2 Chronicles 7:14 DEVOTION FOR TODAY, July 4, 2019 “Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord” There is a certain feeling I get when I walk into a Church sanctuary. It doesn’t matter if it is a little building by the side of the road, or a huge cathedral in the city, they are all Holy Ground. Their altars have been soaked in tears as saints and sinners…Keep Reading

2 Kings 9-11 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 4, 2019 “THE ANNIHILATION OF THE HOUSE OF AHAB” Some might have found today’s reading disturbing, and we surely should not be insensitive to the gruesomeness of some of the scenes: A woman is tossed from a balcony and her body eaten by dogs. Seventy sons of one man were beheaded and their heads were piled at the gates of the city. We…Keep Reading

2 Kings 5-8 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 3, 2019 “THE HEALING OF NAAMAN” Naaman was a mighty man of valor, the commander of the Syrian army. He was also a leper. A young Jewish girl who had been carried away by the Syrians served in his house as a maid. She suggested to her mistress that Naaman should go to the land of Israel and seek out the prophet of…Keep Reading

2 Kings 1-4 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 2, 2019 “ELISHA, THE LORD’S RELIEF PITCHER” Elijah has been translated to heaven, and Elisha takes up his mantle. His first act was to purify the waters upon which the city (probably Jericho) depended not only for drinking, but irrigation (2 Kings 2:19-22). He made it clear that it was God, not he who had healed the waters. This was immediately followed by…Keep Reading

Obadiah, Psalm 82-83 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, July 1, 2019 “THE KING OF KINGS ADDRESS THE KINGS” The term “the day of the Lord” is used often in Scripture and points not to a single day in history, but to any day when God in his providence judges a nation or nations. Obadiah was prophesying against the descendants of Esau, known as Edom. But he had a message for all nations:…Keep Reading

2 Chronicles 19-23 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 30, 2019 “THE BATTLE IS NOT OURS, BUT GOD’S” Jehoshaphat was one of the better kings of Judah with the Scriptures giving this testimony: “He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet…Keep Reading

1 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 18 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 29, 2019 “HAVE IT YOUR WAY” God treats people according to their own character: “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity. To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd” (Psalms 18:25-26, NLT). When a person—or nation—insists on its own will and way instead of God’s, he…Keep Reading

1 Kings 17-19 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 27, 2019 “THE FEARLESS PROPHET WHO RAN FROM A WOMAN” The story of Elijah stretches from 1 Kings 17:1 through 2 Kings 2:12, where he is carried into heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:1-12). Elijah took a courageous stand against the 450 prophets of Baal and another 400 prophets of Asherah (Baal’s supposed wife). After a full day of the…Keep Reading

1 Kings 15:25-16:34; 2 Chronicles 17 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 26, 2019 “THERE IS NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS OF GOD’S JUDGMENTS” The following kings of Israel are not household names. Their place in Bible history is that each of them did evil in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of Jeroboam who had done more evil than all who had gone before him (1 Kings 14:9): Nadab,…Keep Reading

1 Kings 15:1-14; 2 Chronicles 13-16 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 25, 2019 “SHOOTING THE MESSENGER” Rehoboam reigned in Jerusalem for 41 years, but he did not seek God. His son Abijah came to the throne, walking in the sins of his father, he ruled for only three years. His son Asa came to power. God could see goodness in him and sent Azariah with an exhortation and promise: “Hear me,…Keep Reading

2 Chronicles 10-12 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 24, 2019 “THE DANGERS OF SUCCESS” When Rehoboam’s rule was established, he abandoned the law of the Lord and all Israel with him (2 Chronicles 12:1). The Lord’s message through Shemaiah the prophet was: “You have abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:5). Shishak king of Egypt took away the treasures of the house of…Keep Reading

1 Kings 12-14 THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 23, 2019 “BAD ADVISORS WILL GIVE BAD ADVICE” One of the most dangerous things a king, president, prime minister, or lesser execute can do is surround themselves with “yes” people who will tell them what they want to hear instead of what they need to hear. Solomon’s son Rehoboam rejected the wise counsel of the old men who had advised Solomon and followed…Keep Reading