Confrontation

Readings for today: 2 Kings 22-23, 2 Chronicles 34-35

Many years ago, a mentor of mine told me “it’s not enough to read your Bible, you have to let your Bible read you.” When you open God’s Word, you must expect God to speak. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever and His Word is living and active. He will encourage you. He will bless you. He will teach you. He will challenge you. And He will confront you. In fact, if you have read the Bible and not been confronted by your sin, I would humbly suggest you aren’t really engaging God’s Word for all it’s worth. You are simply reading for information rather than transformation.

Let me show you what I mean. In our reading for today, King Josiah hears God’s Word read seemingly for the first time in his life. For whatever reason, the Book of the Law has been lost for generations. The people of God haven’t celebrated Passover in decades. All they have to go on is oral traditions that have been passed down. So when Hilkiah finds the book during the Temple restoration, he knows it’s important. He gives it to Shaphan who is overseeing the work who, in turn, reports back to the king. When the king hears the words of the book, his first response is to tear his clothing in repentance. He immediately sends the priest and his officials to “inquire of the Lord” which was a formal way of approaching God for wisdom and guidance. Josiah knew he and his people were in trouble. He knew all the things his father had done. He knew God’s people had not been obedient and he took seriously the warnings of judgment God had proclaimed to many of his ancestors. “When the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. Then he commanded the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, the court secretary Shaphan, and the king’s servant Asaiah, “Go and inquire of the Lord for me, for the people, and for all Judah about the words in this book that has been found. For great is the Lord’s wrath that is kindled against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this book in order to do everything written about us.” However, because of Josiah’s tender and humble response, God relented of the disaster He was bringing. In His great mercy, He postponed it one more generation. “Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard this is the Lord’s declaration. ‘Therefore, I will indeed gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place.’” Then they reported to the king.” (2 Kings‬ ‭22‬:‭11‬-‭13‬, ‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

Now how does this relate to my life? How does God speak through these verses into my day to day? Here’s where reflection and meditation come in. We ask God to show us where we have committed the same or similar sins as the people of Israel. Where have we been engaged in idolatry? Where have we failed to give God the honor and glory due His name? Where have we failed to keep faith? If we do this authentically and honestly, God will show us where we have fallen short. Once our sin is revealed to us, what is our response? Do we harden our hearts like Manasseh or do we humble ourselves like Josiah? Do we repent of our sins and turn from our self-centered ways or do we dismiss God’s Word, presume upon God’s grace, and keep living for ourselves? When was the last time you experienced a deep conviction over your sin? When was the last time you told God you were sorry for your sin? When was the last time you talked to God about your sin? When was the last time you actually made a significant change in your life to turn away from sin? These are all critical questions for us to ponder and pray over. Be courageous and ask God to show you your sin today. Then ask Him to give you the strength to turn from your sin and turn to Christ. Let Him sanctify you in His great love.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Contradictions

Readings for today: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33

“How do you experience me?” A dear friend and colleague of mine once challenged a group of us to ask this question of those we love and serve. It’s not an easy one to ask. It makes us vulnerable. It opens the door to all kinds of feedback, some of which may not be positive. It invites the other person to speak into your life and share what they’ve seen. Over the years, I’ve posed this question to family and friends and their responses have been illuminating. The picture that emerged of Doug Resler was full of all kinds of contradictions. Good and bad. Positive and negative. Plenty to admire and plenty to make a person cringe in embarrassment. I’ve had lots of successes and lots of failures in my life. I’ve had days when I’m easy to love and days when I make it hard. I’ve had seasons where I’ve sailed and seasons where I’ve struggled and it’s made an impact on those around me. Depending on when a person’s life intersected mine, they might experience one version of Doug that would be entirely different if their life intersected mine at a different season. For example, I recently sat down with two high school friends. Guys I have not seen since graduation over thirty years ago. Our lives look much different now of course. And as we caught up, it was amazing to see how much we have all changed.

I thought about that conversation with my friends as I read through the life of Manasseh today. When you lay the two accounts side by side, a very different perspective on Manasseh comes into view. One perspective, from the author of 2 Kings, is entirely negative. The man was evil. The man re-instituted all the detestable worship practices of the nations surrounding Israel. The man rejected his father’s godly legacy in favor of a pagan one. He even set an idol up in God’s Temple! Because of Manasseh, the judgment of God falls on the southern nation of Judah. Because of Manasseh, the people of God will go into exile in Babylon. Because of Manasseh, God will wipe Jerusalem clean as one wipes a bowl. (A striking image to say the least!) However, there is more to the story. The author of 2 Chronicles offers a more complex picture. Yes, he confirms much of what 2 Kings has to say but he adds a significant caveat. Manasseh was imprisoned at some point in his life and in his distress, sought the Lord. He repented and returned to faith. As a result, God restored him to his throne and he spent the last part of his life trying to undo the evil he had done in the first part of his life. Some might call the differences between the two accounts a “contradiction”, perhaps even a reason to dismiss them altogether, but I believe the contradiction lies within Manasseh himself and I wonder if the authors simply met him and experienced him at different points in his life?

The human heart is full of contradictions. We love and we hate. We are humble and we are proud. We are kind and we are mean. We are compassionate and we are cold and uncaring. We are peaceful and we are violent. We are truthful and we lie. We are faithful and unfaithful. In fact, the only consistent thing about us seems to be our inconsistency. Our inability to walk a straight and narrow road. Seasons come and seasons go. People change. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes for the worse. In my experience, it’s usually both. Rather than condemn someone for who they were or what they’ve done or where they’ve been or how you experienced them in the past, forgive them and offer them another chance. Assume the best rather than the worst of them. They might surprise you!

