How you live ...

Do you have those occasions when you think, I don't know that I will worry about this ..." and then you decide, nah I think I will do that. And when you do you discover something that you would otherwise have missed out on. There are times when I will leave some of the readings from the "Life journal Reading Plan" opting to shorten the load on the occasion, ie. I might choose not to do the Chronicles readings for a series, etc. Well that is where I was at today, I thought I would give the 2 Chronicles 26 & 27 a miss, then changed my mind. I am glad I did.

In chapter 26 we read of the great start that Uzziah got off to as King:

2 Chronicles 26:4-5 (New Living Translation)

4 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his father, Amaziah, had done. 5 Uzziah sought God during the days of Zechariah, who taught him to fear God. And as long as the king sought guidance from the Lord, God gave him success.

It seems that the Kings who were pleasing in the Lord's sight are few and far between. And then there is the disappointment:

2 Chronicles 26:16 (New Living Translation)

Uzziah’s Sin and Punishment

16 But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the Lord his God by entering the sanctuary of the Lord’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

It was then that I read further into chapter 27, I am so glad that I did. Here I encountered Uzziah's son, Jotham, and here are the couple of encouraging verses:

2 Chronicles 27:2 (New Living Translation)

2 Jotham did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight. He did everything his father, Uzziah, had done, except that Jotham did not sin by entering the Temple of the Lord. But the people continued in their corrupt ways.

2 Chronicles 27:6 (New Living Translation)

6 King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

I love reading of those who have managed to keep it together. Especially when there is some record of what assisted them to do this. What helped them to be successful. For Jotham we discover it was because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God.

What does this mean? I believe it marries with those verses we have looked at before whereby we are reminded that God is satisfied when we are honest and upright before Him. When we remember to listen and attune our lives to His instruction, being obedient to His voice, rather than merely following tradition or practice. I reckon it aligns to the occasions where instruction is given to "guard your faith". To ensure that you remain in the Lord by displaying those fruits of the Spirit in your life (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

"Lord, it is my desire to be one of Your servants who is careful to live in obedience to Your plan for my life. I understand though that I cannot accomplish this in my own strength. Help me to lean on the strength that comes in Your Holy Spirit, so that I might be counted faithful and obedient."

Conviction ...

I was reminded in worship at CitySalvos tonight to follow the conviction that you have. What is it that God has placed upon your heart and infiltrated your mind with? What is it you feel most strongly about? What is it you are passionate about?

Is it about social justice? Is it about preaching the Word of God? Is it about evangelism (sharing the Good News with others). Is it about serving others in some fashion? It is leadership of some capacity?

The encouragement would be to test this against the Word of God, does this match with His plan for us as Christians? Is God speaking clearly to you that, this is His plan for you? This is important. We need to ensure it is of God and not merely something we want, something we are looking for, something that satisfies us.

Are you convinced it is of God. Otherwise get on your knees and check in with God and be certain. Get together with a trusted spiritual friend and together search the Scriptures and see you are on the right track. And then, be obedient to follow that passion all the way. Faithfully and in honour of God.

Where's the heart ...

How careful we have to be to ensure we do not get in such a rut that all we are doing is going through the motions. I have seen it, time and time again. Here is the typical one I can recall - "we really must say the Lord's prayer ..." Are you kidding me? Do you not get it? Have a look again, here is a way to fashion your prayer. Here is a model for you. Look at the various elements that are contained, and pray in this fashion. I even recall an occasion whereby for a number of weeks we dissected the model and worked through it to assist people to understand what was meant by this instruction of Jesus. And you know what happened? Somebody approached me at the end of the series and asked, "are we going to say it in the services again each week now." Well you might imagine I just wanted to scream.

The passage from Isaiah tonight reveals to us that the people were fulfilling the elements to worship - sacrifices, burnt offerings, parading in the courts of the temple with ceremony, bringing gifts, burning incense, lifting their hands in prayer and offering many prayers... But, this is not what satisfies the Lord if all it is, is a going through the motions. Have a look at what the Lord required of them (and requires of us).

Isaiah 1:16-17 (New Living Translation)

16 Wash yourselves and be clean!

Get your sins out of my sight.

Give up your evil ways.

17 Learn to do good.

Seek justice.

Help the oppressed.

Defend the cause of orphans.

Fight for the rights of widows.

We are to look out for those who are marginalised and disadvantaged within our communities, that's what this means, that is what the Lord requires. It might be somewhat like the Matthew 25 passage - "as you have done unto the least of these ..."

However, let me point out - it is not merely about our correction, or about what we must do. It follows on somewhat from the restorative reading of yesterday. Have a look at the activity of the Lord in this, as He looks to make things right:

Isaiah 1:18-20 (New Living Translation)

18 “Come now, let’s settle this,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

I will make them as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson,

I will make them as white as wool.

And the promise if we are obedient:

19 If you will only obey me,

you will have plenty to eat.

And if we are not obedient:

20 But if you turn away and refuse to listen,

you will be devoured by the sword of your enemies.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

I know where my choice lies.

Restoration ...

Have a look at this passage a moment:

Amos 9:11-12 (New Living Translation)

A Promise of Restoration

11 “In that day I will restore the fallen house of David.

I will repair its damaged walls.

From the ruins I will rebuild it

and restore its former glory.

12 And Israel will possess what is left of Edom

and all the nations I have called to be mine.”

