May 6 -- "Uzziah's Secret to Prosperity"

 Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 26

"Uzziah's Secret to Prosperity"

Have you noticed the myriad of “prosperity systems” being pushed on people today? Social media platforms are abounding with offers to share “secret” side hustles with you that will make you unbelievable wealthy. These systems often push ideas like "passive income" or investing secrets that are sure to result in massive returns. In fact, many "get rich quick" schemes focus on material gain and present it as a sign of God's favor. They promise a life of fulfillment, leisure, happiness, and success to those who implement their system.

The world around us teaches that the path to happiness lies in material wealth. But the Bible’s definition of “prosperity” is profoundly contrary to this definition. The Bible teaches that true fulfillment and happiness comes from a relationship with God without regard to your degree of material wealth. God may bless us with financial success, or He may not. But none of that matters because we can only truly “prosper” when we are vibrantly connected to Him.

In today’s verse we read, "As long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper." This is a powerful statement that underscores the essential connection between seeking God and experiencing true “prosperity.” In the context of King Uzziah's life, this phrase emphasizes the direct correlation between his devotion to God and the success and blessings he enjoyed during his reign.

The verse highlights that Uzziah's first and foremost pursuit was seeking God. He wasn't seeking power, wealth, success, or fame. He recognized the importance of aligning his life with God's will and sought to know God intimately. This serves as a crucial lesson for us, too, as we should prioritize seeking God in our lives above all else. This is not to be construed as a guarantee of material or financial prosperity. We should never seek those things. We, like Uzziah, should prioritize seeking “the Lord.”

Moreover, we are invited to trust in God's goodness and providence. We can find comfort in knowing that when we seek God wholeheartedly, He is faithful to bless us according to His perfect plan for our lives through spiritual growth, personal development, spiritual fulfillment, and, on occasion, material prosperity.

May 5 -- "Struck Down By Pride"

Today's Reading: 2 Kings 15

"Struck Down By Pride"

Pride is like a sneaky vine that creeps into our hearts unnoticed. It puffs us up, making us believe we can handle life on our terms, disregarding God's guidance. We may look at our achievements and think it's all because of our own abilities, forgetting that every good thing comes from God

In today's passage, we encounter Zechariah, the son of Jeroboam II, who reigned over Israel. Though he inherited the throne, he failed to learn from his father's mistakes and allowed pride to entangle him. The Scriptures tell us that he did evil in the sight of the Lord, following the footsteps of Jeroboam, who led the nation into idolatry and rebellion against God's commands.

By the way, this Zechariah mentioned in 2 Kings 15 is not the same person as the prophet Zechariah. This Zechariah is referred to as the son of Jeroboam II and the king of Israel. He reigned for six months before being assassinated by Shallum, who then took the throne.

Imagine Zechariah, strutting around with a "King of the Hill" attitude until, BAM! Down he goes like a bowling pin. And let me tell you, that's not the kind of strike you wanna celebrate. Just like Zechariah's reign was cut short because of his pride which led to disobedience, unchecked pride will eventually bring us down as well, leading to brokenness and spiritual downfall. 

Let us guard our hearts against the insidious grip of pride. Humility is the key that unlocks God's favor and blessings. When we acknowledge our dependence on Him, we open ourselves to His wisdom and guidance. Seek the Lord in prayer and His Word, continually surrendering your will to His. Remember, a humble heart is a teachable heart. 

Remember the cautionary tale of Zechariah, and let's keep our hearts free from the weeds of pride. Seek the Lord, submit to His will, and you'll find yourself on a path of blessing and joy, without the painful potholes of pride to trip you up along the way.

May 4 -- "Nineveh Repented. God Relented."

 Today's Reading: Jonah 3 & 4

"Nineveh Repented. God Relented."

Thinking of God "relenting" might make some of us scratch our heads and wonder, "Does God change His mind?" It's a question that has puzzled theologians and believers alike for centuries. So, let's dive into this intriguing aspect of God's character.

When we talk about God relenting, it's essential to understand that God's nature is unchanging (Malachi 3:6). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). God is omniscient, meaning He knows everything - past, present, and future. So, in that sense, He doesn't experience surprises or changes of plans as we do. The word “relented” comes from a Hebrew root word meaning to sigh; to draw one’s breath forcibly; to pant; to groan. Thus, we see our Creator sighing with a loud breath as He responds to the Ninevites choice to repent.

When the Bible speaks of God relenting, it's describing God's response to the actions and attitudes of people. His dealings with humanity are often conditioned on their behavior and choices. In Jonah 3:10, we see God responding to the repentance of the Ninevites. He had warned them of impending judgment through Jonah's message, but when they turned from their evil ways and sought His forgiveness, God chose not to bring the disaster upon them.

This doesn't mean that God's intentions were arbitrary or that He wavered in His justice. Instead, it highlights God's gracious and merciful nature. He desires for people to turn from sin and find reconciliation with Him. When genuine repentance takes place, God responds with compassion and forgiveness.

In a sense, God's relenting demonstrates His desire to work with humanity's free will. He allows room for people to make choices and experience the consequences of their actions. If those actions lead to repentance and a turning toward God, He responds with love and pardon.

The record of God relenting in Jonah serves as a powerful reminder of God's desire for humanity to come to Him in repentance and experience His grace. It should also inspire us to seek God wholeheartedly, knowing that He is ready to forgive and embrace us when we turn from our own wicked ways.

