2 Chronicles 21; Revelation 9; Zechariah 5; John 8

His father had given Jehoram power, wealth and property. This is the stuff that drives lots of people today–and Jehoram had it all by those standards. Yet he killed off his brothers and other would-be competition … and some of the people turned against him … and he encouraged others to sin.

¹⁰ Even so, Edom has been independent from Judah to this day. The town of Libnah also revolted about that same time. All this happened because Jehoram had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors. ¹¹ He had built pagan shrines in the hill country of Judah and had led the people of Jerusalem and Judah to give themselves to pagan gods and to go astray. 2 Chronicles 21:10-11 NLT.

Eventually, everything was taken from him: wealth, family, health.

¹⁸ After all this, the Lord struck Jehoram with the severe intestinal disease. ¹⁹ The disease grew worse and worse, and at the end of two years it caused his bowels to come out, and he died in agony. His people did not build a great funeral fire to honor him as they had done for his ancestors.

²⁰ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. No one was sorry when he died. They buried him in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery. 2 Chronicles 21:18-20 NLT.

In Zechariah, wickedness is put on a pedestal. And in Revelation, a refusal to repent and turn to God.

²⁰ But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! ²¹ And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21 NLT.

As far back as Jehoram’s day, Jesus’ name shines:

⁷ But the Lord did not want to destroy David’s dynasty, for he had made a covenant with David and promised that his descendants would continue to rule, shining like a lamp forever. 2 Chronicles 21:7 NLT.

When the adulterous woman is caught in sin and brought before the Lord, his mercy covers. Her accusers were prepared to kill her, but Jesus sets her free.

¹⁰ Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”

¹¹ “No, Lord,” she said.

And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” John 8:10-11 NLT.

This light …

¹² Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 NLT.

Sets free.

³¹ Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLT.

I want to live in light and walk free. Lord, I pray that I keep my eyes on you.

Courtney (66books365)

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Lev. 7; Ps. 7,8; Prov. 22; 1 Thess.1

Example. Leadership. Imitation.

Point your kids in the right direction, and when they’re old they won’t be lost. Proverbs 22:6 MSG

The map I was handed was passed down from generations. It was a dead end. And not just an end that didn’t lead anywhere, it led to death. I didn’t really know it at the time. (Thank you, God, for speaking into my life.) I feel really protective over my kids–I want to spare them of that legacy. So I study the Word. And I study people. I study them for how they live and how they love and how they give. I look at them to learn how they handle conflict and forgiveness, how they press on in trial. I watch how they serve, and who they serve. I take in as much as I can, and I sift through it. I try to imitate the good in them.

I know I don’t have it all together. But I know who does–the one who came to save me from certain death.

^2-5 Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions.

^5-6 You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master. Although great trouble accompanied the Word, you were able to take great joy from the Holy Spirit!—taking the trouble with the joy, the joy with the trouble.

^7-10 Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you? The word has gotten around. Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place. The news of your faith in God is out. We don’t even have to say anything anymore—you’re the message! People come up and tell us how you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God. They marvel at how expectantly you await the arrival of his Son, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescued us from certain doom. 1Thessalonians 1:2-10 MSG. Emphasis mine.

Lord, thank you for rescuing me from certain doom. Steel me up with your Spirit. I pray that my life honors you, and that my children will know you and seek you all the days of their lives.

Courtney (66books365)

2 Samuel 10, 2 Samuel 11, 2 Samuel 12, John 3:1-15

“The thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” 2 Samuel 11:27

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

Please Read at: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2Sam10,11,12;%20John%203:1-15&version=NKJV 

2 Samuel 10    Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the Lord do what is good in His sight.” v.12

                  “David said, ‘I will show kindness’”, but he was distrusted so Israel was challenged with war. The Lord did what was “good in His sight.” Thus the people of Ammon were defeated and the Syrians made peace with Israel and served them.

“Righteousness exalts a nation,…” Proverbs 14:34

2 Samuel 11             David remained…arose from his bed and walked…saw a woman bathing…very beautiful to behold…sent and inquired…took her…lay with her…and the woman conceived.

             But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. James 1:14-16

               Righteous Uriah (Matthew 1:6) rejected David’s enticements: “As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” So King David ordered murder: “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” 

“…But sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

2 Samuel 12             The Lord sent Nathan to David…“You are the man!…Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?…Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me…For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, before the sun.”…So David said…“I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have…    David therefore pleaded with God, fasted…the child died. …So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.…Now the Lord loved him, and He sent word by the hand of Nathan the prophet.

            God Convicts me of sin. I agree with God and Confess my sin. I hate my sin and turn away from it in Repentance. With Joy of God’s cleansing, I Worship the Lord God Almighty whole heartedly. Out of the fullness of my heart, my mouth testifies to what the Lord God has done. I “bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Matthew 3:8   –  A repeated cycle of sanctification for holiness by delighting in the LORD.

John 3:1-15              Jesus answered…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. …‘You must be born again.’…born of the Spirit.…the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 

            King David was a man after God’s own heart. Like me, David was not perfect. David lived at a greater disadvantage by not having all the spiritual tools I have available today. King David did not have: the full completed Bible, the knowledge of God in flesh, the Lord Jesus Christ, the satisfaction of the fulfilled Atonement, nor the Wisdom and Power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. All of this is available for us today.

             By testifying of His sacrificial offer, Jesus’ Words invite you and me to come to Him so that we “should not perish but have eternal life.”

What is your choice? Eternal perishing or eternal Life? Literally hell or heaven? Despising “the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in His sight?” Or confessing, repenting and worshipping? “I have sinned against the Lord…and he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.” 

What is my choice? Lord God Almighty, I am sorry for my sins against You. Once again, I resubmit my will to You, living God. I reject my sins of today, yesterday, and my wrong thoughts for tomorrow. Please forgive me by the Blood of Jesus Christ. Please fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I would live under and for You today and allways, by Your Power and Word of God Wisdom. Teach me, Show me, Guide me and Grow me that I would know You more intimately and live more submitted to You for Your Purpose and Glory all the days of my life. Lord Jesus Christ, I praise You that You are God and are Holy. Please enable and empower me to help others to know You so that they will worship You as You desire, in Spirit and in Truth. “To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 1:25

Helpful Notes –         God writes His Law on the hearts of those who are New Creatures in Christ Jesus because of Jesus’ atoning death and resurrection.    John 1:1-3; John 1:12-14; John 1:29; John 14:6; Hebrews 1:3; Matthew 11:28-30; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 4:23-24; Psalm 37:4; Romans 3:21-26; Hebrews 2:17; 1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:10; 1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22; Hebrews 10:16; Jeremiah 17:9; Jeremiah 31:33-34; Ezekiel 36:25-29; James 1:21-22; John 16:13; John 14:15-17; Hebrews 11:6

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)