Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ezekiel 29, Daniel 4, 2 Kings 25:27-30, and Jeremiah 52:31-34

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

Day 250 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* describes the final days of the ministries of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel.  Also described during the final days of Ezekiel's ministry is what my commentary* indicates as the apparent true belief of Nebuchadnezzar in the One True God. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that Daniel interprets (Daniel 4) that the king will experience insanity and is told by Daniel to repent of his sins and submit to God.  After Nebuchadnezzar fails to repent and submit to God for a year, he does experience the insanity prophesied by Daniel.  God restores Nebuchadnezzar's sanity, and the king praises God, and submits to Him.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

God wants

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

2 Kings 15-17, 1 Chronicles 5, and 2 Chronicles 27-28 

Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40

  

Day 178 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues as my commentary* describes the early beginnings of Israel's captivity as Assyria invades the northern kingdom. Early captivity impacts the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh within Israel (map here).

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

A few highlights from the scriptures this morning:

They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families. But they were unfaithful to the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria (that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria), who took the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh into exile. 1 Chronicles 5:24-26

We may have positive earthly attributes as part of our character but none of it matters if we don't first and foremost love the Lord!  See my post yesterday!

In Judah, Ahaz assumes the throne and his worship does not portend good things for the southern kingdom:

Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and even sacrificed his son in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Kings 16:2-3

Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 2 Chronicles 28:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me like no person ever can - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I worry and I have many other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.

1 Kings 22, 2 Kings 3, 8 and Chronicles 20-21 

Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever. 2 Chronicles 21:7

Day 158 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the divided kingdoms of Israel (under Joram) and Judah (under Jehoram and his successor Ahaziah). 

My commentary* describes today's reading as one where "God works so hard to get his people’s attention" - see also my post on this topic from a few days ago. Miracles (including a letter from Elijah who has previously gone up to Heaven in a whirlwind) are used by God to do so, but Jehoram fails to see how God works to get our attention.  Foreign armies attack Judah - it is only through God's faithfulness that Judah is not destroyed.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®). Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has showered me with attention, blessings, love, patience, compassion, mercy, etc.  Thank You Jesus. I am not deserving of such love.  I am too easily distracted by the world and often allow this to impact my faith.  I know this is sinful.  Please forgive me and help me overcome and turn from my faith towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”

1 Kings 20-22 and 2 Chronicles 18 

But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.” 1 Kings 22:14

Day 155 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of Ahab and Jezebel, whom my commentary* describe as "[t]wo of the most wicked people who ever lived".  Elijah, Jehoshaphat, and another prophet Micaiah also play roles in today's study.

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

Several themes stand out this morning, including how God works to get our attention (and how we should be aware of how God works in these ways), and how we must respond to God's calls as God wants us to submit to Him and demonstrate obedience.

God delivers Ben-Hadad's armies into Ahab's hands but Ahab (and his wife Jezebel) does not see God at work and he continues in his disobedience.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has taught me, encouraged me, protected me, etc.  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve.  Thank You Jesus but again I am not deserving.  My sin continues. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness.

Joel 1

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field.  Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. v19-20

Joel is the 2nd of the minor prophets and the focus of Joel is Judah's sin, God's punishment for Judah, and Joel's efforts to bring about Judah's repentance.  Just like Israel, Judah turned away from God, and God uses a plague of locusts to bring famine to the land to get Judah's attention. 

There are times in our lives when God either allows something devastating to happen or He causes it.  It's not necessarily something we did (i.e. punishment), as God often allows or causes difficulties for strong believers so that His power is seen through His children.  In Joel, it is that Judah has turned away from God and God uses famine and Joel to get the attention of Judah - to get them to see their sin and to get them to repent and turn towards God.  Judah (as anyone experiencing a famine would) has nowhere to turn except to God - they become desperate.

We should not wait for calamity to happen - regardless of what we are experiencing in our life we should be desperate for God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides for me during all times - good and bad.  Thank You Jesus.  I know that without You, I have no good things.  I am undeserving of the rich blessings You pour out for me.  I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Then they will know that I am the Lord.

Ezekiel 6

Then they will know that I am the Lord. v14

God repeats these words four times.  As a follow up to my post yesterday, it should be clear to us when God is at work, particularly in our own lives.  Now we see in chapter 5-6 that God's anger grows more fierce and terrifying in terms of the punishment that is to be meted out. Yet the question in my mind becomes - how do we wait so long to not notice that God is real, He reigns and wants our submission and obedience.  We should not be frightened by God but instead drawn to Him because He is slow to anger, abounding in love, and full of compassion and grace for He sent His Son so we could be free from the sting of sin and death.

We ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8) and we all need a Savior.  Jesus Christ is that Savior.

God is waiting for us to accept Him as our Savior, but His patience is not unlimited.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who is SO patient with me, even though You know everything about me, including my sin.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such a God as You.  I worry far too much...I should not even worry at all.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This will be a sign to the people of Israel.

Ezekiel 4

This will be a sign to the people of Israel. v4

There will be times in our lives when it should be clear that God is doing something to get our attention.  It should not be hard for us to detect that God is up to something in our lives.  If we are close to God we should be able to see how God is using events and circumstances in our lives - see also Romans 12:2 where Paul urges us to "be transformed by the renewing of the mind". This renewing allows us to better see the world from God's perspective.

The Bible of course is full of examples where God uses His power to get our attention.

Ananias and Sapphira failed to give as God intends for us and both were struck dead (Acts 5).  After this it is said that "[g]reat fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events".  


Unfortunately, such events and circumstances cause many of us to push God away.  See also how Jesus healed the demon-possessed man and how (Luke 8:26-39) the "all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear".

This fear should draw us TO God and not AWAY from God.

 My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is full of love and compassion for me and You are ALWAYS doing things for me to help me - for my good.  Thank You Jesus that You love me so much.  Yet I am not worth such love.  I miss the mark daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.