That Was Their Sin

 May 31
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 9-10 / John 11:1-37

GOD SAID:

2 Kings 10:29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Happy New Year! OK, this is a weird day of the year to be shouting Happy New Year, but today’s text sort of reminds me of that time of year. It’s often around the new year where we find people making resolutions. Quit eating so much, start exercising more, be a better mom, dad, brother, or sister, and the list goes on and on. Many, if not most of these resolutions fail. There are many reasons, (or excuses,) for the failures, but generally people return to their old ways sooner or later. Minor changes may stick and be somewhat beneficial. However, no lasting lifetime changes are ever recognized. That’s what we see happening in 1 Kings 10.

      Jehu has completely eradicated Baal worship from the land of Israel. He slew all who worshiped Baal ,destroyed the idols of Baal, tore down the temples of Baal, and 2 Kings 10:28 says; “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.” Before we begin the celebration of this victory over sin, we need to see what Jehu did next. He did not turn to worship God, instead Jehu leads Israel back into what he knew from Jeroboam which was calve worship. In 2 Kings 10:31 it says; “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.” This begins the end of Israel’s occupation of the land. Replacing one sin with another sin is not progress.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Making a New Year Resolution is man helping man. However, if we want real life changes that will last, we need to include a power greater than ourselves. A real New Life Resolution includes God.

It’s not New Years,
but will you resolve today to
include God into your life more?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s What He Saw

 May 30
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 6-8 / John 10:22-42

GOD SAID:

2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Sometimes it just feels as if the cares and obligations of life are almost too much. Like the old saying goes, “There is too much month at the end of the money.” At times it feels as if there is too much everything at the end of anything. It’s the reason some people give for leaving families behind, because they can’t find a way to endure even one more day of the pressure. People turn to alcohol and drugs trying to escape the reality of life. So why does this happen? Many times these people don’t know Christ as Saviour and they feel hopeless. For Christians, they’ve taken their eyes off their heavenly help and are looking too hard at the earthly problems. We must keep in mind, if we’re a child of the King, our King is King of everything, and King forever. Nothing is beyond His domain or His power. NOTHING!

      In 2 Kings 6:17 Elisha says; “…LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” Sounds like a miracle that the servant saw God’s protection. What I find amazing is that Elisha had already seen the hand of the Lords protection in 2 Kings 6:16 When he said to the servant “…Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” In the Spiritual Mind’s eye of Elisha, God was always there. He always is.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    Life can be taxing at times. Most often, if we step back we’ll find, we caused most of it. However, the promise of God to the child of God is still true. Heb. 13:5 “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” For Elisha, that’s what he saw.

What do you see?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s When It Stopped

 May 29
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 4-5 / John 10:1-21

GOD SAID:

2 Kings 4:6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      Over the years I’ve heard several good men preach on 2 Kings 4:1-7. Some have likened the oil to the presence of the Holy Spirit. Others say the oil represents the grace of God being poured out, and as long as there is an open vessel to fill, God’s grace continues to pour. One man viewed the closed door behind which the miracle took place as showing that God’s blessing are for the faithful in God’s family. Many have said the number of vessels borrowed, show the measure of her faith. Surmising if she had collected more vessels, the oil would have continued to flow. It very well may have. However what I see in this passage is that when the vessels collected were full, it stopped. Not a drop more, not a drop less than what she needed.

      When looking at the story again, we see that what she asked for was her debt to be paid to rescue her sons from serving out the debt as bondsmen. That’s all she wanted. Yet God gave her more than her heart desired. 2 Kings 4:7 says; “Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” This says God supplied enough oil to pay the debt and free her sons as she asked. Also, He supplied enough for the family to live on after that. Any more oil may have made them prideful, any less may have put them back in debt very soon. The oil stopped when God said it was enough.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    What more could she ask for? God met the immediate need she had, and blessed far beyond. To want more pots and more oil was unnecessary. God knows what we need, and often blesses us with more.

Could some of our desires be wants, and not needs?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s What He Sought

 May 28
 Daily Reading – 2 Kings 1-3 / John 9:24-41

GOD SAID:

2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      When everything is said and done, what is it that you really want out of life? Homes are nice, but they breakdown and are in constant need of repair. Cars, boats and motor toys are fun, but they too need lots of attention. Sooner or later and newer model will come along and catch our attention. I heard one person say, when asked what they wanted for a birthday gift, ”Well money always seems to work real well!” As true as that is, even that statement proves that money can’t seem to purchase any items that completely satisfy us. People seem to chase their tales in the daily grind trying to find the next thing that will make them happy. At some point we should stop and ask, what is it that we are actually seeking out of life? Might the best thing we possess be a Godly heritage to pass on to those we love?

      Elisha has followed after Elijah to his last days. He has watched, listened, and learned all he can from this man of God. Now Elijah turns to Elisha and says; “…Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee.” So, after all this time, what does Elisha ask for? Material things Elijah might leave behind? No. He asks for a double portion of Elijah’s spiritual heritage. The bible says; “… I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” Elijah must have been so proud to know at that moment, the work God had begun in him would be carried on through his spiritual son Elisha.

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

   When we reach the end of this life, our best gift to the next generation is our faith and love for God. That is what will see them through the trials of life when we are long gone.

What better gift could you leave for your loved ones
than a true faith and trust in your God?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12

That’s What He Said

 May 27
 Daily Reading – 1 Kings 22 / John 9:1-23

GOD SAID:

1 Kings 22:14 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.

GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

      I read recently a humorous story about a man who was at an auction. On the auction block was one of the most beautiful Parrots the man had ever seen. He had not come with the idea of buying anything, however, when the bidding started at one hundred dollars, He couldn’t resist. Suddenly from somewhere toward the front he heard “two hundred!” The auctioneer said, “I have two hundred do I hear three.” So the man raised his paddle and hollered; “three.” Almost as sudden as he had bid someone else yelled, “four hundred.” This went on for some time, his pride and competitive spirit not allowing him to stop. Finally he won the bid at one thousand dollars. At the end of the auction he went up to pay for the bird and take him home. As he was writing the check he said, “I sure hope this bird can talk after all that.” “Oh,he can talk alright,” said the auctioneer, “who do you think was doing the bidding against you?” You know that parrots only repeat what they have heard someone else say. When it comes to God’s word, we might learn something from the parrot.

      Micaiah the prophet was asked to agree with other prophets in what he would say to the king. Micaiah said, “…what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak.” What God’s word says today may not be popular with society and their desires of life. However, it’s still the truth and still what God said. Does anyone want a cracker?

GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

    We need to share the truth, however the bible says, we need to do it in love. Sometimes the truth can be harsh and hard to hear. However, if someone knows we are telling them the truth because we care for them, it is easier to hear.

Will you show people you care, before you share?

 

     
Living In His Word Ministries
    “Getting people into the Word of God…
                               … and the Word of God into people.”

Dr. Franklin J. Senters Th.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Hebrews 2:12