“So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.” (2 Kings 17:41)

It isn’t enough for a nation to have Jehovah be one of its gods.  He must be their only God.  Compromise comes in many forms… but just like Israel’s children, our children will notice when we are partial in our commitment to God.

Our children watch us when times are difficult, and they see who we lean on in times of trial.  Our children watch us when we enjoy times of prosperity and ease, and they see how we spend our excess and what we do with our blessings.

And what we do in those times – our children go and do likewise… because the faith we speak is translated to them through the faith they see.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 14-20; Psalm 41; Proverbs 10

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God.” (2 Kings 17:9)

When Israel sinned secretly, they assumed it would stay concealed.  However, here we are reading openly about their sins in God’s book.

So it will be for all of us.  Our secret sins shall all be revealed eventually.  There is nothing hidden from God, and all our deeds are exposed before Him.

“The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their [sins] follow after.  Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.” (1 Timothy 5:24-25)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 14-20; Psalm 41; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“This is the word of the LORD which He spoke to Jehu, saying, ‘Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.’ And so it was.” (2 Kings 15:12)

The last four words of this verse should thrill the heart of every God-fearing soul.  ‘And so it was’ resounds with the promise that God’s words always are fulfilled.  His Word does not return to Him void, and His precious promises upon which our souls are fixed will not either.  Child of God, your labor is not in vain.

“Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:4)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 14-20; Psalm 41; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“But the sons of the slayers he did not put to death, according to what is written in the book of the Law of Moses, as the LORD commanded, saying, ‘The fathers shall not be put to death for the sons, nor the sons be put to death for the fathers; but each shall be put to death for his own sin.’” (2 Kings 14:6)

Make no mistake – you are not guilty of your parent’s sins, nor will your parents’ righteousness sustain you.  God’s justice demands individual accountability, and His mercy refuses to lump one man into another’s guilt.

You need only claim your own sins and no others.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 14-20; Psalm 41; Proverbs 10 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock, making my footsteps firm.  He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God” (Psalm 40:2-3)

There is a joy that can only be found in redemption.  When we have been mired in the pit, seen the most tragic and awful that life has to offer and felt the instability that this world’s ways bring – the steady and consistent peace of God’s pathway is so much sweeter.

When we’ve blown it, acknowledged our faults, and God shows us a way to pick up and rebuild the pieces… redemption sings a new song.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace,” (Ephesians 1:7)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-13; Psalm 40; Proverbs 9

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“For evils beyond number have surrounded me; my iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see; they are more numerous than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me.” (Psalm 40:12)

Sin is a bacteria.  If left unchecked, it will grow and reproduce itself exponentially.  One lie leads to another lie.  One act of fornication calls us to the next one.  Sin is like greed; it is never satiated, and before you know it, you are surrounded by your sins and the effects.

Starve the sin out.  Kill it early, and examine your character often.  Integrity protection is better than consequence management.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-13; Psalm 40; Proverbs 9

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay to those who did the work, for they dealt faithfully.” (2 Kings 12:15)

Our trustworthiness is an indication of our faithfulness.  If she is a faithful friend, she can be trusted with your secrets and heartaches.  If he is a faithful worker, he can be trusted with the company’s accounts.  How we deal with that which belongs to another indicates how much faith they can put in us.

So, when Jesus returns, will He find us to have been faithful with what He has entrusted us with? Were we faithful with the spouse He gave us or the children we were given to raise?  Will we be found trustworthy with the talents He has supplied us with, or will we have buried them?  Will we be found faithful to His Scripture, or will His churches have become our churches?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-13; Psalm 40; Proverbs 9 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart” (2 Kings 10:31)

If we are to serve God, we must do so carefully.  His authority must be observed with an eye toward precision.  A life dedicated to God should not be undertaken in a sloppy fashion.  We are to serve Him with diligence as craftsman, striving to meticulously present our lives as living sacrifices to the King of kings.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-13; Psalm 40; Proverbs 9

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“They also broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and broke down the house of Baal and made it a latrine to this day.” (2 Kings 10:27)

Verses like this are proof that God has a sense of humor.  God didn’t have to tell us that Baal’s temple was turned into a public toilet… but He did.  I’ll leave it to you to decide what the symbolism is in that history lesson.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 2 Kings 7-13; Psalm 40; Proverbs 9

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.’” (2 Kings 5:11)

Naaman’s struggle to accept the simple instruction to dip himself in the Jordan River seven times to receive healing from his leprosy stems from preconceived notions.  Naaman had decided ahead of time how a prophet should act and what God would require of him.  There is a problem with assumptions about religion though – they blind us to the truth of God’s true will.

When we submit to Jehovah, we are submitting to the God who is higher and wiser than us.  We cannot expect His commands to match ours.  His greatness will challenge us and shatter our stereotypes.  This is why it is so important that we read the Bible for ourselves instead of just listening to other people who have read it and regurgitated their views of it to us.

There is no replacement for direct contact with the mind of our Creator recorded in the holy scriptures.  You can’t follow Him without listening to Him.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1-6; Psalm 39; Proverbs 8

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision