The whole story ...

Have you ever found yourself to have made a conclusion regarding something, only to find later that you didn't have the whole story told to you in the first place (only a partial, incomplete representation had been given to you). It was a bit like that for me tonight with the readings (Scriptures). And unless you are used to a reading plan like the "Life Journal Reading Plan" such as I use, you may not be aware that passages such as 1 & 2 Kings, coincide with 1 & 2 Chronicles to reveal the same accounts in history. Certainly my ignorance saw me at times neglect some of these passages because I didn't capture the significance of the lessons to be learnt, or I couldn't see past the detail of who belonged to which family and how long they reigned and what their reign was like (he did what was evil in the Lord's sight ..., he did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight ...). 

So, having read of the disastrous reign of King Manasseh, I thought here we go again. Another one of those King's given the privilege of leading a people who seemed to get it all wrong and affect the people in the process too:

2 Kings 21:16 (New Living Translation)

16 Manasseh also murdered many innocent people until Jerusalem was filled from one end to the other with innocent blood. This was in addition to the sin that he caused the people of Judah to commit, leading them to do evil in the Lord’s sight.

Well that was the incomplete picture I gleaned from 2 Kings until I turned over and read the following (missing element of the same story):

2 Chronicles 33:11-13 (New Living Translation)

11 So the Lord sent the commanders of the Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. 12 But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!

Now I reckon that makes a whole lot of difference to the story. The fact that Manasseh comes to his senses, humbles himself before the Lord and repents of his past actions and leading of the people. Why does it make such a difference to me? Because it resembles "hope". Here is an account of someone in power, getting it totally wrong, leading others in the wrong direction too. And in these circumstances we tend to believe that is it, there is no hope for change, no possibility for a turn around, all is lost. But no!

I continue to be blown away with the amazing way that God speaks into the lives of people. No matter how much I may have given up on the possibility of change for someone's life, God doesn't, and I am so glad of that. I am glad the Lord continues to stretch my faith and challenge me to see more possibilities, more hope, more good. I so want to be a part of His plan for the people around me.

To do ...

The Scriptures from Hebrews (chapter 10) continue the thought of yesterday in relation to the sacrifice that was made for total cleansing from sin. Christ, giving up His own life for the forgiveness of my sins (our sins) and thus replacing the defunct sacrifices of animals (and the application of their blood) of various kinds that were deficient and now superseded.

In the dialogue that differentiates the two orders or systems, Jesus is found to say:

Hebrews 10:9 (New Living Translation)

9 Then he said, “Look, I have come to do your will.”

He cancels the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.

It had me thinking, what is the Father's (God's) will for my life?

We see in this following verse that we are being made holy:

Hebrews 10:14 (New Living Translation)

14 For by that one offering he forever made

perfect those who are being made holy.

Further on we see:
 

Hebrews 10:24-25 (New Living Translation)

24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another

to acts of love and good works.

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together,

as some people do, but encourage one another,

especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

We are reminded of the importance of motivating one another in actions that display love and good works. The necessity of meeting regularly together and again to encourage one another. However, I don't think it answers the question of what is God's will for me - I think these requirements are for us each generally, universally, inclusively.

 

What I do believe is, we need to develop our relationship with God to the point that in our state of full surrender and total dependence upon Him, we find clarity in that which He determines and calls me (us) to, His will for me (for us).

 

"Lord, tonight I surrender myself over to You afresh. That I might more clearly discover the plan You have for me, what Your desired will is for my life. Lord, help me to come before You in silence, with a willing heart and mind, to hear Your voice as you reveal to me Your will."

Just like us ...

As I read from Hebrews tonight there was something I began to realise afresh. Often my thinking is drawn to the divineness of Christ. As God dwelling amongst us. With all His awesome power and authority and ability to stand firm and against the powers of the world.

And yet, at other times I will have focused on the humanness of Jesus. Drawing the parallels which remind us that He was just like us, He got thirsty, He was hungry, He needed sleep for He was tired.

Yet in Hebrews I am reminded that Jesus became human so that He could save me. He needed to be human to die and conquer death, breaking the power death has over me as a mortal being. In this way He could free me from any fear of dying. The writer continues:

Hebrews 2:16-17 (New Living Translation)

16 We also know that the Son did not come to help angels;

he came to help the descendants of Abraham.

17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in

every respect like us, his brothers and sisters,

so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God.

Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people.

It makes me realise again the nature of God’s plan for me. That He would give up His Son that I could have life in abundance and fullness through Him (Jesus).

I like this final verse from this chapter too:

Hebrews 2:18 (New Living Translation)

18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing,
he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Here I am reminded that Jesus knows what it is to be tested, so when I cry out to Him in my times of struggle, He knows what I am going through. He understands the pressure and the temptation and the struggle for me to stay true. Yet I also am aware that victory is possible. For if Jesus can become like me and make it through even tougher experiences than I will ever know, then surely I can have great hope in Him to see me make it too. I am going to lean on this, learn from this, rely on this.