When the Righteous Die and the Wicked Live – Ezekiel 33:18-19

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“When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this.” This warning spoken by God through the prophet Ezekiel hardly seems fair. The formerly righteous person dies while the formerly wicked person lives! God explains His position on this matter in vs. 13-16. If a righteous person trusts in his own righteousness, which causes him to act unjustly, then none of his righteous acts matter and he is responsible for the injustice he has inflicted and he shall die. But if a wicked person repents and turns from her sin and begins to do what is just and right, then she shall live. God’s redemption is always tempered by divine justice. What matters is Who you trust in–yourself or God. The self-righteous person really only trusts in himself, not God. The penitent person no longer trusts in herself, but God. What matters in the end is what was the transforming effect of God’s redemption on your life? In fact, it is a matter of life or death!

If My People Pray – 2 Chronicles 7:14

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“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” After the temple was built and dedicated, the glory of the Lord filled the temple (vs. 1–3) and God appeared to Solomon and told him that He had heard Solomon’s prayer (vs. 12–22). God’s answer to Solomon’s prayer was a message of repentance and restoration. God’s purpose above all is to forgive his people and heal their land when they repent of their evil ways. This verse describes the process of individual and collective repentance: humble oneself, ask God for forgiveness and mercy, and turn away from sin and unrighteousness. When God’s people truly repent, then He will “heal their land,” which includes not only deliverance from drought and pestilence but the restoration of people to their right relationship with God. Be assured that God hears you and will restore you into fellowship with Him when you repent and turn away from your sin and unbelief.

The Joy of Giving – 1 Chronicles 29:9

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“Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.” In preparation for building the temple, King David accumulated precious metals and stones and wood for its construction. In addition to all the materials he accumulated as King, he gave a substantial amount of gold and silver from his personal wealth. Then he asked the leaders of Israel what they would give. They also gave a substantial amount of precious metal and stones from their personal wealth to help pay the costs of the temple construction. After these gifts were given the Israelites were joyful because everyone had willingly given without being commanded. They gave freely to the Lord and the result was that it made them happy! David acknowledged that what they gave was only what God had given them in the first place: “For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you” (vs. 14). Giving to God is not a burden but an expression of our worship of Him. When done willingly and freely with a whole heart, giving makes you happy! But always remember that when you give to God you are really just giving back to God what He has blessed you with in the first place.

Planners and Builders of the Kingdom – I Chronicles 28

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King David assembled all the military, civic, and religious leaders of Israel and declared that God had revealed to him that not him but his son Solomon would build the temple. David had formulated comprehensive plans to build the temple because “he had it in his heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord” (vs. 2). Because God wanted Solomon rather than David to buid the temple, David turned the plans and preparations over to Solomon, his son, who would be the one to build the temple. David gave Solomon “the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the Lord,” (vs 12). David said that God had made it clear to him “in writing from the hand of the Lord, all the work to be done according to the plan” (vs 19). God inspires us in different ways by His Spirit to do His work. Some develop plans; some construct the buildings or implement the programs. So he who plans and she who builds are both are doing the work of the Lord. Whether your role in God’s Kingdom is planner or builder, let the Holy Spirit give you inspiration for using the abilities God has given you to advance His Kingdom!

Willing to Do God’s Will – John 7:17

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“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority” (John 7:17, ESV).

In this verse the teaching of Jesus is clear. To be His disciple requires a conscience act of one’s own will–a personal decision–to believe in Him and obey Him.

No one can make the decision for you. You can’t inherit salvation. Each person must come to the place in his or her own life where it is your will to do God’s will. Those whose will is to do God’s will, then comprehend the reality and truth of the teachings of Jesus and His sacrifice for our sins and are saved. Be willing to do God’s will!

Signs Everywhere – John 2:11

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“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” During political campaigns, signs begin to be posted everywhere advertising a person running for a certain office. The miracle of turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana was Jesus’ first miracle and a sign, as John referred to Jesus’ miracles. It was not a public miracle but rather a miracle to be seen and understood by a select few–His disciples. The miracles of Jesus that John included in his gospel were signs that attested to His identity as Messiah and Son of God and generally meant to lead unbelievers to faith (see vs. 23). The miracles or signs John writes about revealed Jesus’ divine nature by the performance of an exceptional or outstanding accomplishment: a large quantity/high quality of wine (2:6, 10), the official’s son healed over a long distance (4:47, 49–50), the invalid’s recovery from a 38-year medical condition (5:5), the large quantity of food produced (6:13), the man’s recovery from lifelong blindness (9:1–2), and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:17, 39). While these miracles showed the glory of Jesus as the sovereign Creator and ruler of the universe, He is still working personal and private miracles today in the hearts and lives of individuals. His signs are posted everywhere advertising that He can be your Savior.

When the Spirit Remains – John 1:32

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“And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.” The Holy Spirit did not just descend on Jesus, the Spirit remained on Him. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon people periodically to enable them to accomplish certain God-given tasks, communicate a word from God, or see a vision from God. However, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be full of the Spirit at all times: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (Isaiah 11:2). With Jesus began the age of the Spirit. Jesus’ ministry was anointed by the Holy Spirit because He walked in the Spirit. Oh, that the Spirit of God would descend from heaven and remain on us!

Receiving is Believing – John 1:12-13

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“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Have you ever tried to give someone advice and they were not interested in your help? You give the advice but it is not received. And if your advice is not received, then it must not have been believed in the first place. Although a person may know about Jesus, that person must receive Him to become a child of God. Whether or not John is saying in these verses that “receiving” is the same as “believing,” the point is that the right to become a child of God is bestowed by Christ based on an act of faith—believing that Jesus is God and that He came into this world as a human being and died as payment for your sins and was raised from the dead to eternal life so that you can receive eternal life.

The Importance of Bible Study – 2 Timothy 3:16

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“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Can you imagine hearing the words that God has actually spoken? If you have a Bible, then you have in your possession the very words that God has spoken! If the Bible is the authoritative Word of God containing God’s spoken words and is easily accessible and available to you, then it should be something that you as a child of God want to hear, read, and study regularly. The Apostle Paul told Timothy that God’s spoken words–the Scriptures, or the Bible as we know it–are useful for teaching and training ourselves and others in the way of God’s righteousness. Futhermore, when you study and learn God’s words, then you will be a proficient messenger of God who is certified for performing good works in the name of the Lord.

God’s China Cabinets – 2 Timothy 2:20-21

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“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Many homes have a china cabinet that holds the “good” dishes and flatware. These dishes and eating utensils have been set apart and specially cleaned and shined so that they are ready to be used at meals prepared for holidays and special occasions. In the kitchen there are drawers and cabinets with assortments of plates, cups, pots, pans, and cooking utensils that are used for the regular preparation and serving of meals. The challenge Paul presents to Timothy is that of how he will be used of God. Timothy and all of us will be used of God, but will it be as vessels for honorable use or vessels for dishonorable use? We get to make that choice! If we choose honorable use, then we must cleanse or purify ourselves by laying hold of the provision of grace and redemption that has been given to us by God and flee evil and pursue godliness (vs. 22). Choose to be a vessel of honorable use just like those good dishes in the china cabinet, specially cleaned (holy) and ready for any special occasion (every good work)!