THE LORD SPOKE (July 2)

Daily Reflections from Scripture:

Old Testament: II Chronicles 23-24

• Royal Vizier (II Chron. 24:2)
• Marriage Counselor (II Chron. 24:3)
• CEO (II Chron. 24:5)
• Tax Agent for the IRS (II Chron. 24:6) - that would be the "Israel Religious Service"
• Construction Boss (II Chron. 24:12)
• Craftsman (II Chron. 24:14a)
• Clergyman (II Chron. 24:14b)

That's quite a resume! Wouldn't you like to meet Jehoiada? There's at least one man who wouldn't. King Joash! He was positively led and influenced by Jehoiada from the age of seven when he became king until the age of too-smart-for-his-own-britches when he thought he could listen to "better" counsel (II Chron. 24:17). How quickly he was led astray and then became the leader in:

• abandoning the Temple of the Lord (II Chron. 24:18a)
• worshiping false gods (II Chron. 24:18b)
• refusing to listen to God's word (II Chron. 24:19,20)
• forgetting his heritage and failing to be thankful to those who helped him (II Chron. 24:22)
• killing the one person who, by God's direct provision, could have helped him (II Chron. 24:21-22)

God has His ways of evening the score. With "only a few men" from Damascus "judgment was executed on Joash" (II Chron. 24:24). Indeed, "God has the power to help or to overthrow" (25:8). Notice the outcome of Joash's falling away from the Lord (II Chron. 24:23-25):

• his kingdom was invaded
• all his top leaders were killed
• his wealth was carted off to Damascus
• he was himself severely wounded
• shortly after he was assassinated on his own bed by his own officials

Thereafter, there were two new gravestones in the Royal Cemetery in Jerusalem. Did you notice? Jehoiada was buried there even though he wasn't a royal. Written on the two stones was the following:

Jehoiada - "he did good for God" (II Chron. 24:16)

Joash - "he died" (II Chron. 24:25)

What will they have to say about you?


New Testament: I Thessalonians 1

She finally got her point across. On her tombstone it says, “I told you I was sick!” There’s one in a New England graveyard that says:

Here lies William Peas - he done left the pod.
He shelled out and went home to God.

How will you be remembered? What will they write on your epitaph? One of the saddest epitaphs in all the Bible is that of Jehoram, king of Judah, recorded in II Chronicles 21:20. It says simply, “He passed away to no one’s regret.”

Paul’s memories of the believers at Thessalonica were wonderful. Every time he thought of them he remembered their...

WORK produced by faith - It’s possible to not work and it’s possible to work for the wrong reasons. Genuine faith produces genuine work. That was James’ argument (Jas. 2:14-26). Works are the evidence of faith!

LABOR prompted by love - It’s possible to labor only out of a sense of duty or for some other wrong motivation. Labor prompted by love is genuine. Love will find its appropriate response in laboring or striving for the good of the object of that love.

ENDURANCE inspired by hope - Hope that gives up too soon isn’t genuine hope. Endurance is the evidence of real hope. It doesn’t give up.

The result? They “became a model to all the believers” (I Thess. 1:7). At first that may have extended just to the believers in Macedonia and Achaia but it soon spread from there and “became known everywhere”. It continues right down to the present doesn’t it? Because of Paul’s written testimony we’re still able to consider the faith, love, and hope of these saints from 2000 years ago.

And the results are the same all this long time later. We are to “serve the living and true God” and we “wait for his Son from heaven” (I Thess. 1:9-10). We are in a wonderful company of believers from many places through all the ages. One day, maybe soon, we’ll join that heavenly throng and sing His praise forever.

Do you have your lists ready? Who do you want to see? What questions are you going to ask. What do you want to find out about most? The best of all will be to simply sit in His presence and enjoy God for eternity.