December 17 -- Read Nehemiah 4

Today's Reading - Daniel 2

 

Able to Reveal This Mystery

In today’s passage, we see Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king of Babylon, so awestruck by what he has witnessed in Daniel’s life, that he falls on his face and declares that Daniel’s God is the One and Only true God: “The God of gods.” He is the One who made you able to do this.

The evidence of God’s reality in Daniel’s life was so strong that the king was compelled to acknowledge that reality. Daniel wasn’t just a man who talked about God and His mighty working power. He was so in touch with the presence of God that the evidence of that presence was evident to all around him (including the king). The evidence that overwhelmed Nebuchadnezzar was Daniel’s uncanny and supernatural ability to interpret and explain dreams.   

The question for you is… are you so in touch with the presence of God that the evidence of that presence is evident to the people around you? Most likely, you don’t have the gift of dream interpretation as Daniel did, but your changed life should still display the mighty working of God in some way to those around you. Do others just hear about God from you, but don’t see any real evidence of His reality? Or is your transformed-life a testimony that Jesus lives and is the One and Only true God: “The God of gods.”?

When people look at you, they should see evidence of a life that has been rescued from sin and is being transformed by the Holy Spirit!  Do they see joy where there was once sorrow? Do they see kindness where there was once harshness? Do they see growing victory over sin where there was once bondage? Do they see love where there was once hate? Do they see peace where there was once anxiety and worry? Do they see wholesome words where there was once profanity? Are they so befuddled by these visible changes in your life that they can’t explain it any other way than to acknowledge that Jesus is real and is making real changes in your life.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When people see this fruit in your life, they, like the king, will be compelled to declare that your God is the One and Only true God.

Today's Reading - Daniel 1

 

Purposed in His Heart

The word “resolved” in today’s verse comes from a Hebrew word which means, “to set firmly in place.” In the King James version, this word is translated “purposed in his heart.” In this context, it means that Daniel made an INTENTIONAL decision to be a man of conviction. He set this decision firmly in place within the core of his being.

Daniel took to heart the command of God in Deuteronomy 6:18, “You shall do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD.”  He chose not to follow that which was right to people, or the culture in which he lived, but rather to stay true to God’s will for his life. Even if this meant that he would face ridicule, rejection, pain, and/or punishment for his choices.

Have you purposed in your heart not to defile yourself? Have you made a firm conviction within the depths of your being to stay true to God’s will for your life and to always do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord. Even when those around you don't agree? To do so may cost you dearly in this present life, but staying true to God will bring immense eternal rewards in His kingdom.

Daniel was a man of conviction— he stood strong, feet planted firmly within God’s will for his life and within His commands and statutes. Through his conviction, Daniel strove do what was good and right per God’s standards, which always represent true goodness.

 Be like Daniel.

Today's Reading - 2 Kings 19

When Enemies Defy the Children of God

The king of Assyria is attempting to use “scare tactics” on the children of Israel. He defiantly tells them that he is going to attack them and crush them. He boldly tells them to listen only to himself and that they should not listen to king Hezekiah when he “tries to mislead you” by saying, “The LORD will rescue us!”  King Sennacherib’s goal is to strike fear in their hearts.

Satan often uses this tactic on God’s children. He defies God and tells you not to listen to the word of the Lord. He comes off so brash and so bold in order to strike fear in our hearts and cause us to cower to his defiant words. It is in these situations that we must listen to the voice of truth, which tells a different story. The reality is, Satan cannot crush you. He can yell about it, and try to terrify you, but we know the rest of the story.

Here in 2 Kings 19, we hear the word of the LORD as He says to Hezekiah and the Israelites, “Your enemy will not crush you.” In fact, He has another plan altogether - He planned for Israel to crush the fortified cities of Assyria into heaps of rubble. And no matter how many scare tactics the enemy tries to use, it is ultimately the word of the Lord that stands!

God, through Isaiah, asks His children this question… “But have you not heard? I decided this long ago. Long ago I planned it, and now I am making it happen.” By these words He is reminding His children of three things: (1) that their circumstances are not a surprise to Him; (2) that He established His plan for this very situation long ago, and: (3) that He is not the least bit intimidated by His enemies and their defiant rhetoric.

You would do well to remember and apply these same three truths to your own circumstance. God is not surprised by the turn of events in your life. He saw you in this situation before the world was created and He knows exactly how, when, and where He is going to implement His plan to remedy the situation. Satan’s threats and rhetoric don’t frighten Him, or intimidate Him, or cause Him to scramble around looking for a solution. He already knows the solution. He planned from days of old what He will now bring to pass.

So, don’t listen to your defiant enemy. Don’t let his scare tactics take root in your life. Trust the God who loves you and has a pre-determined plan of victory for every circumstance of your life.

Today's Reading - 2 Kings 14

Choosing Your Sin

Isn’t it interesting how people tend to pick and choose which of God’s laws they will obey and which they will ignore? Rather than take the entire word of God as our standard for holy living, we are all guilty of committing some sins while disdaining others.

Here in 2 Kings 14, we have the record of king Amaziah who ascended to the throne of Judah at the age of 25. For the most part, Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord. But not completely. While living a fairly “good” life, Amaziah was guilty of picking and choosing which of God’s commands he would respect and which he would ignore. He ignored God’s command not to worship idols (Exodus 20:3-4) but still allowed the people to sacrifice and make offerings on the “high places” (pagan altars). He ignored God’s command not to murder (Exodus 20:13) by taking revenge and striking down those who had been involved with the takedown of his father.