Readings for tomorrow: Nahum 1-3

Test

Readings for today: Isaiah 38-39, 2 Kings 20:1-21, 2 Chronicles 32:24-33

Testing is a part of life. I think of when I played college sports and how my body was tested over and over again. In the weight room. On the field. I was constantly pushed to my limits and beyond. And what happened when I passed each test? My body got stronger. I got better. My skills improved. I think of my educational work. My mind was tested at every level. Grade school. Middle School. High School. College. Masters. Doctorate. I was constantly pushed to the limits of my ability to grasp and understand complex ideas. But what happened as I learned? My mind grew sharper. My thought processes became far more refined. I was able to articulate what I believe and why with much greater clarity. I think of the work I’ve done in counseling. I was pushed beyond my emotional limits and forced to come to grips with serious flaws in my character. My anger. My frustration. My perfectionism. All were getting in the way of the relationships I cared most about in my life. But what happened as I did the work? I grew more emotionally mature and regulated. I became more self-aware and secure. I was able to confess my sins and mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Perhaps the greatest tests I have had to face over the course of my life are the spiritual ones. The ones God Himself brings into my life. I’ve been a Christian for just about thirty years now and there are many times where God called me to step out of my comfort zone to learn what was truly in my heart. Was I all talk? Was my faith just a Sunday morning thing? Did I practice what I preached? I think of the tests I’ve endured in ministry. Key moments that determined the future of the churches I served. God has given me so many opportunities over the years to trust Him and I have to tell you, it’s never easy. It brings me to the end of my strength and wisdom almost every time. It pushes me beyond what’s comfortable, beyond what’s familiar, beyond what’s expected so I can learn to lean on God.

Hezekiah faced such a test when ambassadors from a foreign land came to visit him and hear more about the miraculous healing he had experienced. “When the ambassadors of Babylon’s rulers were sent  to him to inquire about the miraculous sign that happened in the land, God left him to test him and discover what was in his heart. ” (2 Chronicles‬ ‭32‬:‭31‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Hezekiah had every opportunity to give all glory to God but he was proud. He was proud of all he had accomplished. He was proud of all he had built. He was proud of all his wealth and power and influence. So when the envoys came, he showed off. He took them all around the palace. Held nothing back as he tried to impress them and in doing so, he seals the fate of his descendants. They would suffer death and destruction and exile. All because Hezekiah failed the test when it came.

What about you? What tests are you facing in your life right now? Are you seeking to pass them in your own strength? According to our own wisdom? With your own resources? Or are you facing those tests with faith? Turning to God? Asking for His help as you face each trial? Seeking His will and His way as you take your next step? When God tests you, what will He discover about your heart? What will He find out about your faith? Are you truly walking the walk and not just talking the talk?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 40-42, Psalms 46

Deliverance

Readings for today: Isaiah 36-37, 2 Kings 18:9-19:37, 2 Chronicles 32:1-23, Psalms 76

Nothing is impossible for God. With God on our side, there is always hope. Even when our enemies are at the gate and their power seems overwhelming and it looks like there is no way out, God can make a way. In fact, it’s often when God does His best work. Think of what you know about the history of Israel. If you’ve been tracking with us all year, you know this isn’t the first time Israel has faced impossible odds. I think of the time Egypt’s army was bearing down on them and their backs were against the Red Sea. I think of the impregnable walls of Jericho that came tumbling down. I think of David facing off against Goliath. Over and over again, God had proved faithful. Every time it seemed like Israel was finished, God came through. All He asked was that they turn to Him and trust Him rather than place their trust in alliances, bribes, or their own strength.

One of the fascinating things about our reading today is how the three different authors of three different books (Isaiah, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles) all report the same details. Interestingly enough, Sennacharib’s own records which were recorded on the walls of his palace in Nineveh do not mention the capture of Jerusalem which is surprising since he mentions the capture of 46 other towns and cities. It’s a tacit admission of his failure. Furthermore, the circumstances of his death recorded in the Bible have also been confirmed by Assyrian sources. It’s truly a miraculous deliverance. The Assyrian Empire was one of the most brutal and terrifying empires in the ancient world. They were constantly at war, constantly expanding their territory through conquest. They never would have stopped at Jerusalem unless they were forced to by some power greater than their own. Additionally, like most ancient civilizations, they attributed their success to the power of their own gods. They believed their wars were not just a contest here on earth but in heaven as well. It’s why the spokesperson for Sennacharib mentions the defeat of all the other gods of all the other tribes they had faced. They falsely assumed Yahweh was just another tribal god, powerless before their own gods.

Sometimes I fear we fall into the same trap. Though very few of us probably worship pagan deities like they did in the ancient world - though I have been places around the world where that still takes place - we do make gods out of money, sex, power, etc. And we falsely believe these gods are often more powerful than Yahweh. Think of the sexual revolution and its impact on western society. Instead of trusting in the Lord and His plan for sex, we have become enslaved to sexual desire. Think of capitalism and how it has supercharged our natural greed. Instead of trusting the Lord and His generous provision, we have become enslaved to an insatiable appetite for “more.” Think of our desperate need for safety and security. Instead of trusting the Lord and His protection, we have become enslaved to our fears and anxieties and do all we can to accumulate enough power to control the circumstances of our lives.

The challenge we face is no different than the one faced by Hezekiah and his people. It’s the challenge to walk by faith and not by sight. It’s the challenge to trust God rather than in our own wisdom and strength. It’s the challenge to seek God first rather than as a last resort. It’s the challenge to believe Him when He says He will provide and protect us. What challenges are you facing today? What’s keeping you up at night these days? What’s troubling you? Cast all of your anxieties on God because He cares for you.

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

The Joy of the Lord

Readings for today: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-31, Psalms 48

There is nothing like the joy of the Lord. It is powerful to experience. It moves the heart. It transforms the mind. The impossible becomes possible. The improbable becomes probable. The unexpected becomes expected. Miracles become common. The extraordinary becomes ordinary. All kinds of possibilities are unleashed. All kinds of resources are unlocked. The joy of the Lord forges a unity between people that God uses to advance His Kingdom purposes in the world.

The nation of Judah experienced a revival under King Hezekiah. A revival marked by and driven by the joy of the Lord. It begins as the Levites are reconsecrated and cleanse the Temple. This leads to a ritual burning of all the idols and unholy things Ahaz had brought into God’s sacred space. It builds as Judah celebrates the Passover for the first time in generations. A seven day feast that goes an additional seven days because the people don’t want to stop worshipping the Lord. Hezekiah literally feeds this revival by offering an additional thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep to the affair! It culminates in an overwhelming abundance of freewill offerings as the nation brings the best of their flocks and the produce of their fields. There’s so much the Levites have to literally pile it up in the Temple precincts. It’s just incredible.

It begs the question. Is such a thing still possible today? Is revival still possible today? And the answer is absolutely! But it requires a single-mindedness. A whole-hearted devotion. A passion to serve God and submit to His will and follow His way. One cannot have revival on one’s own terms. One cannot manufacture revival through human means. One must seek the Lord faithfully and fervently. One must put aside all idols. One must reject all sin. One must cast aside anything that would distract or detract from the worship of God.

