Devotions

King Hezekiah was ill to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah told him to put his affairs in order because he would not recover. Hezekiah wept bitterly not wanting to die. God heard Hezekiah and granted his plea and sent Isaiah back to Hezekiah to tell him God had granted him 15 more years. One of the things Hezekiah did with the 15 years granted to him was to father a son, Manasseh. [2 Kings 20-21]

Manasseh was 12 years old when Hezekiah died, and he became king in his father’s place. He reigned for 55 years.  He was a horrible king. The Scripture records that he did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He re-built the altars of idolatry his father had destroyed, erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole like Ahab had done. He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, consulted mediums and spiritists and generally provoked the Lord to anger continually. He was one of the evilest kings Judah ever had.

So why look at Manasseh? 2 Chronicles 33:10-20 records a change in Manasseh’s life. In judgment for Manasseh’s sins and the sins of the nation, God brought the army of the king of Assyria against Judah and took Manasseh as prisoner. They put a hook in his nose, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon. While in Babylon, Manasseh had a change of heart and “in his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.” 

God heard Manasseh’s fervent plea and brought him back to Jerusalem. The end of Manasseh’s life was far different from the beginning. Manasseh ended his life walking humbly with his God. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem and strengthened the defenses of the city. He got rid of the foreign gods and idols and restored the altar of the Lord. He offered fellowship and thank offerings and commanded the nation to serve the God of Israel.

By this time the people were too entrenched in idolatry to respond completely, but Manasseh did what he could to turn the nation back to the God of Israel if only for a short time. Manasseh’s life reminds me of two things . . . it is never too late to walk humbly with God . . . and how much more could be accomplished by walking with God through all of life, instead of just for a short time at the end. Things might have been very different for Manasseh’s nation.

The enemies of God (Moabites, Ammonites, Meunites) were marching against Judah and its king Jehoshaphat. Their goal was to kill and destroy the king and the people he led. Jehoshaphat was powerless to do anything about it and he knew it. He couldn’t muster an army big enough to face this enemy.  [2 Chronicles 20]

Jehoshaphat’s response was to call the nation together to seek the presence of the Lord. As all the people stood waiting for the Lord, waiting for His response, they were not disappointed. The Spirit of the Lord God Almighty before whom they stood waiting, descended upon Jahaziel, a Levite, and he proclaimed, “This is what the LORD says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…. You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem…. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’” [vs13-17]

The Lord’s word to Jehoshaphat was simple. You do your part; I’ll do my part. Jehoshaphat’s part was to march against his enemies, take up a position and stand firm. He was to “go out to face them.” He wasn’t to run, or surrender, or hide. He was to take up a position squarely in their path. God’s part was to bring about their deliverance for the battle was His. And God did His part!

Jehoshaphat saw a real enemy advancing upon him. As Christians we don’t often see our enemies with our physical eyes, but they are real, nonetheless. Paul wrote “though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.” [2 Corinthians 10:3-4]

How often do I find myself retreating or hiding rather than facing the enemy. How often do I surrender to discouragement or fear. How often do I analyze, rationalize, or allow doubt into my heart as I see the enemies of my soul advancing against me. Yet God’s message is clear, take up your position squarely in their path and watch the deliverance of the Lord. After all, it is only when we are FACING the enemy that we can actually see God’s victory.

I love the heroes of the Old Testament and one of my favorites is Moses. Exodus 33 is a chapter of Scripture I turn to often. The chapter, except for a small parenthetical passage in verses 7-11, is a conversation between Moses and God.

n the previous chapter the people of Israel convinced Aaron to make a golden calf while Moses was up on the mountain with God. God was ready to smite the entire camp but invited Moses to intercede for them, which he did. Chapter 33 opens with God’s pronouncement that while He will allow Israel to go the land that He promised their forefathers, He’s not going with them. Instead, He will send an angel to drive out the enemies before them.

Moses didn’t like that (if God wasn’t going, neither was he) and began to intercede once again with God. “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me.  You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.”  [NIV]

“If you are pleased with me, teach me . . . so I may know you.” 

