Saturday, May 22, 2021

GOOD DECISIONS

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 18

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Hezekiah’s capital city… Jerusalem. This present-day photo is a northeast view looking toward the Temple Mount area.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 18:5

“He trusted in the Lord God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any who were before him.”

Hezekiah stands out as a shining light. He served the Lord completely, destroyed false religion in the land, even to breaking up the image of the serpent that Moses had set up because the people had begun worshipping it as an idol. Read Numbers 21:4-9. Jesus referred to the serpent in John 3:14 when He spoke of being lifted up on the cross. To understand the significance of Jesus’ statement, we may consider 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Hezekiah’s own father had been one of the most evil kings of Judah. Somehow, in one generation, God changed the direction of this family and of Judah. God found a young man, 25 when he became king, who made a life-long decision to turn from the wicked ways of his father, live a holy life, and lead his people back to the God of Israel. Our decisions change us for the better or the worse.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, please hear my prayer when I ask for Your help in making the right decisions for my life and for my testimony to others. Thank You that I can change from the past, moving into a glorious future because of Jesus, Your Son and my Saviour and Lord, in whose Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

The basic content of the message that God called me to bring to a gathering of Christian leaders in Jerusalem in 2015 was one of repentance for harbouring any hatred or even disrespect towards Arabs or Jews. Such contempt is sin against our Creator God whom the Bible says is “Love!” Yes, He judges people and nations and He reserves that right for Himself. I’m so very thankful that I am not anyone’s judge! I am to love unconditionally!

Yours for God-inspired decisions which make positive changes in our lives and in the lives of others,

David

17 thoughts on “Saturday, May 22, 2021

  1. This is well worth the entire watch and read along; it explains so much of what is really going on in Jerusalem and the dissension between Palestinians and Israelis. Continued prayers for peace.

    Inside the Battle of Jerusalem
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiSRCPiklhI

    Praying for Doreen, this morning. May your heart be filled with strength and peace from our Heavenly Father. His blessings upon you, fellow saints in the Lord.

    And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:5 ESV

  2. Thank you,Jesus !
    Salvation

    Sweet Jesus I owe everything to you and to you alone,
    You have shown me my home,you are my anchorstone,
    You have saved me always when stormy winds have blown,
    You have always been my rock,the truest friend I’ve known,
    So why do you think me worthy as a seed you have sown
    What can I ever do to earn all the love you’ve shown .

    Ch:
    Let me know sweet Jesus, let me know beyond my days
    Let me know my savour,when I bow down to you in praise,
    When my time here is drawing short and coming to a close,
    As they carry me away after leading the life I chose,
    I pray that I will leave not sorrow for those that I love,
    But instead to know the joy that waits for us above.

    I am not a wealthy man but I am very rich by far,
    When I walk my journey you’re my guiding star
    And you know that I am honest in all the things I do,
    I have never born false witness,I only say what’s true,
    You have strengthened my soul before I even knew
    Of life’s losses with your love to see me through.

    You have always had your hand placed within my soul,
    You have shown me your light that has made me whole,
    I have never known this love that comes from your grace,
    Nor have I known compassion that shines from your face,
    For I am still a sinner and you are the Son of God
    I can only meet you at the end of the road I trod.
    G W(Bill) Marshall/June 6/2011 (No copyright intended)
    “This started as a melody in my head,over and over about
    315 AM,then followed the first lines of the chorus and I had
    to get up and finish the words,as if taking dictation.(This was
    soon after I surrendered on my knees in my own living room,
    privately,but 20 days before I was baptized at our bible camp.)”

      • Thank you Beverley & William. It is mind boggling to see the conflict going on in the Holy Land. How do you recover from being evicted from your home with only the clothes you are wearing? Father, we pray for PEACE, in Jesus Name. May people seek You and come to know You and that You love all. Your only son took all the punishment that we deserved, upon Himself. Open the hearts, eyes, & minds of people – helping them to see Who You really are and that You are Love. Father encourage & protect Your servants working in the Holy Land. Amen & amen

  3. That video sure make Israel look bad and if all the facts are correct then a severe injustice has been done.I hope that is an isolated case and that justice (not legalities) will be done.”Justice must not only be done,but must appear to be done also.”

  4. Satan tries to use every device to divide people, even God’s people. In these days, we can see politics of division being used to set people against each other. We, as God’s children, need to keep our eyes fixed on God’s eternal Truth. There is a terrible verse in the Bible that tells us that the love of many will grow cold. Father, keep us tender-hearted, and keep us from being manipulated by the things of this world.

    As the Bible tells us, Israel is the nation at the centre of God’s plans. Satanic forces have always tried to thwart God’s purposes for mankind, and to obliterate Israel. The Bible tells us that God himself will intervene against the forces that gather against Israel.

    Hamas is internationally recognized as a terrorist organization that even says in its charter that it seeks to destroy Israel. It is just the latest in a long line of those opposed to the God of Israel.

    We pray, not only for the Peace of Israel, not only for every person to come to know the God of Israel, but also for God’s will to be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.

    Lord God, help us to keep our eyes fixed on You, the One who took the punishment -death- for our sins. Help us to love You and others, and draw many to You today. Thank You for all those sharing Your Gospel, and for those standing up for Truth and righteousness in this rebellious and confused world. You wept, Lord, over people who like sheep had gone astray, and who were (and still are) so in need of a shepherd. Help people everywhere to see that You are the Good Shepherd, the Redeemer, Guide, and Saviour we all need. In Jesus’s name, amen

    If you’re interested, here is what Encyclopedia Brittanica says about Hamas, and its latest episode of sending rockets into Israel: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hamas

    • Sorry to open the political door up again. We must keep our eyes on Jesus first and foremost. We also must be informed about the world around us. It does not mean we have to all agree. I certainly don’t agree with others on this site about Donald Trump, nor opinions spread by Christian groups such as Daystar Television. I think some things are very dangerous, so my intent is not to spread fear. Yes, Israel is chosen by God and protected and it clearly states that in the Bible. So we hold to that.That doesn’t mean the tensions that exist in the Gaza strip are one sided.

  5. Doreen,
    I am praying for Edward and yourself. I know what you are facing as my husband and .I are in the same position. Doctors are saying that any further treatments for my husband may “prolong things” at best or it may cause more damage than good.
    May God intervene in ours and your situation! He is the miracle worker! May He fill you and Edward with His peace and joy to be your strength!
    Blessings in everyone on this blog.

      • Continued prayers for you Luisa and your husband; for Eleanor and Edward. May the Lord our God strengthen your husbands in their fight and bring complete healing and restoration to their bodies. Prayers for Doreen and the salvation of her family members. For everyone on the blog, that the Lord would meet our individual needs and bring our unsaved loved ones to fruition with Him. I just returned from our prayer group at church and what a difference it makes to uplift me every Saturday evening. I am so grateful. Prayer is quintissential May you all have a blessed evening, fellow saints in the Lord. Oh, how He loves us, so.

Leave a Reply to Beverlee Kay Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.