at Ahab and Jezebel, I see some of those influential people.
I pray that you and I won’t be fooled by such behavior. We will be those who are willing not to look so good to men, if that’s what it takes.
When my son was little, he had a Tee shirt that said: Any dead fish can float down stream. Go against the flow. I’ve always liked that concept, because unless we are willing to go against the flow, we will never be who God wants us to be.
It takes courage and determination to be willing to sometimes look foolish to the arrogant. But that’s our call. We are to please God rather than man.
As we are doing this, we are not alone. Of course, we have the Lord always with us. But also, there are many others just like you and me. Those who truly want their lives to be lived for Him.
John 14
There have been seasons in my life when I would read the next four chapters of John everyday. If you want to understand what it means to be a christian, this is a good place to start.
Jesus is preparing His disciples befroe he leaves. The dispensation is about to change, and He is giving them an introduction into the new life they are about to receive. It’s easier to understand when you have the Holy Spirit teaching you. (There must have been a lot of “huh’s?” that day).
There are so many powerful nuggets here.
- I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me. (V. 6)
- He who has seen me has seen the Father. (V. 9)
- He who believes in Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works shall he do; because I go to the Father. (V. 12)
- If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (V. 14)
- In that day, you will know that I am in you and you in Me, and I in you. (V.20)
- If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make our abode with him. (V. 23)
- The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things.( V. 26)
It’s clear that Jesus is introducing something new to these people. They are about to enter into a new life of relationship with the Father, which mankind has not known up until now.
He will be living in them, teaching them. They will be the representatives of God Himself on the earth. They will pray and have their prayers answered.
These new people will even do the works of Jesus.
Christianity has been so watered down over the years that it’s hard for some to see what this is saying. I pray that you and I see it.
To be a true, believing Christian is the most powerful position on earth. Men may never even see the power or know what you are doing. But you know and God knows.
In your secret place, as you pray and speak the Words God gives you to speak, you are representing Him on the earth. As you speak with boldness, the heavens and the earth will shake. The demonic forces will have to flee, and angels will come upon the scene.
Our prayers and declarations will make things happen in the earth!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 19-20
We could use a little Jehoshaphat-speech today, couldn’t we? He establishes judges throughout the land, and reminds them of their responsibilities.
“Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be careful what you do, for the Lord your God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or a taking of a bribe.”(19:7)
Don’t you wish that all of our judges today would heed that advice? If they would, our world wouldn’t be in such a mess.
Now we come to a story which is a pillar of faith for us…and very instructional, if we take note.
Jehoshaphat suddenly comes under attack. Several armies have aligned and they are marching to battle against Judah. Jehoshaphat is afraid, but he knows what to do. He turns to the Lord, and proclaims a fast throughout Judah. Then he asks for a word from God as to the necessary of action.
“O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, for our eyes are upon you.”(20:12)
So the spirit of the Lord comes upon a prophet and gives direction.
“Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s”(20:15).
Jehoshaphat and his assembly kneel and worship the Lord, and stand up to praise Him.
So early in the morning, they go out to meet the armies in battle, but the warriors don’t go first; the singers and praisers go first, proclaiming the mercy of the Lord.
As the praisers go forward, the Lord sends ambushments against the armies and they are routed. What a day! It doesn’t say what the “ambushments” are. They may be hallucinations, or angels, or confusion. When God shows up, He can get the job done.
After the aggressive armies leave, the army of Judah spends three days gathering all of the treasure left by the fleeing ones. What a rout!
Now we can use these principles in our daily battles. We don’t have foreign armies invading our territory, but we do have our enemy, the devil trying to do it. He comes after us through our minds, attempting to bring temptation or fear. Or through others at work, or sometimes even our families.
If we turn to the Lord and ask for His wisdom on the issue, He will show us the way out of the battle. In fact, He will turn the battle on the enemy, and we will be left in a better state than before.
The keys are to praise Him, listen to Him, and do what He says. If we lead every battle with praise and obedience, we will win!
John 13:21-38
A new commandment comes as Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure.
