Doing Things God's Way

Today's verse is I Chronicles 15:13
For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order. 

 We as sons and daughters of Adam often try to please the God of Heaven, as David did, by our own devises, and by our own way, and because his way is higher than our way, we always fail, and will always fail. But, if we seek his council by consulting his Word, and abide by its instruction, we shall find that in due course we shall always succeed. Let us therefore, always before we taken action remember to ask of God, not only what we should do, but how we should do it. This is what we see David doing in the preceding chapter: He sees a problem, asks God whether he should act, and whether God will deliver. Then the same problem comes up again. He does not assume, and try to do as before, but again asks council of God, and this time God tells him to do it a different way. So David learned, and this time he transports the ark God's way.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan:  1 Chron 13:1–16:36
Tomorrow’s reading will be:  1 Chron 16:37–21:17 and John 17:1–19:16

Are We in the Vine?

Today's verse is John 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

We have here a contrast, If we are in Christ, therefore He is in us, we cannot help but to bear fruit. But if we are not and so do not as he would have us, whether by method or function, failure on our part is inevitable. What we should hope for, labor for, is as testified in I Chronicles: "And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him." What we know of Phinehas is not much, but we do know that he was the third High Priest of Israel, and that he acted on God's part during one of the plagues sent upon Israel during their wanderings in the wilderness. We can also look at King Saul, who for his zeal for the Lord, did nothing right, and displeased the God of Gods at every turn. Let us therefore, take heed, turn to our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and seek his will, by his means, and by his, not our, Power. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my day's reading: 1 Chron 9–12 and  John 15–16
Tomorrow's reading will be:  1 Chron 13:1–16:36

Jesus Loves His Own

Today's verse is John 13:1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 

Jesus Loved his own unto the end. Who are his own? Just the twelve? or those that followed him then? Nay, but all those that have placed their faith in him and the work he did for them. He stayed on that cross because he loved us all to the end, not just the twelve, not just those that followed him then, but all those that he calls his own, all of those who have accepted his gift of live, by belief in his work on the cross. And not only these, but the whole world also, even Judas Iscariot, he loved, yea loves, him as well. So, as he loved us then, so he loves us now, guiding us, even moving us in the way we should go. Therefore; let us rejoice in him, and what he has already done for us, and even be thankful for what he is doing in our lives today, whether it appear good or ill, "for we know that all things work together for good. . ."

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my day's reading: 1 Chron 5:23–8:40 and John 13–14
Monday's reading will be:  1 Chron 9–12 and  John 15–16

Jabez' Prayer

Today's verse is I Chronicles 4:9-10
     And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
     And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

 The prayer of Jabez, his motivation seems to come from his mothers confession that he was born in sorrow. This affected him, others would tell you his focus was on being materially blessed. However, when I first saw this hidden gem of scripture, I did not see the material requests that he made (and he did make them first, my opinion, as if to get them out of the way for the important thing,) that God might be with him and keep him from evil. If we agree with God, that we are indeed evil, prone to it, then we must consider this the primary purpose of his prayer, and while God granted him the other things, being kept from evil is the biggest thing, the others a nice add on. Which is your priority, if it is the wrong one, it is as Christ said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Selah, (or think about that.) Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 1 Chron 1:28–5:22
Tomorrow’s reading will be:  1 Chron 5:23–8:40 and John 13–14

Discipline Is Only For A Season

Today's verse is II Kings 25:27
And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 

Jehoiachin appears to have surrendered to the King of Babylon, as we learn in Jeremiah, that was what God commanded. And we see here that while judgment lasted a season, for those that serve and trust in the King, judgment is not forever, discipline is not forever, but only for a season, though the season may be long, it will end. There will come a day when it is done. And on that day, all of God's blessings will once again be opened to us. If like I once had, you have transgressed, continue to seek God's face, continue to seek repentance, and on the day appointed you shall see him waiting with open arms. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 2 Kings 24:10–25:30, 1 Chron 1:1–27 and John 12
Tomorrow’s reading will be: 1 Chron 1:28–5:22

God Is Faithful To His Word

Today's verse is II Kings 23:16
And as Josiah turned himself, he spied the sepulchres that were there in the mount, and sent, and took the bones out of the sepulchres, and burned them upon the altar, and polluted it, according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words.

 Earlier this year, because I am looking to see the impossible done by my God, I had asked my pastor if he knew of anyone else that could testify of God's faithfulness, when it comes to his Word. We ended the conversation of how we could find that faithfulness recorded in his Word, and this is but one more sample of that truth. Josiah was mentioned by name, when the man of God mentioned here warned King Jeroboam, the first King of divided Israel, what would happen to his altar.  And so, we see the Faithfulness of God to his Word. What God said, he has done. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 2 Kings 21:19–24:9
Tomorrow’s reading will be:2 Kings 24:10–25:30, 1 Chron 1:1–27 and John 12

Jesus is the Ressurection and the LIfe

Today's Verse is John 11:25,26
     Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
     And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