Repeatedly in the Gospels, each of the writers tells us that Jesus would gather His disciples along with the crowds and would teach them.  [Matthew 5:1-2, Mark 2:13-14, Luke 4:31, John 7:14-15]

God desires to teach us. Jesus promised “when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you….”  [John 14:26]

The only way we can know God is if He teaches us about Himself. Our part is to maintain a teachable spirit. Like Moses, let us invite the Lord to “teach [us] . . . so that [we] may know [Him].”

Saturday morning, I was sitting and thinking about all the changes I have seen in my 78 years. My focus settled on the telephone. My first recollection of the telephone was one connected to the wall. I remember my parents picking up the receiver and telling the operator who they wanted to talk with.

Then I remember the party line when you would pick up the receiver and hear people on your “party” talking. You would have to hang up and wait for them to finish before you could then make your call. In time we got what was called a “private line.”

The first actual telephone number that I remember (before there were area codes) started with “Ivanhoe 3.” Eventually, area codes were added, and call waiting, and voice messaging.

Now, telephones are amazing. You can do your banking with them, pay your bills, check out of the grocery store or restaurants. You can use them for research or talk to people face to face. They can do a lot more now than I am even aware of.

All that change made me recall a quote of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892). “Consider what you owe to [God’s] immutability. Though you have changed a thousand times, He has not changed once.” 

As I read that quote, I was reminded that while the phone has changed mightily since invented in 1876, our ability to communicate with our immutable God in prayer has remained the same. “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”  [Hebrews 4:16 NLT]

I made a mistake the other day. I sent out a devotion with the wrong word. Now in some instances that might not mean anything, but this time it surely did!

This is what I wrote: “I make a good cup of coffee, snuggle in my guilt, read my Bible and pray or write as the sun comes up.”

When I posted it on Facebook, thankfully, someone pointed out that I meant “Quilt” not “Guilt.” I quickly edited my post. Then I laughed at my mistake.

It wasn’t too long before I realized that there have been times when I woke up in the morning and really did “snuggle in my guilt” and my shame. But now, BUT GOD, I no longer do that. I might wake up feeling guilty about something I said or did or thought but I don’t “snuggle” in it anymore.

I have the promises that if I relinquish all my sin, my guilt, my shame to my Savior and LORD, He will carry it far from me and never again hold it against me. Amen & Amen

Romans 8:1: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. [NLT]

1John 1:9: But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. [NLT]

Romans 10: 11:  As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”  [NIV]

Thank you LORD Jesus!

God is able. Listen to His word: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” [2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV]

Wow! Is there anything omitted? Does it say, ALL grace, ALL things, ALL times, ALL you need, EXCEPT FOR . . .? No, it says God is able to do ALL.

“God is able!” I believe that to be true. I believe . . . that is. . . until a challenge appears in my life, and I am faced with a great need. Then I begin to waver, not a lot you understand, just a little, just enough to cause me to act as if the challenge is mightier than my God is.

As always in life, we can have a few challenges—any number of items that demand more intervention than we are capable. What are your challenges right now? Do you need physical health? Do you need spiritual or emotional health? Do you have relationships that are strained or dying?  Do you need a new job?  Do you need wisdom or patience or love or peace? Is God really able?

There are no exceptions to the promise that God is able. He is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in every good work. That’s it. No equivocation, no evasion, no hedging, simply . . . “God is able.”

Can we take God at His word? The answer is “yes!” That truly is ALL that matters. “God is able!” Praise His Glorious Name.

Bob likes to watch the evening news. In our area, the broadcasts usually end at 6 PM with Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune following the news each weekday.

The last few weeks, Jeopardy has had the championship series. I don’t know if the questions are harder than for the normal contestants but sitting watching it each night makes me feel … well … really dumb!

I might get a few answers right, usually if it’s the “Bible” category, but most often I don’t even understand the categories!

What a delight it is to know that we don’t need to be dumb about the things of God. In fact, God wants us to be wise and will provide everything we need to be so.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” [James 1:5 NLT]

I need the wisdom of God as I face the problems and questions in this life. Facing them with my own wisdom is like watching the Jeopardy championship games. I might occasionally have the answer – but most of the time I don’t even understand the category!

Thank you, LORD, for your wisdom … and that you give it freely … without rebuke!

On my walk the other day, I saw a cat. It was sitting outside a house. It was stone still, facing the front door, staring at it, waiting for it to open. It wasn’t scratching, or pacing, or whining, just sitting there waiting patiently for that door to open. Stupid cat.

