by David Brenneman
Was reading in the Old Testament this morning. About King Jehoshaphat. In much of what he did as King he was indeed praised for. Yet one part describing him and others still baffles me. Although praised greatly for what he'd done its always mentioned as to what he didn't do. It something that I always find myself curious about. What great attachment to these "high places" did the people have that the Kings were afraid to remove them?
Jesus said that we are to let our light so shine before people that they would see the good works and glorify your God in Heaven. We are told to season our words as though with salt in order to appropriately answer people. To also be ready to give a reason for the hope that we have within us.
Sometimes I read in the Bible of the Old Testament Kings and am baffled by the great good they were capable of doing yet didn't do. What's further is these people didn't have the indwelling Holy Spirit. For sure great good or great evil was possible in all who claimed to be Kings over God's people.
An ability that I don't practice enough is the whole thinking before I speak thing. I am actually amazed by someone who I know who shows incredible restraint before speaking. It's a very visible battle with him. What's more amazing is that he shows no fruits of being a believer. This too reminds me of a passage.
Matthew 7:7-12 NASB "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Related...
Matthew 7:16-20 NASB "You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits."
How well does your light shine before people?
I pray to be seen as God needs me to be seen. It's often that I don't realize that these words of Jesus are a ruling against me. Matthew 16:23 NASB "But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s purposes, but men’s.”
The Kings of the Old Testament had a responsibility to write their own copies of the Law. Some, it's evident, did. Many it can be seen didn't.
We can and need to pray that indeed this passage would be us: Jeremiah 31:33 NASB "“For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."
As I am writing this...it's amazing to see what God's putting together. I was staring at a blank screen this morning yet again not desiring to look at devotionals for some form of inspiration.
"Trust and Obey" - John H. Sammis 1887
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise,
Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear,
Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear,
Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss,
Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove
The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows,
And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet
We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do;
Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
My prayers often include those that I know who are Believers would walk closer with Jesus today than they did yesterday. I have been including me in this prayer of late as well.
I can remember reading of Jesus wondering if He would find the faith when He returns. I also read of those who will be greatly anticipating His return. Still others will be ashamed of their lives when He does because indeed they hid the light of Jesus Christ more than they let it shine.
As you might have seen, I haven't been leaning to much towards the devotionals of late. There's nothing wrong with them in the least. As the title of this post eludes to the light of Jesus Christ is what's important. I would much rather have my eyes opened by something from God through the Spirit than comment on what He's shown someone else.
We have but one trip around the sun. Born when we are for a reason in Christ Jesus. I have seen it again in recent television shows of someone saying they were born in the wrong time. I sometimes have thought that about me. I really do gravitate towards an earlier time than the one that I have lived in. Yet the truth the Spirit says is this...people are born in that time in which they would be the most teachable by Him in order to become more like Christ Jesus.
In our world today rage and anger are heavily in the headlines. Over rights, over this or that. What would happen to this world, even if it's a city at a time, that the Believers therein lived with their lights shining through their walk with Jesus? No more evidence is needed to find cities where that light isn't shining. Crime and murder rates are off the charts.
Pray for your walk with Jesus that it would be closer with Him today than yesterday.
Pray for those you care about that they would find a relationship with Jesus.
Pray for those who you know who are Believers that they would walk closer with Jesus today than they did yesterday.
Today could be that day you stand before Jesus. What does your life show of your love for Him?
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