So where does one begin? We begin with prayer. We pray through Psalms like Psalms 48. We ask God to pour out His Holy Spirit on us and on those we love and on those we worship and serve alongside in the church. We ask God to fill us with His Spirit. We confess our sins and purify our hearts before Him. We humble ourselves and commit to His will above our own. We give generously and sacrificially of our time, talent, and treasure and we encourage others to do the same. Most of all, we come with a sense of expectation into His presence. Whether we are worshipping at home in our personal time with God or worshipping at church with the family of God, we come with a sense of expectation that God will move. God will answer. God will bring about revival and it will begin with me.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 27-30

Monotheism

Readings for today: 2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chronicles 28

Monotheism is the belief in one god and it’s an open question among biblical scholars as to when Israel came to this conclusion. Certainly, the Bible acknowledges Abraham and Sarah’s belief in the pagan gods before meeting the one true and living God. It’s highly probable the Patriarchs believed in many gods even as they enjoyed a special relationship with one particular God, though they didn’t even know His name. We don’t know much at all about the religious faith of the people of Israel when they were slaves in Egypt but we do know they needed to be re-introduced to the God of their fathers at Mt. Sinai. By this time, God had revealed His name to Moses and made it clear in the Ten Commandments that He was to be worshipped before all other gods. But did that mean those gods didn’t exist? Did that mean Yahweh was the supreme God among all others? Again, the record is mixed. Clearly, the people of Israel often became confused and “went after other gods” worshipping them instead of or alongside Yahweh. This is the reason the northern kingdom of Israel was finally destroyed according to author of 2 Kings. By the time we get to the New Testament, it is clear from Jesus and the Apostle Paul that the other gods are either demonic in origin or simply fantasies of our own creation. There is only one God. His name is Yahweh. He alone is to be worshipped and adored.

Why does this matter? Read the end of the seventeenth chapter of the book of 2 Kings. The northern kingdom of Israel was unfaithful from the moment God set them apart. From the moment He tore them from the hands of David’s descendants and set Jeroboam on the throne, they engaged in idolatry. They set up their own religious system. They refused to worship God on His terms and this led them down the road of polytheism. They worshipped all sorts of gods other than Yahweh and broke the first commandment repeatedly. Their refusal to submit to the terms of the covenant God had made put them in danger and they eventually were destroyed and scattered by the Assyrian Empire. The same thing will happen to the southern kingdom of Judah as well though their idolatry is not quite as pervasive. They will eventually be conquered by the Babylonian Empire and carried off into exile. One may have all kinds of opinions about the socio-political reasons both kingdoms fell but the judgment of the Bible is clear. They fell because of idolatry.

It’s easy to think we would never make such a mistake. It’s easy to assume we are immune from such temptations. I doubt any of us worship pagan gods. We probably don’t set up idols in our homes. We don’t go to “high places” to make sacrifices. But that doesn’t mean our worship is pure. Listen again to what happened after Israel was scattered. “But the people of each nation were still making their own gods in the cities where they lived and putting them in the shrines of the high places that the people of Samaria had made…They feared the Lord, but they also made from their ranks priests for the high places, who were working for them at the shrines of the high places. They feared the Lord, but they also worshiped their own gods according to the practice of the nations from which they had been deported. They are still observing the former practices to this day. None of them fear the Lord or observe the statutes and ordinances, the law and commandments that the Lord had commanded the descendants of Jacob, whom he had given the name Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭17‬:‭29‬, ‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭CSB‬‬) Did you catch the common refrain? “They feared the Lord but…” They feared the Lord but set up pagan priests. They feared the Lord but worshipped other gods. They feared the Lord but didn’t observe His statutes, ordinances, laws, or commands. Any of that starting to feel familiar? Starting to hit home? We fear the Lord but set up priests who serve at the altars of success or wealth or power or position. We fear the Lord but worship gods like money or lifestyle or some form of social/cultural/ethnic identity. We fear the Lord on Sunday morning but don’t give His laws and commands a second thought Monday through Saturday. It begs the question…are we really monotheists ourselves?

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 13-15

Divine Providence

Readings for today: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

There is so much about this world that remains a mystery. So much about human life and human history that defies explanation. For example, we all seem to have this innate sense within us that the world should run on justice and fairness and equality and peace. We feel it viscerally when these principles are violated. We hate seeing bad things happen to good people. We can’t understand why good things happen to bad people. We grieve when the innocent suffer. We become enraged when evil seems to be winning. And there’s something deep inside that longs to make sense of it all. So we look for meaning. We look for purpose. Ultimately, we look for hope. Hope for a better world. Hope for a better life. Hope for a better future.

The same was true in ancient Israel. A new king ascends to the throne. He’s not a good king. In fact, he’s an evil king. He doesn’t worship God. He commits all the same sins as his forbears. The nation will descend into chaos after he dies. But he reigns for over forty years. And in that time, he restores the national borders of Israel to their original mandate. He rules over a “golden age” of sorts for the Northern Kingdom. He is blessed with prosperity and power. “In the fifteenth year of Judah’s King Amaziah son of Joash, Jeroboam son of Jehoash became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He did not turn away from all the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. He restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through his servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter for both slaves and free people. There was no one to help Israel. The Lord had not said he would blot out the name of Israel under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.” (2 Kings‬ ‭14‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭CSB) Essentially, the ancient authors are trying to make sense of it all here. How can it be that a king who does evil in the Lord’s sight is able to be so successful?

The answer is divine providence. God working in the world and through human beings to accomplish His will. Many may be familiar with the words from Romans 8:28 that talks about God using all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. The point in that verse is that God uses even the bad things for the good of His chosen people. The converse is also true. God uses the good things that happen to bad people for the good of His chosen people. Jeroboam was an evil king and yet God saw the affliction of His people and used even this evil man to deliver them. The point of it all is that nothing is beyond the reach of God. Nothing is outside His sovereign control.

Now think about our own situation in our nation, in our state, in our local communities. Think about the political leaders at all levels of society. All of us probably have opinions on whether they are good or evil and the reality is they all are a mixture of both. Placing our trust in them is a losing proposition because they are human. They are sinful. They will make mistakes. They don’t have much power in the grand scheme of things. So we have to look beyond them and above them to God. We place our trust in Him. We trust He is working out His sovereign purposes through those He raises up regardless of whether we voted for them or what we think of them.

