Imagine knowing that you had enemies totally surrounding you who were planning to kill you and then steal everything that was yours including your property. Scary thought, isn't it? Have you ever awakened from a nightmare like that--one where you knew you were about to meet a terrible demise so you bailed yourself out by waking up in the nick of time?
In 2 Chronicles chapters 19 through 23, today's passages, we read that King Jehosophat of Judah faced just such a dilemma--and it wasn't a bad dream--it was real.
Scripture says that vast armies from other lands declared war against Judah, and the good king was terrified. So...what did he do with his fear? He took it to God, calling on everyone to join in a prayerful fast. In the courtyard of the temple with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem assembled together, the king prayed that the The Lord would intervene and save them.
Suddenly, the Bible says that one of the men present was given a message from God that is recorded in chapter 20:
15 ...“Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!”
Sometimes, there are situations or circumstances in our lives that would strike fear in the heart of the mightiest king, but if we understand WHO our God is and WHAT He is capable of, we can be certain that He's able to defend us much better than we can defend ourselves.
As I write this entry, our nation faces enemies who would like to defeat and destroy us. But no longer do we as a people unite in reverence, awe and submission to the one true God who has the ability to defend us and fight for us. Instead, we occasionally call out to Him when we face a crisis with SOS prayers or "after the fact" bewilderment.
Unfortunately, we will not witness such a supernatural deliverance as a nation unless the miraculous happens ushering in an unprecedented return to the Christian faith of our forefathers. But as individual believers, we can be sure that He is the same today as yesterday, and that our God is able to rescue and save us, fighting our personal battles when we are walking by faith and trusting Him fully.
There are fearful things to face and troubles to come because this fallen world is not our forever home, in fact, it's far from what He originally intended at creation. But knowing that God (in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ) is still able to fell a vast army on our behalf should calm our hearts and give us peace, no matter the storms that brew.
Father, I pray for spiritual awakening for our nation. But I ask that if we never see that, you give us eyes to see, faith to believe and hearts to share the wonder of your love and power, and then show us the deliverance of your mighty hand when we face battles that overwhelm us and cause us to fear. Be our peace and our safety, our Lord, and our Savior. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Under the Influence...
1 Kings 20-22 and 2 Chronicles 18 cover accounts that are quite disturbing in the lives of King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel. In fact, verses 25 and 26 of Chapter 21 reads:
25 No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols, just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.
The words, "under the influence of," are striking. What is "influence" anyway? One definition suggests that it is the power to affect a person or events. So...who influences me? You? Make no mistake, we are influenced. You may notice the influence of others in subtle ways, like when you pick up on a phrase that is frequently used by a person you admire, or you find yourself imitating the way someone dresses or cuts their hair. Being influenced is a part of being human. We observe, we decide, and then we embrace or reject the influence of those to whom we are exposed.
Ahab chose a wife of bad character and she influenced him very negatively. So horrible was her influence that God's Word indicates that Ahab gets the "most evil of all" designation--and having covered some pretty terrible accounts of previous Biblical scoundrels, that is quite a condemnation.
You will have many opportunities to make determinations about the company you keep, and you will be influenced by those people--for better or worse. Hopefully, you will also influence them (for better of course) but please, never underestimate the importance of prayerful, careful discernment when it comes to choosing your friends or mate.
And someday, when God recalls the deeds and days of your life, may it be said of you: few others so completely submitted their life to the Lord Jesus, and very few have used their own personal influence to help so many people realize their potential in Christ.
Father, we ask for discernment and wisdom as we encounter people who might influence us. And please help us be most profoundly influenced by your Word and Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
25 No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols, just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.
The words, "under the influence of," are striking. What is "influence" anyway? One definition suggests that it is the power to affect a person or events. So...who influences me? You? Make no mistake, we are influenced. You may notice the influence of others in subtle ways, like when you pick up on a phrase that is frequently used by a person you admire, or you find yourself imitating the way someone dresses or cuts their hair. Being influenced is a part of being human. We observe, we decide, and then we embrace or reject the influence of those to whom we are exposed.
Ahab chose a wife of bad character and she influenced him very negatively. So horrible was her influence that God's Word indicates that Ahab gets the "most evil of all" designation--and having covered some pretty terrible accounts of previous Biblical scoundrels, that is quite a condemnation.
You will have many opportunities to make determinations about the company you keep, and you will be influenced by those people--for better or worse. Hopefully, you will also influence them (for better of course) but please, never underestimate the importance of prayerful, careful discernment when it comes to choosing your friends or mate.
And someday, when God recalls the deeds and days of your life, may it be said of you: few others so completely submitted their life to the Lord Jesus, and very few have used their own personal influence to help so many people realize their potential in Christ.
Father, we ask for discernment and wisdom as we encounter people who might influence us. And please help us be most profoundly influenced by your Word and Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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