-Fifty Eight- Delivered From Destruction

Delivered From Destruction

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 12:1-12

Focal Verse: 2 Chronicles 12:12

When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

When we turn our backs on God, we deserve destruction; but when we humble ourselves, what He gives us is mercy.

It begins with us like in v.1: “Now it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel along with him.” Things are going pretty well in our lives and we begin taking our eyes off of Jesus and putting them on ourselves. Before long, God just really doesn’t matter to us all that much anymore. We’re feeling pretty strong on our own.

God allows us to turn our backs to Him, if that is our desire, but He makes sure we understand what we have done and the consequences (v. 5b). If we humble ourselves, He gives mercy, but sometimes He allows us to "taste” what it would mean to turn away from Him so that we can see the mercies we have in serving Him (v.8).

We must learn to trust in God instead of ourselves or the world, in the good times as well as the bad. Psalm 20:7 says: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.” Are you remembering His name?

Humble yourself before the God of mercy. Purpose in your heart to trust in His name alone.

-Fifty Seven- The World Notices

The World Notices

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 9:1-8

Focal Verses: 2 Chronicles 9:1,8

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart.

-and-

“Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness.”

Blessings come in many ways. Sometimes it’s faith, sometimes wealth, sometimes wisdom, and the list goes on. One thing is certain, though; when God in His grace blesses a person or a nation, the world notices.

If God’s grace has blessed you in some way, you will be noticed and it will draw others to you. In Matthew 5:14, Jesus spoke these words: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” He was talking about you, as a believer. As the grace God has shown us draws people to us, we are to point them to the Grace-Giver. Then, as the queen of Sheba expressed, there is no question to the world where your blessings come from.

Are you pointing others to the Grace-Giver?

-Fifty Six- First In God's Eyes

First in God’s Eyes

Today’s Reading: 1 Chronicles 26:10

Focal Verse: 1 Chronicles 26:10

Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons. Shimri the first (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first)…

What order were you born into in your family? Are you a middle child? The youngest? The oldest? It probably doesn’t make much difference in these times, but in Biblical times, it was of extreme importance.

The firstborn got a double portion of the father’s inheritance (Deuteronomy 21:17). The firstborn also got a special blessing from the father (Genesis 27:4,35). He became the chief, and priest until levitical times, of the family upon the father’s death (Exodus 24:5). The privileges of the firstborn were so great that Jacob tricked Esau and his father into making sure he had this birthright (Geneses 27:1-40).

So it is significant that this father named this particular son first, although he was not born first. Birthright was sometimes changed due to misconduct by the firstborn (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). The Bible is silent on why it was changed this time. It just says that it is so.

If you are a believer, God looks at you as a “firstborn”. His kingdom will be full of firstborns. The fact that you were a sinner doesn’t nullify that. As Romans 8:14-17a says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, the heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ”.

**Praise God that although you were not “firstborn” of Him, He has made you first.

-Fifty Five- God's Hand

God’s Hand

Today’s Reading: Psalm 44:3

Focal Verse: Psalm 44:3

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,

Nor did their own arm save them;

But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,

Because You favored them.

Not only do we not recognize the role God plays in preserving our lives, but many times we do not give Him credit for our successes and victories. At times, we attribute our successes and our material possessions to our own hands. We do have a part to play, but we must also notice the hand of God in our lives. He clears the way. He enables us with abilities. Many times, He has enabled us to succeed where there was no reason we should succeed.

We have not “earned” the hand of God, but He gives it anyway…just because He has favored us.

So next time your paycheck comes, you step into your home, you greet your family – stop and look for the hand of God.

Think of ways you have clearly seen God’s hand in the past. Ask Him to show you where you may have missed it.

-Fifty Four- The Life Preserver

The Life Preserver

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 8:6b; 2 Samuel 8:14b; 1 Chronicles 18:66

Focal Verse: 2 Samuel 8:6b

So the LORD preserved David wherever he went.

There is one aspect of God’s grace that I think many times we overlook. That is God’s preservation of our life. He is, first of all, the Giver of Life (Acts 17:25). He then, in His grace, preserves our lives.

So many times we say that we have been “lucky” or had a “narrow escape”.  What the record could also say is “the LORD preserved (insert your name) wherever he/she went”. We thank “our lucky stars” when who we should thank is the God of all creation.

“Who have been upheld by Me from birth,

Who have been carried from the womb;

Even to your old age, I am He,

And even to gray hairs I will carry you!

I have made, and I will bear;

Even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Isaiah 46:3b and 4

Thank you, Lord, for preserving my life. Help me not take it for granted even a single day.

Consider this: How does realizing that God is your Life Preserver change how you feel about, and live, this life?

-Fifty Three- Solomon

Solomon

Today’s Reading: 2 Samuel 12:24-25

Focal Verse: 2 Samuel 12:24b

Now the LORD loved him.

I have known Christians who were haunted by guilt from a sin they had committed years earlier. They had repented, but they were still living in the past instead of the glorious present of God’s forgiveness.

From this story, I can say with confidence that God doesn’t dwell on our repented sin and neither should we. David and Bathshebas’

marriage began out of sin. Their first child even died as a consequence of that sin. But God took something that began out of sin and brought a blessing from it – Solomon, and the Bible tells us that God loved him.

As believers, we should not live in the past. When we sin, we should repent, and then we should trust that the God of grace can take even the circumstances of our sin and bring good out of it. As it says in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Are you living in guilt from sin in your past? Ask God’s forgiveness, if you haven’t already, and accept His forgiveness if you have. Let the God of grace bring good out of the circumstances of your life.

-Fifty Two- Grace, Grace, Grace!

Grace, Grace, Grace!

Today’s Reading: Psalm 103

Focal Verse: Psalm 103:1

Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

　

We make all kinds of lists in life: shopping lists, “to do” lists, Christmas lists, and on and on. Sometimes we forget the most important list of all --- the lists of ways God has shown you grace. Psalm 103 is that kind of list.

Spend time listing the ways God has shown you grace. Verse 2 urges us to not forget His benefits. As you make the list, worship Him for the God of grace He is.