Readings for tomorrow: Jonah 1-4

Mentor

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

My first mentor was and is a man named Don Bachman. Don became my mentor soon after I became a Christian in college and we still talk almost every month. It is not a stretch to say that I am the man and the husband and the father and the pastor I am today because of Don’s influence. In addition to Don, I can count any number of other mentors God brought into my life over the years who also shaped me into the person I am today. Charles Tyler. Berk Sterling. Peter Barnes. Doug Garrard. Tom Gillespie. Jim Kay. Cleophus LaRue. Sam Atchison. Burwell Bennett. Steve Hayner. Tom Melton. Bud Sparling. Randy MacFarland. David Schultz. Harry Lightner. Ray Noah. The list is significant. In addition to the godly men, God used to mentor me, there have been any number of godly women along the way as well. Joan Smart. Fran Atchison. Daisy Grimes. Sissy Crowe. Ruth Gamble. Sharol Hayner. Sarah Arnold. Linda Noah. Most of all, my mother, Esther Resler. Yes, the mentoring from these women took on a different tone and form than the mentoring I received from the men but it was formative nonetheless.

By all accounts, Joash was a good king. For most of his life and for most of his reign, he was faithful to the Lord. This was no accident. The Bible makes it clear that he had an exceptional mentor. “And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” (2 Kings‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬ ‭ESV‬‬) Jehoiada was both a godly man and a godly priest. He served the Lord until the age of 130 and they buried him among the kings of Israel in the city of David because of all the good he had accomplished in his life. Soon after he passed, Joash came under the influence of his fellow princes. They led him astray. He neglected the Temple he had repaired and abandoned the worship of God. He killed those who confronted him, even Jehoiada’s own son! Finally, he was assassinated by his own servants.

When you look back over the course of your life, who are the godly influences who shaped you into the person you are today? And who are you, in turn, mentoring in your life right now? I am blessed to meet with several men on a regular basis and we talk about life and faith and how we might follow God more closely. We discuss deep issues and we pray for each other regularly. It’s intense work at times but it’s good and I can see the difference it is making in their lives. The same difference I hope Don and all the others can see that they’ve made in my life. Mentoring is a key component to discipleship. Make sure you have people in your life who are mentoring you and make sure you are mentoring others. This is how we pass on the faith.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 14-15, 2 Chronicles 25

Judge

Readings for today: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Today’s reading is harsh, brutal, and terrifying. How can we begin to get our minds around the judgment we see in this passage? First of all, we have to remember God’s commitment to work through human beings to bring about His sovereign will. Justice in the ancient near east was a communal affair. It involved not only the person who committed the crimes but their entire families. It included those who supported them. Everyone connected with the former regime was hunted down and put to death. So when God calls Jehu to execute justice on the entire line of Ahab, the impact ripples out to every man, woman, and child connected to them.

I know it’s hard to get our minds around the blood and violence. It’s hard to understand how this could be fair and just and righteous in God’s eyes. How could a good God allow such unrestrained violence in His name? Once again we have to take a step back and remember that though the Bible was written for us, it was not written to us. What happens in today’s passage would have made perfect sense to the people living in ancient Israel at the time. They would have perceived it to be fair and just and righteous according to the cultural standards of their day. And while we may struggle to understand why they made the choices they did, it should cause us to reflect on the justice systems of our own day and age. What will future generations say about us three thousand years from now?

Once we take a step back from all the blood and gore, we can begin to understand and see the greater purposes of God. He alone has the right to judge. He alone has the right to execute justice on the earth. The line of Ahab got what they rightfully deserved after generations of false worship and murder and theft and corruption. God proved faithful to His promise to avenge the death of Naboth and his family. He proved faithful to His promise to bring an end to the pagan ways of Jezebel. And their lives serve as a warning to us. Unless we turn from our sin and place our faith in Jesus Christ, we too will come under the judgment of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ shed on our behalf can satisfy the justice of God. May we humble ourselves before Him, confess our sin, and call on the One who is “faithful and just” to “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

Legacy

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9

Ahab was a terrible king for all kinds of reasons. He broke just about every one of the Ten Commandments. He chose to worship Baal rather than Yahweh. He made graven images. He took the Lord’s name in vain. He lied. He coveted. He murdered. He stole. He treated sin flippantly and “did more to arouse the anger of the Lord” than any of the kings who came before him. His wife Jezebel was at least his equal in unrighteousness. She partnered with him in all of his crimes. She sought the death of Elijah, Israel’s greatest prophet. Together, they did more to lead Israel astray than any other king in her history.

It shouldn’t come as a surprise to us when their influence exerts itself generationally over their descendants. Jehoram, king of Judah, came under their sway by marrying their daughter. As such, he chose to walk away from his own father’s example of faithfulness and instead “walk in the ways of the kings of Israel.” The results are predictable. The same things that happen to Israel begin to happen in Judah. War breaks out on their borders. Tribes like Edom successfully revolt and set up kingdoms of their own. Pagan shrines known as “high places” are re-established throughout the hill country. God’s people begin to worship other gods. After Jehoram (or Joram) dies, his son Ahaziah follows his ungodly legacy. He even makes a strategic alliance with the house of Ahab against Syria but it ends in great tragedy. The house of Ahaziah comes to an end. Jehoram, Ahaziah’s father, dies “to no one’s regret.”

It’s a sobering reminder to us all. Generational sin is real. The sins of the fathers and mothers are often passed down to the children. Sin that goes unaddressed in our lives is often repeated by those who follow us. We exert a shaping influence for good or for evil on those around us, especially those in our own homes. How often have I seen my own weaknesses and struggles reflected in my children? How often have I seen my doubts and fears reproduced in the people I serve? How often have my own sinful tendencies come back to haunt me? Thankfully, God is faithful. As I humble myself and repent before Him, He is faithful to forgive and He is faithful to make my life a living demonstration of the gospel. Through my brokenness, His surpassing grace and power makes itself known and this too ripples out across the generations. So it comes down to this…what kind of legacy do I want to pass on? And what I am doing today to build that legacy?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 9-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, 23

Opportunity

Readings for today: 2 Kings 5-7, 8:1-15

Every challenge presents an opportunity. It’s simply a matter of perspective. As I think back over the course of my ministry career, I cannot tell you the number of times I have walked with someone through a challenging situation like a terminal diagnosis or an impossible business decision or a seemingly irreparable marital conflict only to have God show up and perform a miracle. I’ve seen the same thing in the churches I’ve served. Challenging circumstances that take us to the edge of our resources and beyond. Those present the best opportunities for us to experience God in a powerful way. I think of when the little church in Mobile, AL I served became a staging point for relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. I think of the time that little church opened her doors to host families dealing with homelessness in our community. Both of these efforts were beyond us. We simply didn’t have the people or the resources to pull them off. But God called us to step out in faith and met us in a miraculous way.

