I Kings 1; I Chronicles 26-28; Romans 6

Parenting was not one of David’s strong points. Two of his eldest sons rose up against him in battle and died violent deaths. Later, David was unaware that another son was planning to crown himself king even before David’s death. David had known that his and Bathsheba’s son Solomon was chosen by God to succeed him as king of Israel. Yet, it was Nathan the Prophet, and Bathsheba who moved to sound the alarm that would cause David to act on Solomon’s behalf.

This problem with parenting does not surprise me in one way; David’s earthly father did not appear to be engaged as a parent. David was the youngest of his siblings and was considered of no importance by them or his father, Jesse. When God’s prophet Samuel sought a son of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel over King Saul, David’s father did not even think to call him from the field where David was keeping sheep. Yet God had Samuel command Jesse to do so and then anointed David in the midst of his brothers and father. Later, Jesse sent David to the battle line with provisions for his brothers and to bring back news of them. By this time, David had been serving Saul but would still return to feed his father’s sheep – the lowly shepherd boy. His family did not seem impressed with David’s anointing or his position in the house of King Saul. Where was David to learn about parenting other than what he knew growing up?

Yet, David loved his children; this is evident in his grief over the deaths of even the ones who rose against him. However, his permissive nature and lack of attendance to their emotional well-being and rebellious behaviors demonstrate that he may have lacked parenting skills for developing good character and family loyalty. David is redeemed, however, by his total reliance on God’s promises and wisdom in honoring his word to Bathsheba – Solomon would sit on the throne.

Also, David’s intimate relationship with God surely inspired the profound wisdom of these words to his son, Solomon: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong, and do it.” (I Chronicles 28:9, 10)

And again he said to Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God – my God – will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” (I Chronicles 28:20)

Parting words from a father to a son. Wise words from any parent to a young adult child. What do we pass on to our children? Money, possessions, memories of family vacations, interest in their school activities, and life goals? Being there when our kids need us? All these indicate good parenting, but what will our parting words really matter if focused only on what we did with our children?

Though David failed miserably with his other sons, David got it right with Solomon. He assured his son of God’s presence. He warned his son of turning away from God. Most of all, he testified about his relationship with the Lord and directed his son to also commit all his ways to God. And David’s parting words tasked his son with a great work – serving God with a loyal heart and a willing mind.

Father God, I am astonished by how You assure me that You are my Father. These many years I have deepened my understanding of Your intense love for me. How can I pass down the fullness of heart that I experience to those precious ones I love? Help me use every opportunity to testify to Your lovingkindness in ways that are enticing to the next generation. Let Your salvation, mercy, and grace be their inheritance.

jansuwilkinson

2 Chronicles 29-31; Ephesians 4

He did.

Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became the king of Judah … ² He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done.

2 Chronicles 29:1-2, NLT, emphasis mine

I started off this reading with these words, then immediately skimmed subtitles, slowing when I got to Ephesians 4 to read intentionally.

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.

Ephesians 4:1, NLT, emphasis mine

I take a closer examination of what Paul considers maturity.

Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. ¹⁵ Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. ¹⁹ They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity.

²⁰ But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. ²¹ Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²² throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³ Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴ Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

Ephesians 4:14-24, NLT, emphasis mine

Paul begs these thing from prison–to live a life worthy. He was in prison for serving the Lord, but that was a small price to pay compared to living a life apart from the Lord. It is a choice determined by action, not mere words.

While refreshed and encouraged by the entreaty, I take special note–one can turn his life around by action born of choice. Hezekiah was a special leader to instruct the citizens to turn from old and evil ways.

³ In the very first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple of the Lord and repaired them. ⁴ He summoned the priests and Levites to meet him at the courtyard east of the Temple. ⁵ He said to them, “Listen to me, you Levites! Purify yourselves, and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove all the defiled things from the sanctuary. ⁶ Our ancestors were unfaithful and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They abandoned the Lord and his dwelling place; they turned their backs on him. ⁷ They also shut the doors to the Temple’s entry room, and they snuffed out the lamps. They stopped burning incense and presenting burnt offerings at the sanctuary of the God of Israel.

⁸ “That is why the Lord’s anger has fallen upon Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them an object of dread, horror, and ridicule, as you can see with your own eyes. ⁹ Because of this, our fathers have been killed in battle, and our sons and daughters and wives have been captured. ¹⁰ But now I will make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, so that his fierce anger will turn away from us. ¹¹ My sons, do not neglect your duties any longer! The Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him, and to lead the people in worship and present offerings to him.”

