365 Reflections

Fresh off his healing, Hezekiah makes a huge mistake that will cost the nation of Judah its existence. Envoys from Babylon, the second up and coming nation of the age, are sent to examine the doings of Israel. When they meet Hezekiah he is more than willing to open the entire treasure to them.  2 Kings 20:12–13 (ESV) At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13 And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. This moment is so exhausting. Hezekiah should know better than to let a foreign nation know what Israel has in their storehouse. He invites disaster. But his mistake illustrates a condition of the human heart to which we are all susceptible. When we exper...

Acts 8:13 (ESV) Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Simon was a former magician who placed his faith in Christ, or so it seemed after Philip the former Deacon turned evangelist came to the Samaritans and preached Christ. It is evident that Simon from the first was one of those people awed by the supernatural. Of course, he was a magician, and carried a notable reputation before Philip arrived. But Simon is case in point that the supernatural is not something God wants to awe us with. It is to assist in leading people to Christ! When the supernatural supersedes the Gospel, we fall prey to envy, pride, and self-centered "religion." And we need to repent. Notice what happens after the Apostles come and lay hands on people who receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues... Acts 8:18–19 (ESV)  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying...

2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. Four of the 19 qualities Paul lists concerning the difficult times of the last days contain the word "Love."  I've never seen it before, but looking at our world today, this totally makes sense. Today it is no longer "God is love."  Today people live as though "Love is God."  Love will make everything better, love will solve your loneliness, love will never make you feel bad about something you do, love is something you cannot help and cannot control... ie. you ...