The readings for today are full of such opportunities. I think of Naaman, the great general of Israel’s enemies, coming to Israel to be healed of his disease. The initial response of the king makes perfect sense. Aram must be looking for a pretext for war. There is no way the king of Israel can guarantee miraculous healing. It’s not possible from a human perspective and yet the Lord had other plans. “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king: “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” (‭‭2 Kings‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭CSB‬) We know from the New Testament that God desires all to be saved and come to a knowledge of His truth. This was true in the Old Testament as well. Israel was to serve as a light to the nations. A blessing to the nations. And here was a chance for her to fulfill her calling. So Naaman is healed and restored and sent back to his king where he will worship the one true God for the rest of his life. It must have been a powerful testimony.

It’s often been said that in order to have a testimony, one must first endure a test. Think about the tests you’ve had to endure over the course of your life. The challenges you’ve had to face and overcome. Did God not show up in those moments in a powerful way? Did God not meet you in those moments and work miraculously on your behalf? As you reflect back on those memories of what God has done for you, does it not encourage you as you think about your future? Does it not shape your perspective as you think about the challenges you may be facing today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8:16-29, 2 Chronicles 21-22:1-9

Miracles

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-4

Why does God perform miracles? What is the point of signs and wonders? Why do they seemingly happen in some places but not others? Why do they appear so random? In our reading today, both Elijah and Elisha perform miracle after miracle. Future telling. Pools of water suddenly appearing in the desert. Water purification. Incredible military victories. Vessels overflowing with oil. Resurrection. Driving out poison with flour. Multiplying bread to feed a hundred men. To the skeptical, stories like these make the Bible seem primitive and superstitious. To the doubter, stories like these can be confusing and frustrating as they wrestle with why they don’t seem to happen much anymore. To the faithful, stories like these encourage belief and deeper trust in God. However, the question still remains...why does God perform miracles?

Why does God break through the time/space continuum? Why does He suspend the laws of nature and the universe? Why does He intervene in certain situations but not others? Reach down and touch certain lives and not others? These are important questions that must be faced and thankfully, the Bible provides a clear answer.

First and foremost, miracles are given for the purpose of pointing God’s people to faith. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are signposts. Pointing beyond themselves. They are given to direct our attention heavenward to the Lord of all creation. The Author of all life. They are stark reminders that we are not at the mercy of our circumstances. This world and all the natural laws that govern it - from gravity to thermodynamics to photosynthesis - is not all there is. There is a God who stands above and beyond such laws, who is able to set them aside for reasons He Himself only knows and understands.  

Secondly, miracles are given so that God’s people might always cling to hope. Even when circumstances seem their most dire. When evil seems to be on the march. Injustice and oppression winning the day. Persecution at its fiercest. Rage and violence burning white hot. Disease ravages the body. Famine and poverty threaten our well-being. Even in the darkest of times, we still have hope. Hope in a God who can and does intervene. Hope in a God who draws near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Hope in a God who fights on behalf of the poor and oppressed and outcast and stranger. 

Third, miracles are given to remind us how limited and finite we are as creatures. Power. Wealth. Influence. Control. We like to live with the illusion that we are the masters of our own destinies. The captain of our fates. We like to think we are in charge. We like to act like we’ve got everything under control. But miracles remind us who truly holds the power. Miracles remind us of our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Miracles bring us face to face with the power of God and, like Job, we shut our mouths and fall on our faces before Him. 

Ultimately, miracles force us to look beyond ourselves. Beyond our needs. Beyond our circumstances. Beyond our wisdom. Beyond our strength. Miracles force us to trust in God. To trust in His purposes and His design. We cannot bend God to our will. There is no magic formula to get God to do our bidding. Miracles happen on His time and in accordance with His will. Our job is to believe. To have faith. To place our lives in His hands and trust Him for the outcome.  

Readings for tomorrow: No devotionals on Sundays

Past the Point of No Return

Readings for today: 2 Kings 23-25, Psalms 108

Eventually we run out of chances. Eventually we do reach the point of no return. Eventually the bill for our sin does come due. I think of the addicts I’ve known and counseled over the years who relapse and relapse and relapse. Eventually their families do run out of patience. Eventually their broken promises to change ring hollow. Eventually they have to face the consequences of their decisions. I remember one young man who was in his thirties. His family had supported him for years despite constant deceit and manipulation. His mother reached her breaking point which is when she came into my office for help. I suggested finally and completely cutting him off financially. It was the toughest decision she had ever had to make but it was the right one. I think of the many people I know who pursue all kinds of unhealthy habits. They refuse to exercise. They don’t eat well. They don’t get enough sleep. Eventually, their bodies break down. Their mental health suffers. And sometimes the damage is permanent. These are just a few examples I could cite that illustrate what happens when we refuse to walk in the way of the Lord.

Now expand this idea to a macro level. Consider the nation of Judah. For decades they have been led by evil kings who lead them into all kinds of idolatry and sin. It piles up year after year. And though God sends them prophets and preachers to call them back to faithfulness, they ignore His Word and, in some cases, kill the very messengers God has sent. Eventually they run out of chances. Eventually things reach the point of no return. Eventually the bill for their collective, national sin comes due. Even the radical reforms of Josiah are not enough to stem the tide of God’s righteous judgment. The people of God will now have to experience the consequences of their decisions over the years. Warfare. Destruction. Exile. It’s heartbreaking and painful to read.