“Love one another, even as I have loved you…By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”(V. 34-35)
There are several words for “love” in the Greek and used in the New Testament. One means brotherly love, another means romantic love, but this one is different. This word is “agapeo,” which means “love like God loves.”
God loves in a different way. His love is full of mercy and compassion. It is also full of honesty.
If we love only with the “brotherly love,” we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. If we see grave error in their lives, we overlook it, thinking they have a right to their own opinion.
God’s type of love is more like a parent’s love. As parents, we always are looking for the best in our children, but if they are playing in the street, we get them out. We love them – and we want their safety. God’s love wants our safety.
There are times when humanistic ideology mixes up these types of love. The adherents to this ideology think if you ever speak the “truth” to someone, you are judging them. I say, if you are really a friend – the way God is your friend – you will speak the truth.
Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t mean we go around bossing and correcting everyone. But occasionally we will encounter a friend about to get themselves into real trouble. God’s love will confront – in a compassionate way, and offer prayer. Definitely, there needs to be God’s leading as we do it.
When we are moving along a path of error, our Father God’s love is right there, wanting so much to help us to get on the right path. When we repent and turn, His love then empowers us to continue our righteous walk with mercy and truth.
God’s love is real, honest, and empowering. That’s the love we are to represent to the world. It’s something to think about, isn’t it?
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 17-18
False prophets! What an abomination!
The king of Israel wants to pretend to hear from God, but he only wants good words spoken over him. He wants his ears tickled. So he gathers to himself four hundred false prophets who will stand before him and say what the king wants to hear.
Ahab asks Jehoshaphat to go to battle with him, and Jehoshaphat agrees. However, the king of Judah suggests that they hear from God before going. The four hundred prophets gather before them and with great demonstration, say that there will be victory.
Jehoshaphat must have recognized some error, because he wants to know if there are any other prophets. There is one more, but he always says bad things.
So Micaiah speaks the true word of God – which is a warning that Ahab will die if he goes. Needless to say this word is ignored, and comes true. The kings go out to battle, and Ahab gets killed.
This sounds like what’s going on today, doesn’t it?
II Timothy 4:3 says “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
There are many today who want to ignore the truths of the Bible and make up their own doctrine in accordance with their evil desires. That trend is rampant.
So to ease their consciences, they accumulate teachers who will tickle their ears. There are now many false prophets who say what men want to hear, and not what God is really saying.
That’s why the Bible is so important. God’s Word is written down, and He speaks to us personally as we read it.
As we read it, we get wisdom as to what is from God and what isn’t. The abundant life that Jesus has provided comes to us as we live by God’s principles. There is tremendous reward in living honestly with God.
John 13:1-20
By the prophetic demonstration of washing their feet , Jesus shows one of the guidelines for his disciples. Go in humility and not in arrogance. The least shall be the greatest; the leader is the servant.
The ones who are to go out must follow His example. In a world where the leaders have strolled among the people in long robes and phylacteries, pompously lording over their followers, this has to seem strange. However, it’s the way of Jesus.
Jesus, the Son of God, the One who has demonstrated God’s healing and miracle-working power, is about to lay down His life and die a cruel death for us. The greatest is becoming the least, but from that obedience, He will become the greatest again – as He ascends into heaven.
This paradox is one of the hardest to understand and “get right.” As God’s children, we certainly are not worms, we are children of the King. However, as we interact with others, we should not have a pious, better-than attitude, because the Lord has instructed us against that. Our reward comes from Him.
In fact, when we get to the whole counsel of God, we see that He exalts the humble. But resists the proud.
Today, as we deal with those around us, let us truly represent God. Let us regard them as highly as ourselves, and show them God’s redeeming love. We are important – but so are they!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 15-16
Azariah, the son of Obed, meets Asa with a word from God. The prophet reminds the king that if he and his people turn away from God, as they have done in the past, God’s hand will not be there for them. However, if they remain faithful to their God and forsake their idols, He will remain faithful to them.
“But you, be strong and don’t lose courage, for there is reward for your work.”(15:7)
So Asa gets to work, making things “right” in the country. They have a ceremony, praising the Lord and all that He had done for them. Asa even removes his mother from the position of “Queen Mother” because she wants to maintain her idols. He then demolishes her idols.