After committing these horrendous sins, Amaziah draws a line in the sand. He refused to allow the murder of his enemies’ children citing God’s command found in Deuteronomy 24:16 – “Children shall not be put to death because of their fathers. But each one shall die for his own sin.” Why did Amaziah choose to obey this particular command while ignoring the others? Why, in his mind, was this sin greater than the sins of idolatry and murder of which he was guilty?

A better question is why do you choose to obey some of God’s commands for your life while ignoring others? Perhaps you steadfastly avoid the sin of adultery, but you have no problem with the sin of gluttony. Or, maybe you steer clear of homosexuality, disdaining its practice, but you commonly commit the sin of gossip or lust or anger? Why is one sin considered greater than another when they’re all sin?

How do we decide “their” sin is evil while “our” sin is no big deal? It seems that we all have a tendency to draw a similar “line in the sand” and hate our own sins “just a little bit” while hating the sins of others “a little more.” Perhaps instead of making statements and passing laws and boycotting stores, the most potent way we can combat “their” sin is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbor—our fat, alcoholic, porn-addicted, liberal, homosexual neighbor—as ourselves. When we do this, every command of God will be revered and honored and EVERY sin will be shunned.

Amaziah wasn’t ready to shun every sin. Are you?

 

Today's Reading - 1 Kings 18

Choose Your Altar

Elijah is about to humiliate the false prophets of Baal. He has challenged them to a duel to prove that his God (Yahweh) is the one and only true and living God. Just before the contest begins, Elijah shouts out a dare to the people – challenging them to stop “sitting on the fence” and make the choice of which God they will serve. “If Yahweh is the real God, then go after Him; if it’s Baal, then go after him.” But whatever you do, MAKE UP YOUR MINDS!  Don’t just stand there hesitating between two opinions. The people were stuck between two altars. So, Elijah draws a line in the sand and tells them (in no uncertain terms) that they must choose which side of the line they’re going to be on. Choose your altar.

Here we see the problem of indecision that faces so many people in our world today. They say they want to follow Jesus, but they still have attachments to the world. They are sitting on the fence. They can’t decide which altar to worship at – the altar of the one true and living God; or the altar of the culture around them. Sadly, these people have “too much of Jesus to be happy in the world, and too much of the world to be happy in Jesus.” They are hesitating. They are limping between two different opinions. Fear of God or fear of man? Devotion to God or devotion to this world’s ways? Choose your altar.

As the day progressed, the people were witnesses of a spectacular show of God’s power as He brought down fire upon the altar set up by Elijah. The false prophets were utterly humiliated when their so-called “god” did nothing for them. Their altar was fire-less. This is always the case when someone chooses the wrong altar. Those today who choose any form of modern idolatry – the gods of self, materialism, sensual pleasure, possessions, naturalism, pride, intellect, or self-indulgence, will always end up with a fire-less altar. In the end, there is no power in any of those idols. Choose your altar.

Which altar do you choose? Are you hesitating to give your life wholeheartedly to Jesus? Are you, like the people of Elijah’s day, limping between two different opinions? Are you holding back, sitting on the fence? Not sure who to follow? The choice for all of us is pretty clear – follow Jesus wholeheartedly or don’t follow Him at all. There really is no middle ground. Don’t think you can float along without making a decision. Your failure to fully choose Jesus is your choice to reject Him. “If Yahweh is the real God, then go after Him; if it’s anyone (or anything) else, then go after him.” Choose your altar.

 

Today's Reading - 2 Chronicles 17 & 1 Kings 17

Trust and Obey

Today, we are introduced to an amazing man of God, a prophet named Elijah who ministered in Israel during the reign of king Ahab. The name “e li' jah” means “My God is Yah” (a shortened version of Yahweh). Elijah was from Tishbe of Gilead in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He is often referred to as Elijah the Tishbite.

Here in 1 Kings 17, we first see Elijah speaking a prophecy to the king about an upcoming drought, telling him “there will be no dew or rain during the next few years.” Following that prediction, Elijah was instructed by God to leave town and go camping. The Lord told him to “Go to the east and hide by Cherith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.”

Here's the impressive thing about Elijah – “he went and did according unto the word of the LORD.” There was no hemming or hawing. No excuse making. No arguing or complaining. He simply went and did what the Lord said to do. He trusted God’s word and obeyed. As a result of his trust and obedience, the Lord provided water from the brook and fed him in a most unusual way – “the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening.” When the brook dried up, the Lord miraculously provided for him through a poor widow.

The lesson for us is this – trust and obey! So often, we want to argue with the Lord when He guides us to go some place or do some thing. We try to rationalize our way out of it – “But God, you don’t understand – if I do what you’re telling me, bad things might happen. And just think about what kind of impact it would have on my friends and family and employer. Besides, Lord, I won’t have enough money to live on if I go there or do the thing You’re telling me to do. I think it is better to just stay here and see things through.”

Jesus once asked his disciples, “Why do you call me ‘Lord’ when you don’t do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) This is a heart-penetrating question that each of us needs to answer. Is He really your Lord if you don’t trust and obey Him – even in those situations where His leading doesn’t make much sense to your human logic? You may not know what tomorrow brings, but know this – He can bring you water from a brook and food from a raven if He chooses.  The outcome of Elijah’s obedience was that he went on to be one of the most powerful and effective prophets in Israel’s history. So you, too, will see an amazing outcome by being obedient to God’s plan for your life. So, trust Him and obey Him. As the old hymn goes, “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.”