But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart.

2 Chronicles 32

But when envoys were sent by the rulers of Babylon to ask him about the miraculous sign that had occurred in the land, God left him to test him and to know everything that was in his heart. v31

God wants us to use our lives to proclaim His greatness.  All of us are miracles and He has he worked wonders in our lives - He wants to use us to reach others.  I am doubtful that God left Hezekiah in the sense Hezekiah was unable to communicate with God.  God is everywhere and accessible for all of us - it is more likely that God stopped working in the same way He had been (see v30 where it says "He succeeded in everything he undertook."). 

This speaks to the "dry spells" in our lives where many of us feel that God has stopped working in our lives.  This is not possible. 

God will be with us to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

God is alive and active (Hebrews 4:12-13).

When we claim that God is not working in our lives we must look more vigorously for Him to see what He is doing because He is doing SOMETHING.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is always with me and always working in my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a God.  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 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.

“Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.”

2 Chronicles 31

“Since the people began to bring their contributions to the temple of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and plenty to spare, because the Lord has blessed his people, and this great amount is left over.” v10

Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Chronicles 29) and led all the people back to God, promising God's grace and compassion for those who turn back to God (2 Chronicles 30). Hezekiah then led the people to contribute to worship (2 Chronicles 31).

In verses 5-10 we see people giving generously which implies a great amount of obedience and trust - trust that God will provide.  This trust is often difficult for me as I often worry about my ability to provide.  

God please help me trust in You that You can and will provide for all of my needs.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You DO provide for all of my needs and I have never been in want.  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love as I worry.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn 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.

They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”

2 Chronicles 26

They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.” v18

In verses 16-17, Uzziah's pride became his downfall and Azariah and the other priests confronted Uzziah. 

We must remember that as believers we are part of a Royal Priesthood:


But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9


As part of this Royal Priesthood we must take a stand for proclaiming truth.

Yes we are called to submit to earthly authorities placed over us but our first and foremost call is to God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is the way, the truth and the life and You provide life abundantly!  I am blessed - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving.  Please forgive me Jesus for my worry and other sin.  Help me 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.

As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.

2 Chronicles 26

As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. v5

We must be careful drawing a direct relationship between seeking God and success.  We can say that all success is from God (James 1:17, Deuteronomy 8:18, 1 Chronicles 29:11-12).  However, we cannot say that God will give us success without qualifiers - we do not have a merit-based relationship with God, instead it is grace-based.

God will provide for us what He wants us for us.

We should seek the Lord because we love Him, because He commands us to, and because it provides what nothing else can provide.

See also post yesterday regarding how God promises how we will be blessed and filled.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is full of love and grace for me and You have blessed and filled me beyond what I deserve - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love - 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 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.

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly.

2 Chronicles 25

He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not wholeheartedly. v2

King Amaziah of Judah did not love the Lord wholeheartedly as commanded in Exodus 20 and elaborated further in Deuteronomy as "love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul". 

We are also warned in Revelation not to be lukewarm:

To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Revelation 3:14-17

Yet many of us don't love the Lord wholeheartedly either - but why?

My view is that many of us don't find joy in pursuing God in the same way we pursue perhaps earthly passions.  I know...I've been there and often find myself there.

We must lean into God - or pursue Him vigorously.  He does promise us that we will be filled:

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Matthew 5:6

We are also promised fruits of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has filled me and my cup overflows - thank You for the many ways You fill and bless me Jesus.  I am not deserving of such love.  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 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.

Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash.

2 Chronicles 24

Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash. v24

We have no control over when and where God dispenses His grace. Our salvation is by grace alone:


For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

While Jehoiada the priest was alive, "Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" (v2).  However, after Jehoiada dies, Joash demonstrates wickedness by conspiring against Jehoiada's son
Zechariah and Joash was killed in his bed (v21-25).

Yet the question for all believers is: how is Joash's faith any different then our faith and what makes Joash any less deserving of grace.  From time to time, even Ahab experienced God's grace.  On a daily basis, we all sin.  

Repentance is key - and unfortunately we don't see any mention of Joash's repentance.

Keep in mind that just because we repent does not mean we escape the consequences of our sin (see also post here) - it just means that we are sealed for eternity in Heaven with Him.  See also Luke 23:39-43.

My Prayer: Heavenly Father, You are an awesome God who is rich in grace, compassion, and mercy.  I am not deserving of such grace, compassion and mercy.  I worry - far too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind.  Help me 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.

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing. He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead.

2 Chronicles 22

He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his father’s death they became his advisers, to his undoing. He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. v4

We know from previous readings (see 1 Kings 16:30) that Ahab did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  In fact it is said he "did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him".

So it is no surprise that Ahaziah did evil in the eyes of the Lord as he chose Ahab's family to be his advisers.  We must be careful who and how we include in our life.  We are to love those in the world but not to conform to the world.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? 2 Corinthians 6:14

 

Do not conform to the pattern of this world[.] Romans 12:2

 

Instead, we are intended to live in fellowship with other believers who can mutually help each other grow in Christ.

 

He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:10-11

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God full of love and compassion for me.  You provide for all of my needs and You are always with me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and compassion.  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 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.