2 Chronicles 29:3-11, emphasis added

Hezekiah’s actions led to a restoration and celebration, honoring God. Paul’s actions had him in prison, fully with God’s favor. Both of these men implore others to take action and turn away from sinful dispositions and habits. What was pleasing in the Lord’s sight … a leader; a prisoner; cleaning up the mess someone left behind; walking through the mess with the confidence backed by the Lord.

Lord, this is a sober reminder and encouraging boost that I can please and honor you wherever I find myself. And to know that a moment of action makes all the difference. Thank you, Lord, for this rich time with you today.

Courtney (66books365)

Isaiah 30-33; Eph. 1

“This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 NLT

God warned Judah that turning to Egypt and other nations for military might could not save them, only He could. What am I turning to instead of God?

“Justice will rule in the wilderness and righteousness in the fertile field. And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever. My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.” Isaiah 32:16-18 NLT

What is true rest? Am I trusting in the Lord and his plans for me or am I frantically trying to figure it all out myself? My soul has not been at rest. The changing seasons and a wayward child has me unsettled. I know in my heart that the Lord is unchanging, but sometimes it’s hard to wait on Him. On Sunday I was reminded that God’s timing and ways are different than mine. Things rarely happen like I think they should. He knows better than me. He is sovereign. He is in control. He is working all things out for my good and His glory. Remembering and reflecting on these promises is what puts my soul at rest.

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to him so he can show you his love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for his help. Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:18&21 NLT

Thank you Father that you lead me when I quiet myself before you and ask for your wisdom and direction. Thank you for your compassion and faithfulness.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 1:3-5 NLT

In Christ I have all the benefits of knowing Him. I have eternal blessings. This takes my focus off of my earthly problems and puts it back on Him. But knowing Him is the greatest blessing of all.

“And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so that we would praise and glorify him.” Ephesians 1:13&14 NLT

Thank you Father for the Holy Spirt. Thank you that I get to carry your presence. You are not a God of confusion, but of peace. Amen.

Amy(amyctanner)

Leviticus 4-7; Acts 6

Chosen.

³ Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. ⁴ But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” ⁵ And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit …

Acts 6:3-5a, ESV, emphasis mine

He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, a man of good repute and full of wisdom. Full.

⁸ And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. ¹⁰ But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. ¹¹ Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” ¹² And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, ¹³ and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, ¹⁴ for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.” ¹⁵ And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Acts 6:8-15, ESV, emphasis mine

Stephen was doing, serving and he met opposition. Opposition that rose up and disputed. Opposition that secretly instigated. Opposition that stirred up the people. They set up false witnesses. All this against a man full of grace and power, who was doing great wonders and signs among the people. He was full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Stephen was resilient. It’s likely the opposition’s efforts spanned days or longer. Stephen kept on. He kept his eyes on Jesus. (To the very end.)

Courtney (66books365)

Exodus 28-31; Acts 1

There’s a lot of description about the priests’ garments. Skill and care went into making them.

² And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. ³ You shall speak to all the skillful, whom I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him for my priesthood.

Exodus28:2-3, ESV

I love that God filled them with a spirit of skill. I love that he had specifications of how things should be made. I love that in the colors and gems and details, he lists the names.

⁹ You shall take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel, ¹⁰ six of their names on the one stone, and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth. ¹¹ As a jeweler engraves signets, so shall you engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall enclose them in settings of gold filigree. ¹² And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance.

Exodus 28:9-12, ESV

²⁹ So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord. ³⁰ And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron’s heart, when he goes in before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the Lord regularly.

Exodus 28:29-30, ESV

From the detail of the garments, the sacrifices offered, the anointing of the priests–a way of setting things apart, a holiness. Even the names of the sons of Israel. Each act and detail meaningful. But the names–being known by the Lord.

Known by the Lord.

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, ² until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. ³ He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Acts 1:1-3, ESV

Chosen.

²¹ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” ²³ And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. ²⁴ And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”

Acts 1:21-25, ESV

This is a precious pause in my day–to consider his vast love, his intentional creativity, and that in the details he includes names, he knows hearts. He chooses and equips people to glorify him.

Lord, you show me that you’re in the details and that nothing is overlooked. Thank you for your Word.

Courtney (66books365)