In this world, in this time where God is not known, we look left, we look right, we see the stories that men which know not God tell; How that those that seek eternal life are evil, and they will resort to evil means to obtain it. Yet we have an Eternal God who grants eternal life to all that come to receive the righteousness that is given freely to all that accept his Son, and the work that Jesus did on the Cross for us. He promises here that we shall not see death, though we die, for there is a death greater than the grave, and all who reject God and his Son, Jesus Christ shall find it. And as if these things were not enough, we can expect our God, if his purpose demands it as it did here, even to bring back that which was dead. Let us therefore, Glorify our God, and fear not to die for him, yea, let us not fear to live for him. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my day's reading: 2 Kings 19:1–21:18 and John 11
Tomorrow's reading will be:2 Kings 21:19–24:9

Be Careful Of To Whom You Listen

Today's Verse is II Kings 18:22
But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem? 

Here we see the mind set and the ignorance of those that do not know the Most High God. First, he assumes that because Judah is finally obeying God in a certain matter, that they are now turning their back on him. Later, he lumps the Great God of Israel in with all the other gods of the other nations. In John 9 and 10, with the Pharisees, we see that same ignorance, in a slightly different way, but still full of themselves. Today, those that scoff at us, have the same misunderstandings, still making assumptions based upon their own faulty beliefs. If we examine what they say, we will find the reasoning of either Rabshakeh, or of the Pharisees, but with no relationship with the Truth of God, or of his Word. Let us not stumble upon their words, but rather Know and Rest, then Stand upon God and his Word. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 2 Kings 15:27–18:37, and John 9–10
Monday's reading will be 2 Kings 19:1–21:18 and John 11

God Keeps His Word

Today's Verse is II Kings 15:12
This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass

I do not think I will get tired of seeing or saying this: When God says he will do something. He does it. In both Titus and Hebrews, we are told that our salvation is based upon two immutable things. That God has made us a promise, and that he cannot lie. This is as it is said, "We can take it to the bank." If you have found a promise that God has made in his Word, or if he has given you clear direction consistent with his Word, He will accomplish what he has said. It will be done.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Taken from my daily reading plan: 2 Kings 14:23–15:26
Tomorrows reading will be 2 Kings 15:27–18:37, and John 9–10

Insufficient Faith

Today's Verse is II Kings 13:18,19
     And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.
     And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice. 

When I first read this passage, I thought that I would have smitten the ground but once. Maybe this would have been better, as it was a thing of faith. But why was three times not enough, by what scripture could we have known what is the correct response? At this time the only account I can think of was/is David and Goliath. David did not pick up one stone, but five. Why? We can only speculate, but maybe David saw Goliath's brethren in the Philistine army, and wanted to be prepared.  So the King of Israel (none where known to be readers of God's Word), Joash, knowing as he did about the situation between Israel and Syria, something would have directed him to do as Elisha's rebuke and struck those five or six times. Of this we can be confident, if we are following wholly our God, he will direct our path.

To God be the Glory
Scott 

If God Said It, He Will Do It

Today's Verse is II Kings 10:10
Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake †by his servant Elijah. 

We see here the pronouncement that God kept his Word, of judgment promised. This we can be sure of: God Keeps His Word! Whether in judgment, or of promise of blessings. But here we can learn of something valuable. God is a terrible God in judgment, and is to be feared. If we learn this it can keep us from trouble, for we will do anything to keep on his good side, which starts by knowing his Son, Jesus Christ, as Saviour, and we can continue in it by allowing Him to guide us in all that we do. If we do that, he will enable us to please him. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Do you Blame God?

Today's Verse is II Kings 6:33
And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer

What we see here, blaming God for the evils of which our own sin has brought upon us, is not so uncommon a thing. We need to watch ourselves, be honest with ourselves, and recognize the true reasons for the evil about us. All that which is evil in the world comes because Mankind has sinned, and even as followers of Jesus Christ we are not innocent, but forgiven. So is evil visiting you today? Do not blame God, but rather give him Glory, and see if it is for something that you have done. If so turn to God, and seek his mercy, for he is merciful. If it is not for what you have done, still do the same, and Glorify your God. For he has a purpose, whether we know it or not.

To God be the Glory
Scott

By Whom are We Honoured

Today's Verse is John 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

 This is a hard saying, and not one, I for one, receive well. We all like to be honoured among those that we live, and work with. This honour can be dangerous, for we may accept it above being honoured by God. According to Christ it is that honour we should seek, even to the exclusion of all others. Another way to put this is we often identify ourselves by what we do, but we need rather to identify ourselves by who we are, or better, by whose we are. Are you redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. It is by such that first we know ourselves, and then by how others know us. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

A Different Way

Today's Verse is II Kings 2:11
And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 

Here we see the second time when a man left this world but not by death. This man Elijah as Enoch before him are still alive today, and being alive they are in the presence of God. With Enoch we are told that this happened because he pleased God, and walked with him. In both we can trust that our God has a purpose, for in them we see those who also shall not see death, but be changed in a instant, no more to deal with the troubles of this world, and so we hope to be in that generation. Let us therefore, remember that once we have received Christ our Saviour, we are no longer a part of this world but travelers in it. Here to proclaim the riches in Jesus to all those that do not know him, that they also may have opportunity to claim those riches themselves. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

