Thursday Reading: 2 Kings 15:12-13
Key Verse: 2 Kings 15:13
13 Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah. And he reigned in Samaria a full month.
Devotion:
When we look at the kings of Israel we see a recurring theme in which the leaders continued to ignore God and leave Him out of just about everything. They went as far as building temples to other gods and even sacrificing their children to other gods – all to no avail other than to build up God’s wrath against them. Even in those times God was speaking to the people through the priests and prophets telling them that they were headed in the wrong direction most of the time. When kings came in to reign and they did what was right in God’s eyes then they had a good kingdom and God blessed them and the people. As soon as the king turned his back on God the whole country suffered... How easy it is to see from the outside looking in, but how confused the people must have been being told one thing and seeing another.
As we go to the polls today in the UK to elect another government we are faced with the selection of many unbelieving people. Oh for one that would stand up and be counted for God! In the last few days of election campaigning we have seen many politicians turning their backs on those that they used to call their friends. We have seen them fighting within themselves. We have see lies and all manner of things happening in the open as the media sucks up all the garbage that these people are spewing out... and we are told that we have to vote for one of them...
Well, just as in the days of the kings, God has a plan. We cannot see what that plan is nor can we understand His ways. What we do know is that we can depend on His ways and His Word. So long as we lift Him up to glory He will be the one looking after us and blessing us. Oh the dishonest people may well have their minute to stand up and be counted but we will have eternity to stand up with Christ and be blessed. Do not be discouraged but lift up God above all else.
Points to Ponder:
What sort of kingdom would you like to live in?
Are you ready for the eternal Kingdom of Christ?
