365 Reflections

Hey readers! My book is finally out! I believe it will give you the tools you need to get moving in the right direction. Don't let worry, fear, and comparison call the shots in your life,  Get a copy and get MOVING WITH GOD! So we have discussed the successive failures of Judah's kings due to their pride in the previous post. Uzziah was the arch-type of that succession living out his days as a Leper, isolated and separated from the people due to his arrogant attitude regarding the altar of incense. His son, Jotham, however, would be a definitive break in the repetition of failing kings, serving the Lord properly for the duration of his reign.  2 Chronicles 27:1–2 (ESV) Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done, except he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the p...

Can we have a real discussion about the most serious sin in the world? I'm talking about pride. For all the clamor about murder, hatred, racism, abortion, adultery, homosexuality, and others, it is very theologically sound to suggest that at the root of all other sins is the sin of pride. And yet pride is often the least talked about sin in the pulpits of today's church. Why is that? Could it be we have been successfully blinded by the god of this world who was cast out of heaven because this same sin was the root of his self-centered ambition? (see Isaiah 14:13-17).  We have seen two successive Kings in Judah watch their reigns start wonderfully and end despicably because of the sin of pride. Now it happens to Uzziah. All three of these men (Joash and Amaziah are the other two) initially set out to seek God and were tremendously blessed for doing so. This leads us to the simple conclusion that God longs to bless us in spite of where we came from or who raised us.  We begin lo...

2 Chronicles 25:1–2 (ESV) Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart. The story of Amaziah would seem a mystery. He sets out to develop Judah's army. Then he goes so far as to enlist men from Israel to join and succeeds by securing 100,000 men from Ephraim to join his army. It is then the prophet speaks: 2 Chronicles 25:7–8 (ESV) But a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites. 8 But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? For God has power to help or to cast down.” Amaziah is concerned about the money he already paid these mercenaries. And the man of God replies with an important truth. 2 Chronicles 25:9 (ESV) And Amaziah said to t...

Church people get funny about money. But the fact is, we are made to give. How do I know? Because we are made in the image of God and He constantly gives and gives and gives. Joash is the boy king saved by Jehoiada and Jehosheba in 2 Chronicles 22-23. Now installed and grown to adulthood in 2 Chronicles 24 he begins the process of restoring the Temple by instructing the Levites to collect from the people the Temple Tax that had become a dormant practice in all Israel by this time. He tells them to quickly act and they hesitate. Then he puts a collection box outside the gate to the Temple and the people step up to give in abundance. 2 Chronicles 24:10–11 (ESV) And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished. 11 And whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king’s secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the c...

I see in 2 Chronicles 23 a wonderful picture of what it now means to serve Christ as King in a world that is both threatened by and against Him. If we pick up from where chapter 22 leaves off we remember that a woman named Jehoshebeath has hidden one royal son from the wrath of the queen mother Athaliah. And while she reigns and destroys, this son grows and grows. But in chapter 23, the time has come to take a stand and proclaim him (Joash) king.  The instrumental person in this movement is the husband of Jehoshebeath, Jehoiada, the priest. The question we should ask is how Jehoiada was able to take such steps to follow the King no one saw. For in answering this question, we find our way forward in faith today. First, it took courage .  2 Chronicles 23:1 (ESV)  But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Ada...

Hey readers! My book is finally out!  Get a copy and tell me what you think! On to today's post: Please pick another sin. I'm talking to the Christians who are considering marrying a non-believer because they are convinced they can "save them" or they can "work it out" or it "won't be that bad because we love each other so much." Please, pick another sin to commit. I beg you. Why? Because every instance of a believer married to a non-believer that I've seen was met with the disastrous effects of light having no fellowship with darkness (see 2 Corinthians 6:14).  Jehoram was a forgettable king and his son Ahaziah was even worse. But what was the root of all these issues? Jehoram married the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel: 2 Chronicles 22:2–3 (ESV) Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Athaliah , the granddaughter of Omri . 3 He also walked in the ways of the hou...