The Lord has spoken,

and he will do these things.

Don't you just love the work of God? I know I do. This is particularly concerned with the restoration of buildings and later the chapter goes on to spell out the abundant blessing of crops, etc. But what came to my mind was the fact that God is interested in us, His people, even more than these things. He desires to restore our relationships with each other, and with Himself.

I know that is my desire. That the restorative work of God can take place through me and in me. I don't want to be a hindrance or a blockage to this taking place.

"Lord, I desire to be an instrument of restoration. To enable this, let me be in a healthy and living relationship with You. Let me be open to hear Your voice as you speak to me and reveal to me that which needs to change in me, and help me to do this."

Look and see ...

As I was contemplating this tonight I was going to title this, "some just don't get it ...". I realised though this might be a bit different to just not getting it. That would infer to me that there was some difficulty to interpreting the message. Whereas, I think it is a bit more subtle, for as I read these verses from Amos chapters 4 & 5, it appears that ALL these various peoples were given ample signs and they simply did not heed the warning/s. And now they were paying the penalty for this. The common theme interwoven through these verses:

Amos 4:6, 8, 9, 10, 11,  (New Living Translation)

... But still you would not return to me,”

says the Lord.

Amos 4:6 (The Message)

But you never got hungry for me.

You continued to ignore me."

God's Decree.

Can you begin to imagine the heartache of God? Can you see the desire He has? For He wants that His people would recognise the signs and see how He wants to be their God. He wants them to return to Him. It is somewhat a replay of the forgiving Father (New Testament Prodigal Son account). God wants for them to be in relationship with Him.

"Father, I wonder if I should dare ask, is there something I am not seeing? Open my eyes, remove any distractions, let me not miss what You are trying to reveal to me, if this is the case. Help me Lord to be attentive, having eyes let me see, having ears let me hear You voice. Help me to act worthily to the claims I have as Your servant. Help me to be faithful and honourable to You."

Small windows ...

You may have heard before the urgency that lies for us to be faithful in telling the Message of God (the Good News). Such Scriptures remind us of Jesus coming as a thief in the night (in other words, the timing being unknown, but it could be any time, so be prepared, ready, on guard even).

Another reminder comes in this passage of Scripture:

2 Timothy 4:1-4 (New Living Translation)

1 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

Firstly, be reminded of the task at hand: we are to preach the Word of God. And there is a huge challenge in this task – "whether the time is favourable or not." And further to this, here is what this will look like (the preaching of the Word of God) – with patience correct (let them know what is wrong with what they are doing, how they ought to be going about their lives, what is truthful, accurate, acceptable , remember though, in patience), rebuke (reprove, reprimand, take to task over – again remember, this is still in the framework of patience), and encourage (I like this one and find it more natural for me, give confidence – your confidence in them, hearten them, cheer them on).

Secondly, and back to the urgency aspect, for a time is coming when they will no longer be willing to listen, the window of opportunity is at times very small and could close at any time. They may give their attention to the ways of the world, chase after that which satisfies the flesh. By then it may have become too late – they reject the truth and chase after myths, false teachings, etc.

Wow, what a responsibility we have. How important that we are faithful to the call God has placed upon us to faithfully preach His message when the opportunity presents. Yet, don’t be too overwhelmed into thinking of the responsibility that you freeze from responding. Remember, the Lord provides the strength and the words, we just need to respond by being in the place He has sent us and open our mouths as He directs.

“Lord, it seems at times a daunting task. It is easy to become overwhelmed and even respond that this is too much of a responsibility to be placed upon my shoulders. Yet, it is good for me to remember then, that my responsibility is not for the salvation or response of others, but to be faithful and  obedient. Lord, help me to BE Your willing and obedient servant.”

Dismantle the shrine ...

I have often found it intriguing that there were so many Kings (as recorded in the Old Testament) that seemed to get it so wrong. I am reminded of the quote that suggests, "worse than making a mistake, is not learning from it, and worse still is not learning from the mistake you have seen someone else make." And yet, time and time again we see these men (Kings) rise to such powerful positions, having often observed the self destruction of the one before them (some times more than just one), and yet they carry on the same destructive pattern. This pattern, (or practice) namely being that they did not follow God.

Here is one who appeared to learn, but still didn't carry it far enough:

2 Kings 14:3-4 (New Living Translation)

3 Amaziah did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight,

but not like his ancestor David.

Instead, he followed the example of his father, Joash.

4 Amaziah did not destroy the pagan shrines,

and the people still offered sacrifices and burned incense there.

Amaziah it seems did what was pleasing to the Lord, however, he left some remnants of the people's past practices of wrongful worship in place and they were able to continue in these ways, offering sacrifices and burning incense, without any retribution from the King. He needed to dismantle the shrine and failed to do so.

What a reminder to us that when the Lord frees us from something that has previously entangled us, we need to remove that aspect (or even the remnants of it), from our lives, so that we are not tempted to go back to it at any time, possibly in a moment of weakness. That something, whatever it might be, can have no place in our lives. We must eliminate the possiblity of either getting caught up in again, or having others affected by it.

"Lord, help me to rid from my life those things that You have freed me from. Help me to dispose of them so that I cannot be enticed into the practices of old that are harmful and destructive to my relationship with You, and with others. I desire to be wholesome and to live a holy life. Help me by Your Spirit to do that victoriously."