Now think about your own life. Think about our life together as a nation. Think about the communities you live in or the family systems you are part of. Think about the sins - both individually and collectively - that we are currently engaged in. Do we think we are immune to the consequences? Do we think we will somehow escape God’s judgment? Do we think we can continue living a life of rebellion before the Lord without reaching a point of no return? Friends, God will not be mocked. He loves us too much to let us persist in sin. The Scriptures say He disciplines those He loves in an effort to bring them to repentance. Make the time today to take stock and take whatever steps are necessary to turn from your sin and embrace Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 1-4, Psalms 109

What Drives You?

Readings for today: 2 Kings 20-22, Psalms 107

I’ve often wondered what drives the kings of Israel and Judah. What drives some like Hezekiah and Josiah to be faithful to the Lord and what drives others like Manasseh and Amon to be unfaithful? What drives some to tear down the high places and what drives some to rebuild them? What drives some to love and serve Yahweh with all their heart and what drives others to chase after other gods? Frankly, we probably will never know but at the same time, human beings are human beings. We are creatures driven by desire who react in all sorts of ways to the feelings our circumstances engender.

In our reading today, it’s clear the kingdom of Judah is surrounded by enemies. The nations surrounding them are ascending while they are descending. They are slowly but surely encroaching on their borders. Picking off one town after the next. Even invading as we saw with the Assyrians. This creates all kinds of political and social pressure to which the kings must respond. I imagine that’s at least one factor in why some kings responded with faith and others with fear. There was no such thing as separation of church in state in the ancient near east. Kings and emperors, tribes and nations, all believed their gods were intimately involved in their daily lives. When the nation experienced blessing, it must mean their god was pleased and exercising his power on their behalf. When the nation was struggling, it must mean their god was angry and withholding his power from them. Not only that but when nations came into conflict, the battle wasn’t just waged on earth. The gods clashed in the heavens as well. This is why Sennacherib boasted about defeating the gods and not just the nations. Israel, however, was different or at least they were supposed to be. They knew Yahweh was Lord of heaven and earth and had no rival among the gods. The nations around them worshipped empty idols so when those same pagan nations defeated them, it wasn’t because Yahweh was weak or defeated, it was because they had sinned. Typically their sin involved treating Yahweh as if he were just another pagan god. This is what “doing evil in the sight of the Lord” was all about.

You and I are often tempted to treat God the same way. Every time we try to bargain with Him or make some kind of deal with Him. Every time we try to be “good enough” to earn His blessing and favor. Every time we treat Him like a first responder, only to be called upon in case of emergency. We are treating Him like a pagan god. God wants to be involved in every moment of every day. God wants to be part of your day to day life. God wants a relationship with you. He wants you to trust Him. Believe in Him. Submit to Him because He knows what’s best for you. So what drives you? Is it faith or fear? Is it belief or doubt? Is it trust or anxiety? And how do you respond to the ever-changing circumstances of your life? Do you respond like Hezekiah and Josiah or do you respond like Manasseh and Amon? Place your trust in the Lord. The Maker of heaven and earth. The One who holds all authority in heaven and on earth in His hands.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 23-25, Psalms 108

Trust

Readings for today: 2 Kings 18-19, Psalms 106

Trust is the most important currency when it comes to leadership. If one trusts a leader, one will be willing to do just about anything for them. If one doesn’t trust a leader, they will do as little as possible. It’s been said that organizations move at the speed of trust. Families depend on trust. Friendships are built on trust. Trust is everything.

One of the most striking parts of the story we read today is the trust God’s people have in King Hezekiah. The Assyrians were one of the most fearsome and brutal empires of the ancient world. Sennacherib was one of their greatest kings. Assyria had already wiped out the northern kingdom of Israel. They had taken the people into exile, scattering them in different places so they would never rise up in rebellion. This was Assyria’s standard operating procedure. Now it was the southern kingdom’s turn to feel their wrath and come under their control. They brought a massive army to the gates of Jerusalem and laid siege to the city. There was no hope of fighting back. No chance of escape. The sight must have been completely demoralizing. To add insult to injury, Sennacherib sends his envoy to the city to call for their surrender. He cites the litany of victories his king has won. He talks about all the so-called gods who have fallen before them. He even claims divine sanction for his mission of violence. The whole point of this exercise is to shake the faith of the people in Hezekiah. But the people refuse to respond. Their trust in Hezekiah is absolute and well-founded. Hezekiah turns to God for help and the Assyrians are destroyed.

It’s an incredible testimony to the power of trust. Trust in God. Trust in godly leadership. Trust in one another. And such trust doesn’t rise in a vacuum. It was built on years of faithful leadership from their king. Hezekiah turned the hearts of his people back to God. He tore down the high places. He destroyed all the idols. He prospered in all sorts of ways because he trusted God. And because Hezekiah trusted God, his people trusted him. They believed in him. They followed him. Even in the face of insurmountable odds, they never lost their faith in Hezekiah’s leadership.

Now consider your own life. All of us lead in all sorts of ways in all kinds of situation. We lead in our families. We lead in our places of work. We lead in our churches. We are all given influence on some level. We are all given a certain amount of authority. What do we with it? Do we seek to build trust among those we lead by serving them? By doing all we can to make them successful and set them free? Or do we cling to our power and influence in order to control others? When we are able to trust one another, God can do great things in and through us. When trust is lost, life becomes a struggle. Where do you find yourself today?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 20-22, Psalms 107

Sins of our fathers

Readings for today: 2 Kings 12-14, Psalms 104

“Those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.” As someone formally trained in history, I have seen this pattern quite a bit. It’s amazing how much history tends to repeat itself. I’ve also seen this as a pastor in the lives of those I serve. People who struggle to acknowledge the issues from their families of origin often find those same issues impacting them as well. No matter whether we are talking about history on a macro or micro level, there is a great truth to the idea that we tend to repeat the mistakes of our past. We tend to repeat the failures of our past. We tend to repeat the sins of our past.

This was definitely true for the nation of Israel. When God tore the kingdom in two in judgment, He gave Jeroboam the larger part. But Jeroboam struggled to trust God. He was fearful he would lose the people’s allegiance if they returned to Jerusalem on a regular basis and worshipped at God’s Temple. It makes sense from a human perspective. Solomon had built the Temple. It represented a golden age in Israel’s history when the line of David rested securely on the throne of a united kingdom. So Jeroboam set up his own temple system with his own priests and shrines and idols. In so doing, he broke the first three commandments. This was a grievous sin that broke the heart of God and sets in motion a series of events that will eventually lead to the northern kingdom’s destruction. Tragically, the kings who followed Jeroboam - even Jehu - refused to repent of the sins of their past and continued to repeat them. It’s why you see the refrain, “but they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit” over and over again. It represents the heart of God’s indictment on His people.

