Saturday Reading: 2 Chronicles 33:1-13
Key Verse: 2 Chronicles 33:12
12 And when he was in affliction, he sought Jehovah his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.
Devotion:
I like the way that many of the historical records in the books of Kings and Chronicles list a whole lot of things and then have an abrupt end echoing our lives where we have what we think is so much time to do things and then suddenly have to face up to the fact that we are out of time. Manasseh was a man who strove after the world, worldly ways and everything but God. It sounds like he was the rebel who did not have a cause other than himself and who did not care for anything other than glorifying everything that was wrong. His rule came to a rather abrupt end when he was taken by commanders to Babylon where he did not have a good time!
Manasseh was a man who probably thought that nothing could touch him whilst he was king and so did what he wanted. But when he was faced with the consequences of his actions he suddenly turned back to his God and pleaded with Him. Did he have any right to plead with God after doing every abomination against God? No, but God is always willing to listen to anyone who is willing to humble themselves before God. God is waiting for us to put the world down and pick Him up…
Once Manasseh had sorted out his heart and had admitted to his short-comings as king, God was willing to listen to him and to answer his prayers. God will always protect those that He knows look to Him. Does that mean that we will never die? Unfortunately not because we all do face a death on earth before we can live with Him and yes sometimes that death may come in a way that we don’t want but God has is reasons for everything. Seeking Him constantly will allow you to see those reasons and give you the peace and grace to accept what God has in store for you. It may not be what you wanted in the beginning, but it is going to be what is best for you (and for God) in the end. It’s not so much about us, but about God!
Points to Ponder:
Do you act up in front of God?
What do you think God think of your actions?