Ever push on doors? Just to test them, of course. Little shove here, little nudge there. Yet, none of them open. Doors we thought would surely crack a little remain solidly shut. I do that a lot and the Lord must remind me that I need to be more like that cat. Stupid cat.

Seeing that stupid cat made me laugh at myself and reminded me of David and the mulberry trees. 2 Samuel 5 tells the story of David and the Philistines and the mulberry trees. Shortly after David was anointed as king, the Philistines took offense and went after him—again. They deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

So David inquired of the LORD if he should attack: “’Do not attack them straight on,’ the Lord replied. ‘Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the [mulberry] trees. When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the [mulberry] trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.’” [NLT]

 The Scripture reports that David did what the Lord commanded. He listened to the Lord and when he heard the marching sound in the mulberries, David defeated the Philistines. I wonder how long it took to hear the sound after he got the promise. I wonder if David waited patiently. I wonder if David was like that cat, sitting perfectly still, not scratching or pacing or whining?

I know what I would have done, I’d have been out there shaking those trees trying to make them sound like “marching feet in the tops” of them. I would have been scratching and pacing and whining too!

You would think that after all these years I would remember two things: (1) God cannot be pushed, and (2) God always keeps His promises. The marching in the mulberries happened for David, the doors God promises will open for us. We just must be more like David . . . and more like that stupid cat!

I love a good love story, don’t you? One that always makes me cry is the story of Ruth and Boaz.  Boaz was a wealthy older man who had it all. Ruth, a widow, a Moabite, had nothing. Yet Boaz and Ruth got together and the product of their marriage was Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. [Ruth 1-4]

Ruth and Boaz got together because Boaz performed the rite of the kinsman-redeemer. He stepped in and redeemed Ruth from her life of poverty, from her backbreaking work gleaning the fields for food for herself and her mother-in-law Naomi, and from her outcast status as a foreigner in the land of Israel. Boaz redeemed Ruth and moved her from obscurity into the very lineage of King David. Now that’s a good love story.

God provided in the law for redemption. (“Ga’al,” is to redeem, to ransom, to avenge, to act as a kinsman.) When a person became bankrupt, so poor that he had to sell his goods, his family, his very person, the law made provision for redemption. He could get himself out of debt, out of slavery, if possible, but if not, his near relative, his kinsman, could perform that function.

In the law of the kinsman-redeemer, God gave a beautiful picture of His own work of redemption. Over and over in the Old Testament, God refers to Himself as Redeemer and refers to His work of Redemption. It is not only physical redemption that is contained in “ga’al,” but also spiritual redemption. [Psalms 69:18, 103:2-4.]

Redemption by our God is His love story to us. It’s Ruth, at the feet of Boaz, knowing she has no other recourse, no other way out of a life of backbreaking pain and poverty. It’s us at the feet of Jesus, kneeling by the Cross of our Kinsman-Redeemer, knowing no other recourse, no other way out of a life of soul-breaking pain and spiritual poverty. Ah, what a great love story!

It’s cold in my house now. We keep the thermostat low. Rather than turn up the heat, I put on a sweater, a big, old, warm blue sweater. It never was much of a fashion statement and now it’s been washed so many times that what little charm it once had has long since vanished. It does have one redeeming quality; however, it is incredibly soft. When I wrap myself in this big old blue sweater, I feel good and warm. My house is still cold, but I am comfortable.

We are spending the last days of this January looking at peace, at the things we must do to find and keep peace in our hearts and minds.

One: to call out to the Lord [Psalm 4]

Two: to worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness, His presence [Psalm 29]

Three: to listen to what the Lord has to say and not return to folly! [Psalm 85]

Four: to keep our mind focused on the Lord, our trust in the Rock eternal! [Isaiah 26:3]

There is one more Scripture I want to read: Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus.”  [NKJV]

When we come to the Lord with our unrest, uncertainties, and distress, and present everything to him with prayer and thanksgiving, His peace surrounds our hearts and minds.

There will always be some uncertainty in life. At times we will still be surrounded with unrest, but our hearts and our minds have found peace. Just like my big old warm blue sweater keeps out the chill in my house and keeps me warm and comfortable, so God’s lasting peace, which surpasses understanding, keeps out the cold and the harshness of this world and this life, and makes our souls incredibly comforted and at rest.