As a result, there is no war in Judah for more than 30 years. God’s protection is strong.
In the 36th year of Asa’s reign, Baasha, king of Israel, comes up against Judah, and Asa makes a terrific mistake. He seeks help from the king of Aram, rather than from the Lord. With natural help, he turns back the foe, however, he is rebuked for the error.
Here we have one of my favorite verses in the Bible, and one which we should all take to heart.
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”(16:9)
If you look around and listen to people talk, you will realize that very few people really trust in God with their whole heart. If we could just get this verse, how wonderful our lives would be. He is looking for those who really do believe Him.
I volunteer. I want to be one of those people. I love Him and I want his strong support!
John 12:27-50
Some choose light; others choose dark. Jesus reminds His followers that he didn’t come to judge the world. The world was judged already because of the sin of Adam. Jesus came to save the world from the judgment.
I think of it like this. It’s as if a boat has capsized and all are drowning. Jesus throws out a life raft for all to take who will. Some would rather stay in the water, but it’s their choice – not His.
The Word He has spoken has judged the people because they wouldn’t listen to it.
Today, there are people who want to know God, but on their own terms. They want to tell Him what the rules of the universe should be, rather than listening to His principles. They want to design their own plans and dreams – and then get Him to bless their pursuit of them.
Jesus is calling us all to a life of immense benefits and productivity. But He chooses the terms. The terms are that we love God with our whole heart – trusting in Him and living for Him. Then we love our neighbors as ourselves.
In our dreams and pursuits, we esteem others highly – and not just ourselves. We don’t lord it over others or take advantage of them
So God doesn’t bless our own dreams – unless they are from Him. The true blessing comes through knowing Him and walking with Him.
It’s a wonderful life! We just decide to walk in the light! His light.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
II Chronicles 13-14
There becomes a definite chasm between Israel and Judah during this next section of history.
Abijah tries to reason with Jeroboam, saying “Have you not driven out the priests of the Lord and made for yourselves priests like the peoples of other lands?…But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken Him.” This new king is trying to deflect the war which Jeroboam wants to pursue.
However, his attempts are useless, and Jeroboam goes after his brothers of Judah. In so doing, he comes after God Himself, and he gets routed. “And Jeroboam did not again recover strength in the days of Abijah.”(13:20) “But Abijah became powerful…”(13:21)
Asa took the reigns after Abijah, and he also was a good king. He removed the high places and incense altars so that God continued to honor his position.
As a result, more years of peace follow.
Speaking of high places, do you have some in your life? Of course not, you say, but don’t be so fast.
The modern day high places are things we honor along with our God – and sometimes in place of our God.
So what are some of these? Position in society, big houses, luxuries, even education can become a high place.
Now all of these things are blessings from God when we put Him first. But when they come before our allegiance to God, then they are idols.
If He calls you to worship in a small, unimpressive congregation instead of the big, showy one, what do you do? If He wants you to leave the comforts of your sophisticated community to minister to those who are less fortunate, do you do it?
So what if a doctrinal error becomes the rage and everyone seems to be “going that way,” what do you do? If you see something different in the Word, whom do you honor, God or man?
What’s more important to you? That’s the key. Is the way you look to man more important, or the way you look to God?
These can be hard questions sometimes, but they are necessary for the life of faith.
We have many opportunities to reject sound doctrine for the sake of our reputation. I pray that you and I won’t do that.
We will go with God, even when it isn’t popular.
John 12: 1-26
“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”(V.23) With this statement, Jesus introduces the concept that He is not only the Lamb of God. He is also the Seed of God.
When a seed is planted, it must go into the ground and die, then it brings forth fruit. So if Jesus is the seed, what is the fruit?
We are!
When Jesus died on the cross and went into hell for three days, He paid the price, rose again, and ascended to heaven. That’s how He was glorified. In so doing, He made the way for us to become sons of God.
Hebrews 2:11 says that He was not ashamed to call us brothers. Jesus was the first man to be born again – while in the depths of the earth.
He fell into the ground and died so that we might live for Him. He is the seed, and we are the fruit He bore in His death.
This is something to think about , isn’t it?
