THE LORD SPOKE (June 30)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Chronicles 19-20

"The battle is not yours, but God's" (II Chron. 20:15). Is that true? How do you know? Does it make a difference? For Jehoshaphat and his army on that day it sure did! He knew he was out-classed and out-gunned. There was no hope of victory using his own resources. If we are really going to have the Lord on our side (or shouldn't it be, if we are going to really be on His side?), what must happen?

• acknowledge your own limitations - "we have no power to face this...we do not know what to do..." (II Chron. 20:12)
• make sure you're fighting the right battle, that it is indeed the Lord's and not your own
• seek a word from the Lord (II Chron. 20:15) - Did you notice? "The Lord spoke." For us, this is not some mystical or charismatic statement. It means going to the Scriptures for guidance.
• do your part - go to the battlefront - show up! - be at the place where confrontation is expected and then expect the Lord to work (II Chron. 20:16)
• take a position, stand firm, and then watch the Lord do what He does best (II Chron. 20:17a)
• don't be afraid and don't get discouraged (II Chron. 20:17b) - Ever notice how often the Bible tells us that? I wonder why?
• keep your face bowed to the ground and your heart lifted up to heaven (II Chron. 20:18)
• start praising the Lord before victory comes (II Chron. 20:21-22)
• enjoy the results (II Chron. 20:25)
• drive in a stake and make it a memory post; tell the story frequently (II Chron. 20:26)
• make sure God gets the glory; capitalize on His greatness (II Chron. 20:29)
• enjoy the peace that passes understanding (II Chron. 20:30)

It really works. Just ask Jehoshaphat.


New Testament: Colossians 3

“Rules for Holy Living”

That’s the title for this chapter in the NIV and how appropriate it is! The opening verses remind us of the strong link between the doctrinal (chapters 1 & 2) and the practical (chapters 3 & 4) aspects of our lives. Starting with “since, then” (equivalent to “therefore”), we’re enjoined to set both our minds and our hearts on spiritual things. Living in the nitty-gritty it’s so easy to get caught up with earthly things. It takes a conscious decision to rise above that.

Right here is where we’re told how to do it. There are two basic steps: “put off” and “put on”. Putting off “our old self with its practices” is further described as “putting to death” and as “ridding yourself” of certain things. Paul even gets a good list started for us. Begin with that list and compile your own. What is it that you need to get rid of? What baggage do you need to cast off? Like Pilgrim in his spiritual progress, what is the burden you need to release at the foot of the Cross?

There is a certain tension here. Yes, you need to trust the Lord to remove that heavy load. But this passage is filled with imperatives. There are several things you must do - and keep doing - to obtain and maintain that kind of walk with the Lord. After detailing that relationship, Paul concludes by saying, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart” (Col. 3:23).

Simply taking things off or getting rid of bad habits and evil practices isn’t enough. They need to be replaced with something positive. We need to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience (Col. 3:12). This will bind us together in perfect unity. Do you ever wonder why we don’t have unity? There’s the answer.

It’s when the word of Christ dwells richly in us that we will experience the peace of Christ. There will be at least two evidences that will be publicly visible: thankfulness and a song in our hearts and on our lips (Col. 3:15-17). It that “word of Christ dwelling in us richly” which qualifies us to “teach and admonish one another”.

Don’t you long for that kind of God-honoring experience? Put your heart into it!