Take some time and reflect on your own life. Where are you repeating the sins of your past? What issues from your family of origin do you struggle to acknowledge, much less face? How are you intentionally repenting over the generational sin in your family? Unless these things are honestly and authentically laid before the Lord in true confession, they will continue to trip you up. Now broaden it out a bit. What about the historic sins of your community or nation? There’s not a single nation on the earth that doesn’t have skeletons in their closet. Issues from their past that need to be brought into the light of day so they can be dealt with. The longer we wait to fully address the “sins of our fathers”, the more we’ll struggle and suffer in this world. I think of a friend of mine who leads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Rwanda. He is actively trying to address the sin of ethnic hatred that resulted in the horrific genocide in 1994. Once a full and truthful confession is made, forgiveness and reconciliation can be accomplished and the nation healed. It’s a process but it is bearing great fruit. Imagine what could happen if we engaged in a similar process in our country?

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 15-17, Psalms 105 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Biblical Justice

Readings for today: 2 Kings 8-11, Psalms 103

Today’s reading raises an incredibly important point when it comes to reading the Bible. There is such a thing as Biblical justice but it always gets mediated through a particular cultural context. What I mean by that is that justice is an “objective” reality but how it gets meted out is “subjective.” For better or for worse, God has chosen to bring His will to pass through sinful human beings. He always speaks to them in ways they can understand and He works through the cultural norms of the day. In the ancient near east, justice often looked like what Jehu does to Ahab’s entire family. The goal in these situations is to eliminate any possibility of a blood relative seeking vengeance on behalf of their family who was killed. This is why Jehu doesn’t just kill Ahab but his wife and children and anyone connected to him by marriage such as Ahaziah. He kills all the prophets of Baal and destroys their centers of worship in an effort to wipe out any possibility of future insurrection. Yes, it is done in the name of the Lord. Yes, it is done at the command of the Lord. Yes, it is done to purify and sanctify Israel and it doesn’t make much sense to us in the 21st century. Then again, our forms of justice wouldn’t make much sense to the people living in ancient times either.

So what do we learn from such events? What’s our takeaway when the cultural distance is so great and the chasm that exists between us so broad? Well, first and foremost, we learn God is serious about sin. He is holy and awesome and just and fully within His rights to do what He did to Ahab and his family. The sins of Ahab’s family were legion. Idolatry. Murder. Sexual immorality. Greed. Oppression. Extortion. Exploitation. Ahab was the most evil king in Israel’s history, a despot who deserved what he got. The same is true for his wife Jezebel and all their family. They sealed their own fates. Second, we learn God is merciful. He doesn’t wipe out Israel for her sin. He gives them a chance to repent under the leadership of a new king. A king who cleanses the land of idolatry and Baal-worship, at least partially. A king who, though not perfect, at least restores some semblance of true faith to the region. Finally, we learn God is consistent. Jehu doesn’t follow God with his whole heart so God begins to whittle away at Israel’s territory. He raises up enemies to come against her as yet another sign of His righteous judgment. The goal in all of this is to get them to turn away from sin and back to Him.

What about you? What about your life? God is still speaking to us through His Word in ways we can understand. God is still at work in our world through the cultural norms of our day. I am currently in northern Ethiopia where the culture is vastly different than our own and yet God is moving powerfully. I spend time with many of my Indian friends who share their experiences of God with me from a cultural context that is very foreign to me. And I see God at work in my own community and country and culture, always bringing about His justice and His righteousness and His salvation. Thanks be to God!

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 12-14, Psalms 104

Loving our Enemies

Readings for today: 2 Kings 4-7, Psalms 102

The kingdom of Aram in the Bible was essentially a collection of city-states, the most prominent of which was Damascus. Though they never became an empire per se, their influence dominated the region. In fact, Aramaic will become the lingua franca of the area for centuries, extending even to the time of Jesus. Israel had a contentious relationship with Aram as we see in our passage today. There was conflict. There was war. The Aramaeans were their enemies. And yet the great prophet Elisha seems to have as much love for them as he does for his own people.

When the great general of Aram, who surely had led armies against Israel came to him for help, Elisha healed him of his disease. When the armies of Aram surrounded Dothan in an attempt to capture and kill Elisha, he asked God to strike them blind and then led them to Samaria where he encouraged the king to throw a feast for them. When the king of Assyria fell sick, it was Elisha who went to visit him. These are strange acts for a holy man of God. Why in the world would he extend such love and grace to Israel’s enemies? To pagan idolators? To a nation who caused so much suffering for his own people?

Friends, God loves the nations. God’s desire is for the nations of the earth to come to saving faith in Him. The vision we get from the closing pages of Revelation is of the nations bringing their gifts to the New Jerusalem to offer them before the Lord. The leaves of the trees in the eternal city are for the healing of the nations. This has always been God’s heart. It’s why He sends the nations prophets like Elisha and Jonah in the Old Testament and it’s why He sends the nations His church in the New Testament. God looks forward to a time when all wars will cease. All weapons will be beaten into instruments of peace. All enemies will dwell in peace together. Listen to how the prophet Isaiah puts it, “The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young ones will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like cattle. An infant will play beside the cobra’s pit, and a toddler will put his hand into a snake’s den. They will not harm or destroy each other on my entire holy mountain, for the land will be as full of the knowledge of the Lord as the sea is filled with water.” (Isaiah‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

It’s a beautiful picture and one I get the chance to see face to face today. I am currently training church planters in a region where they recently had a civil war. Tribal conflict in this part of the world has been going on for centuries and yet these brave men and women have set aside their historic enmity and thirst for revenge and instead dedicated themselves to reaching even their enemies with the good news of the gospel. Friends, this is what it means to pray “God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.” When we pray such prayers, we are asking God to bring about His will and His vision for the world in our time.

