2 Kings 22-23; Psalm 73; 2 Corinthians 5

A friend from high school shared a photo with me of the two of us at her seventeenth birthday party. We were so young. We looked so happy. I have zero memory of the occasion. Nothing was familiar. Not even the shirt on my back.

“I wonder what those seventeen-year-olds would think of us now!” she mused. But I was less concerned with how that version of me would view my life today, as I was at (desperately) wishing I could have somehow prepared that young heart for what was ahead. Queue the song, Dear Younger Me.

Josiah was eight when he became king, and every time I read “² He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. (2 Kings 22:2, NLT),” I smile.

He tore down and burned all the shrines, temples and buildings that stood for wickedness. The Bible reads, “²⁵ Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the Lord with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since. (2 Kings 23:25, NLT)” After Josiah dies, his sons rise up.

³¹ Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ³² He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestors had done. 2 Kings 23:31-32, NLT

³⁶ Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother was Zebidah, the daughter of Pedaiah from Rumah. ³⁷ He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestors had done. 2 Kings 23:36-37, NLT

I looked at that face of a younger self and grieved for her. For the generational sin around her. At the sin-laden legacy offered by example. I want to tell her, “Help is on the way.” Thank you, God, for your work in my life.

Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. ¹⁵ He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.

¹⁶ So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! ¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:14-17, NLT)

Thank you, God, for new life. Thank you, God, that I can know you and live for you. Thank you for reaching into strongholds and generations to rescue and resurrect.

¹⁷ Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
    and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
¹⁸ Truly, you put them on a slippery path
    and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
¹⁹ In an instant they are destroyed,
    completely swept away by terrors.
²⁰ When you arise, O Lord,
    you will laugh at their silly ideas
    as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹ Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
    and I was all torn up inside.
²² I was so foolish and ignorant—
    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
²³ Yet I still belong to you;
    you hold my right hand.
²⁴ You guide me with your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?
    I desire you more than anything on earth.
²⁶ My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    he is mine forever.

²⁷ Those who desert him will perish,
    for you destroy those who abandon you.
²⁸ But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do. Psalm 73:17-28, NLT

Courtney (66books365)

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2Samuel 12; 2Corinthians 5; Ezekiel 19; Psalm 64 & 65

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

~2 Corinthians 5:20, 21

What a responsibility we have as Christians, to be Christ’s ambassador?

Wow…I had to ask myself; Is this something I consider when waking up in the morning, when doing a daily devotional or how about when I’m walking through my day performing  errands and mundane tasks?

I don’t know about you but I can say without a doubt that until today, when reading this verse, I had never considered myself an ambassador.

Now wait, I know I am called to reflect Christ in my words, actions and lifestyle, to love my neighbor, be gentle and self controlled.  But the word ambassador goes further than reflecting.  As with a diplomatic ambassador I am an authorized representative or messenger not for a country, but for God’s kingdom and I am authorized by God not man.

Paul prayed for us earnestly on Christ’s behalf to be reconciled to God.  Think about this, Paul is crying out to us, beseeching because of what Christ did for us; to be reconciled to God.

I examined myself to see if I was reconciled to God.

Had I restored my relationship with God?

Am I consistent in my walk?

Do I submit? (this was a tough one)

Does my faith line up with scripture?

Shouldn’t these be the characteristics of Gods ambassadors?  I believe that these are the least I can do.

The way I see it, our reconciliation to God is only possible through his provision to us in Christ; therefore God is using me and you make His appeal to the world…what an honor.  I am humbled that God trusts me to be a messenger…I represent Christ and so do you.

Father, thank you for the humbling opportunity to represent you, your message and above all Jesus Christ.  I pray that I honor you in this ambassadorship while in this earthly body.  Father I ask for your guidance and wisdom with this responsibility; use me as your instrument.

Cindi (rustiqueart)