May 3 -- "Salvation Belongs to the Lord"

 Today's Reading: Jonah 1 & 2

"Salvation Belongs to the Lord"

Jonah's cry from the depths of the sea, "Salvation belongs to the Lord" (Jonah 2:9 ESV), encapsulates a profound truth: our rescue and deliverance are entirely in God's hands. This verse echoes throughout the New Testament, affirming God's sovereignty in salvation, emphasizing our dependence on Him for spiritual rescue.

Jonah, who had a one-way ticket to Tarshish, ends up in the belly of a great fish after defying and disobeying God’s command to go to Nineveh. In the depths of the sea, he finds himself in unimaginable torment. It is then that he offers up a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord, acknowledging His power over all creation and affirming that salvation belongs to the Lord. This phrase reminds us of the central theme of the entire Bible: God's initiative to save humanity through His Son, Jesus Christ.

In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul underscores this truth, stating that our salvation is "by grace... through faith... not a result of works." This echoes Jonah's realization that salvation is from the Lord alone. The Apostle Peter reinforces this in Acts 4:12, proclaiming that "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved," directing our focus solely on Jesus Christ as the source of salvation.

Understand that salvation is a divine gift, not earned by our efforts or merit. Jonah's experience teaches us that even in disobedience, God's mercy is available to those who repent and turn to Him. Seek to grasp the depth of God's grace and the exclusivity of Christ as the only way to salvation.

Reflect on your own journey of salvation. Have you fully surrendered to God, acknowledging Him as the sole source of your rescue? Cultivate a heart of gratitude for His saving work in your life, allowing His grace to transform you daily.

Let Jonah's declaration resonate in your heart: "Salvation belongs to the Lord." Embrace this truth with humility and awe, living each day in grateful obedience to the One who has redeemed you. Share this message of salvation with others, pointing them to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.  "The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD.” Psalm 37:39

May 2 - "Partial Devotion"

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 25 

"Partial Devotion"

While God accepts us as we are and welcomes us into a relationship with Him based on our faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, Scripture encourages believers go deeper than that by growing to love Him with ALL their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30).

Amaziah's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of partial devotion to God. While he started with some faithfulness, he allowed his heart to be divided by embracing idolatry and seeking after his own desires. As a result, his reign would end in tragedy and defeat.

The account of Amaziah's life reminds us of the importance of wholehearted devotion to God and the consequences of compromising our faith. It also highlights the significance of remaining humble, obedient, and reliant on God's guidance throughout our lives.

Wholehearted devotion allows us to experience the fullness of God's blessings, His transformative power in our lives, and a deeper intimacy with Him.

A whole-hearted devotion to God means being completely loyal and committed to Him alone. It's recognizing that God is the ultimate authority in our lives, and we choose to prioritize His will above all else. We don't allow other pursuits, ambitions, or even distractions to compete for our affection for God.

It is also about cultivating a deep and intimate relationship with God. This requires spending time in prayer, meditating on His Word, and seeking to know Him more personally. We acknowledge that God is not a distant deity but a loving Father who desires to be involved in every aspect of our lives.

Having a whole heart in our devotion to God means giving Him our all – our love, loyalty, worship, obedience, and trust. Partial commitment often yields partial results. Like Amaziah, we may seek to do what's right (attend church on Sundays, and say our prayers, etc.), but if we harbor hidden agendas or reserve parts of our lives for ourselves, we miss out on God's abundant blessings. Surrendering our entire heart to God opens the door to His incredible plans for us.

Let's reflect on our lives and identify areas where we may be holding back. Is it in our relationships, careers, or personal pursuits? It's time to relinquish the reins and invite God to lead us fully. Let's embrace an all-in faith and let it permeate every aspect of our lives.

May 1 -- "Shunning Every Sin"

 Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 14

"Shunning Every 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) by allowing 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 sin of idolatry and murder which he was guilty of?

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, gay, alcoholic, porn-addicted, 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?

April 30 -- "Paying Taxes With Joy"

 Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 24

"Paying Taxes With Joy"

Today, we dive into the topic of paying taxes with JOY, a concept that might sound as mythical as a unicorn tap-dancing on a rainbow. But fear not, for we find inspiration in 2 Chronicles 24, where an unexpected twist reveals a valuable lesson about our attitude towards taxes.

In this passage, we witness a remarkable event: the people of Judah, under the leadership of King Joash, willingly brought their taxes and dropped them into the collection box. Now, isn't that a sight to behold? Rejoicing over taxes? What was the secret of their joyfulness?

The purpose of the tax mentioned here was to support the maintenance and repair of the house of the Lord, specifically the temple in Jerusalem. King Joash initiated a project to restore the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair. The tax served as a means to gather the necessary funds for this endeavor. So, in reality this tax was not to fund government bureaucracy, but was a form of giving unto the work of the Lord. 

The people of Judah saw their taxes not as a burden but as an opportunity to contribute to the welfare of their kingdom. Their joyful participation revealed a heart of gratitude and a desire to honor the Lord.

Let's apply this wisdom to our lives today. Instead of viewing giving to the cause of Christ as a necessary evil, let's shift our mindset and find joy in our contribution. As followers of Christ, we are called to be good stewards, both of our finances and of the resources entrusted to us.

May we be cheerful givers, even when it comes to supporting the work of God, for in doing so, we reflect the joyous nature of our Savior and demonstrate our commitment to His kingdom. “For God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:7)