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 8-11, Psalms 103

The Spirit of Elijah

Readings for today: 2 Kings 1-3, Psalms 101

A double portion of Elijah’s spirit. I have often wondered what that might look like. Then I started coming over here to Ethiopia. I started meeting men and women who had little to no education, very few resources at their disposal, and seemingly no opportunities to change their station in life. I met men and women who have “nothing” by the world’s standards and yet they have “everything” by God’s standards. Why? They have the spirit of Elijah. They have double and triple portions of his spirit. They perform miracle after miracle on a daily basis. People are healed. Fields become fertile. Water flows in dry and thirsty places. Even the dead are raised. It’s powerful and yet they would tell you the miracles are beside the point. All the signs and wonders are not the main event. The main event is Jesus.

In our reading today, both Elijah and Elisha perform miracle after miracle. Future telling. Pools of water suddenly appearing in the desert. Water purification. Incredible military victories. To the skeptical, stories like these make the Bible seem primitive and superstitious. To the doubter, stories like these can be confusing and frustrating as they wrestle with why they don’t seem to happen much anymore. To the faithful, stories like these encourage belief and deeper trust in God. However, the question still remains...why does God perform miracles?Why does God break through the time/space continuum? Why does He suspend the laws of nature and the universe? Why does He intervene in certain situations but not others? Reach down and touch certain lives and not others? These are important questions that must be faced and thankfully, the Bible provides a clear answer.

First and foremost, miracles are given for the purpose of pointing God’s people to faith. They are not ends in and of themselves. They are signposts. Pointing beyond themselves. They are given to direct our attention heavenward to the Lord of all creation. The Author of all life. They are stark reminders that we are not at the mercy of our circumstances. This world and all the natural laws that govern it - from gravity to thermodynamics to photosynthesis - is not all there is. There is a God who stands above and beyond such laws, who is able to set them aside for reasons only He Himself knows and understands.  

Secondly, miracles are given so that God’s people might always cling to hope. Even when circumstances seem their most dire. When evil seems to be on the march. Injustice and oppression winning the day. Persecution at its fiercest. Rage and violence burning white hot. Disease ravaging the body. Famine and poverty threatening our well-being. Even in the darkest of times, we still have hope. Hope in a God who can and does intervene. Hope in a God who draws near the broken-hearted and crushed in spirit. Hope in a God who fights on behalf of the poor and oppressed and outcast and stranger. 

Third, miracles are given to remind us how limited and finite we are as creatures. Power. Wealth. Influence. Control. We like to live with the illusion that we are the masters of our own destinies especially in the West. We like to believe we are the captains of our fate. We like to think we are in charge. We like to act like we’ve got everything under control. But miracles remind us who truly holds the power. Miracles remind us of our relative insignificance in the grand scheme of things. Miracles bring us face to face with the power of God and, like Job, we shut our mouths and fall on our faces before Him. 

Ultimately, miracles force us to look beyond ourselves. Beyond our needs. Beyond our circumstances. Beyond our wisdom. Beyond our strength. Miracles force us to trust in God. To trust in His purposes and His design. We cannot bend God to our will. There is no magic formula to get God to do our bidding. Miracles happen on His time and in accordance with His will. Our job is to believe. To have faith. To place our lives in His hands and trust Him for the outcome.  

Readings for tomorrow: 2 Kings 4-7, Psalms 102

Open Your Eyes

Reading for today: 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chronicles 36:1-21, Jeremiah 52

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see. 

We sang these famous words yesterday during worship and they never cease to move me. I found myself thinking about John Newton who first penned those words as he reflected back on his life as a slave ship captain. I found myself thinking about my own spiritual blindness as a young man before meeting Christ at college. And then I read today’s passage about the fall of the Kingdom of Judah and the end of the reign of Zedekiah and once again, the words ran through my brain. What is it that keeps us from seeing God? What is it that keeps us from seeing the world as God sees it? Seeing other human beings as God sees them? Why are we so blind?

The answer, of course, is sin. Sin is a condition we are born into. A power we are born enslaved to. It’s not something we can escape on our own and it keeps us from seeing and trusting God. I don’t know about you but when I read the stories from the Kings and Chronicles, I find myself wondering why these kings struggled so much to follow God. Why did they not place their trust in Him? Did they not know their history? Could they not see that when kings were faithful, God brought blessing and when kings were unfaithful, God brought the curse? Why were they so blind? The Scriptures make much of Zedekiah’s blindness. Jeremiah mentions it twice. The historians of Israel mention it as well. Perhaps it’s a painful reminder of how broken Zedekiah had become or perhaps it signals something deeper. A spiritual blindness that afflicted Zedekiah for years before God’s judgment fell.

As I said above, I remember my own spiritual blindness. I was raised in the church. My parents were faithful to take me to worship every Sunday. I sang in the choir. I was a leader at youth group. By all accounts, I was incredibly engaged. However, my heart was hard. I was blinded by my own desires. My own fears. My own doubts. I could not see God. I could not hear God. I did not want to follow God. This was all exposed my freshman year of college. Once outside of the protective rhythms and boundaries my parents set, I floundered. I was lost. I wandered aimlessly. I drank heavily. I skipped class. Most of all, I avoided God. When confronted, I blamed others. I blamed my professors. I blamed my friends. I was so blind I could not see the wretch I’d become.  

That’s when I met Jesus. He confronted me on a sidewalk right outside the UMC up on the campus of the University of Colorado. He opened my eyes and it was like I was seeing the world for the very first time. The light was blinding. The exposure painful. All my sins were laid bare before Him. There was no escape. I was overwhelmed by sorrow. Overwhelmed by grief. Overwhelmed by the depth of my sin. The road back to spiritual health was not easy. It was one tentative step after another. It required facing the consequences of my actions. The brokenness of my relationships. The anxiety of my failures. But Jesus was faithful. He was the light for my feet. The lamp for my path. Because my eyes had been opened, I could actually see the way He laid out for me.  

I have no idea where you find yourself this morning. I have no idea if you are blind or if you can see. Perhaps you are like Zedekiah or like I was prior to receiving Christ. Groping in the dark. Stumbling around in the shadows. Blinded by your desires. Fears. Doubts. Failures. I am praying for you to have your eyes opened by the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you see dimly or through a glass darkly. Your vision is blurry because you have allowed something to come between you and Christ. I am praying you find clarity as you fix your eyes on Jesus. Perhaps God has opened your eyes to His majesty and glory. Rejoice! Thank the Lord for the great work He has done! Ask Him to give you the grace to see even more clearly and distinctly and to help others do the same.

Reading for tomorrow: Jeremiah 41-44