God will be Glorified

Today's verse is I Kings 20:28
      And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Because the Syrians have said, The LORD is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

Ahab, the worst and most evil of the kings of Israel, yet God fights for him. But not really for him, but that the name of God might be known. We also see the love that God had for Ahab, which he also has for us. As God fought for Ahab, so he also sent his Son in our place, as well a Ahab's. We do see Ahab somewhat repent later on and therefore, judgment delayed. What can we take from this? Fear God, follow him, and regardless of our actions, He will be Glorified, as Solomon had prayed. If we follow him and do his will we shall be rewarded, but if not, Ahab is a good example.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Our God Provides

Today's Verses are I Kings 17:3-9
     Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
      And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
      So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.
      And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.
      And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
      And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,
      Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

Elijah was doing God's will, and we find here that when we do that which the Lord God of the Universe commands, then he will take care of us, even if that means he must do so through extra ordinary ways. In another place Jesus tells us that we are to take no thought for what we shall eat, or what we shall wear, for God knows what we need, and we see an example of this here with Elijah. Let us therefore, consider this example and commit to following our God wherever he leads us.

To God be the Glory
Scott

It is God that Promotes

Today's Verse is I Kings 16:2
Forasmuch as I exalted thee out of the dust, and made thee prince over my people Israel; and thou hast walked in the way of Jeroboam, and hast made my people Israel to sin, to provoke me to anger with their sins; 

If you read Baasha's rise to power (the last 8 verses of the previous chapter) it would not be unreasonable to think that Baasha thought himself to be a self made man, but God testified otherwise. Have you built something? Have you made yourself into something? Do you see yourself as being on Top? Consider what God had said to King Baasha, who made himself King. For God had made him King, and it is to God that he was responsible. Whenever we find ourselves in a position of authority, we have a responsibility to God, and he will hold us accountable with what we do with it, just as he did with Baasha. Let us therefore, in all our ways acknowledge him, and do as he would have us do. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

Are You in the Family of God?

Today's Verse is John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 

Jesus Christ came to seek and save all those that are lost, and while not all will come to him, all that do, will have their relationship with God changed. No longer will they be enemies of the Great God, but they will be made to be part of his family, no longer outcasts doomed to hell, but redeemed, clothed in his righteousness, secure in his love. If you have not yet received this gift, do so today. Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

God's Way, or Our Way

Today's Verse is I Kings 12:26
And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: 

And so, by such counsel did Jeroboam turn from receiving the blessings of God. Consider the promise the Lord God had made him:
     And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee. 
      And I will for this afflict the seed of David, but not for ever. (I Kings 11:38,39)
The only part he paid any attention to was the last, "but not for ever," but if he had even heard and obeyed all that came before it God would have blessed him, rather than cursed him. Let us consider his example, to know what not to do, but rather know what our heavenly Father has planned for us, and the promises he has made us, and do his will and not ours, and in due time we shall say as the Queen of Sheba, "The half has not been told." Amen.

To God be the Glory
Scott

God is God

Today's Verse is I Kings 8:60
      That all the people of the earth may know that the LORD is God, and that there is none else. 

The whole of creation, the purpose of the scriptures (the Bible), even all that we see and hear, the Good and the Evil, is so that as Solomon declares and requests, "That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else." It is not that God fails at this, but that we do not want to know it, but as the three monkeys refused to see, hear, or speak evil, so even do we refuse to know that God is God, and that he is indeed good. So let us open our eyes, our ears, our minds, and our hearts, and see about us the great mysteries  of our Great God, who loves us and gave himself for us, that we might live, and live more abundantly. Amen

To God be the Glory
Scott

Our Way, or God's Way

Today's Verse is I Kings 2:15
      And he said, Thou knowest that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel set their faces on me, that I should reign: howbeit the kingdom is turned about, and is become my brother’s: for it was his from the LORD. 

Adonijah was almost King, and when Solomon was made King instead, Adonijah thought he was robbed, even though he knew that God, himself, willed that Solomon was to be King. Such was his hubris. And so here we see him demanding what he thought he deserved, and getting instead what he truly deserved. For this request earns himself death. It is a vain thing to work against what is known to be the will of God, for God will see to it that what he purposes will be accomplished, always in due [or proper] time. Let us therefore, take heed, from not only Adonijah, but from Abraham and Jacob as well, and seek God's Will, not as we think it should happen (Abraham and Jacob,) but in God's Way as he directs.

To God be the Glory
Scott

God Uses all Things to Accomplish His Purpose

Today's Verse is 2 Samuel 24:24
      And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 

It is said that God moves in mysterious ways, and so we see here, for some how Israel had sinned, so God moved David against them. David sinned, and God chastened Israel through a plague, and to stay the plague David did as the verse above says. So now we have the location for the temple of God. Are we suffering for some unknown, or known reason? Take heart for our God has promised that all will work together for good, so let us Glorify God, and see what he shall do.

To God be the Glory
Scott