Thursday, May 16, 2019

THE WRONG PATH

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 9

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

 

Southeast of Haifa lies Mount Carmel. As you stand on its peak, below you can see the fertile plains of the Jezreel Valley which, during the course of 7,000 years, has seen countless battles. The Book of Revelation identifies this spot as the place where the final battle of Armageddon will be fought. It was on Mount Carmel that Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.

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

 

Key Verse: 2 Kings 9:6

Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel…'”

God endorsed the appointment of Jehu to replace Ahab. What fresh new potential! Almost immediately Jehu’s choices led him down the wrong path. He murdered both the King of Israel and the King of Judah, who, with their armies, were defending their lands against Syria. We understand that the events of the tragic, as well as the blessed, history of the people of God were written down so that we might learn from the things they did wrong as well as the things they did right. Let us remember that, while today’s reading shows the mess made by those who do wrong, there were still thousands of people who were humbly serving the God of Elijah and Elisha.
Like Jehu, we are always in danger of relying on a past blessing while we are in the process of moving rapidly away from God. We can never rely on previous experience with God as a guarantee that we are right in His sight now. We must make a deliberate decision to communicate with God and hear from Him every day. Jesus, in His humanity, did that. He rose early in the morning and spent time in prayer. He was receiving His guidance for the day. Therefore, He could say, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that please Him” (John 8:29).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, thank You for setting such an example for me. You demonstrated that as a human being, not using Your divine nature to help Yourself, I too can “do the things that please Him.” I ask that I will be given daily grace to remain always faithful to You. Because of Your indwelling Presence, I live with confidence in Your keeping power. May the smile of Your approval be upon me. In Your Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

From my earliest memories hearing or reading children’s Bible stories, I saw Jehu as a hero. Those stories would gloss over the worst parts. Jehu driving his chariot “furiously” was an exciting mental picture for me. I could imagine myself driving a chariot like that. Then there was the death of Jezebel and the dogs consuming the remains of this exceedingly wicked woman. I may have been older when I remember thinking that this was justice because of her crimes against humanity. Around this time I also remember seeing the body of the Italian dictator, Mussolini, near the close of World War II, hanging from a balcony in a central city square. It was justice, people said. I understood from Scripture that all of us “reap what we have sown.” A New Testament reading I’ve just looked up is Galatians 6:7-10. Those verses speak to me of reaping good things also. This “good” reaping will continue into eternity in Heaven as I stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, where believers are judged according to their works and eternal rewards are given or withheld (see 2 Corinthians 5:6-10).

Yours for laying up treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21),

David

P.S. I have chosen to ask my son Ron to continue recording the video version of my blog, since I have not quite been up to the task lately. Thank you for your ongoing prayers! The “vlogs” can be found HERE.

The statue of Elijah at the Carmelite Monastery on Mount Carmel reflects the Lord’s victory over the prophets of Baal. Shortly afterward, fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the altar, and even the water.

19 thoughts on “Thursday, May 16, 2019

  1. Beautiful photos, deep and graphic scripture, message, and memory of David. So much for us to learn and ever thankful for his bible study and to the Lord our God for continuing to show us the way. Wishing all saints a blessed day.

    Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
    Nehemiah 8:10 NASB

    Passion – Glorious Day (Live/Lyrics And Chords) ft. Kristian Stanfill
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gklJ2XZwDHc

      • Dear Lord touch this dear sister-in-Christ. Remove these headaches from her and heal her in Jesus Precius Name.
        Blessings to all blog friends.

    • God bless you dear Beverlee. Will talk to God about your headaches. I rarely get them anymore but remember they weren’t pleasant and I hate taking medication if I don’t need to.
      Lots of love going your way.

    • Beverlee,your headaches will soon pass….Put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder then squeeze.That is the Lord hugging you with His love.Thanks and may God bless

    • Lord Jesus I pray for your intervention for healing Beverlee; and for the pain to leave her; All things are possible for You Lord; I ask for a miracle for Beverlee; Your word tells us that by Your stripes we are healed; thank you Jesus for answered prayer; Amen!!

  2. Thank you for continue this blog of your Father it is an every day joy in my life so is also your every day program of Huntley street
    I did not receive the blog today can you have a look at it and send to me again ,please?because it is such a support to me
    thank you.
    Boudewina

    • Thank you for continue this blog of your father;it is an every day joy in my life and so is your every day program of Huntley street.I did not receive the blog today can you please send it to me again? because it is such a support and joy to me.
      Thank you so much,
      Boudewina

    • I know Boudewina. I didn’t receive it today either. By going into yesterday’s blog and then into the comments again, it seems to be possible to get into today’s blog. Probably other ways to do this too but whatever time allows and works:-)! God bless you dear sister in Christ.

  3. Just like Beverly k i too suffer from headaches migraines cluster headaches and all kinds of headaches I’ve gone to two neurologist and they can’t help me so God is the great physician Beverly and I pray for your healing as you will be praying for mine so God bless all the dear blockers for today and thank you David again for the Daily Word

  4. The son of one of the prophets had such a bizarre job to do in pouring oil over Jehu’s head. Imagine anointing a king in today’s day and age that way.

    Dr. Jim Denison shares that Israel is roughly the size of New Jersey. Its politics are chaotic in the extreme (forty-four parties participated in last month’s elections, for example). But the people are passionately united in their commitment to their nation and its future.
    The reason is simple: They know that what happens to some of them happens to all of them. An attack on any part of Israel is an attack on all of Israel.

    Have a blessed day in Jesus name all believers.

  5. ” since I have not quite been up to the task lately. ” an understatement from David,true to the end….which made me want to be in denial but had to realize what was happening to him…and his family.Ron you carried a terrible burden at that time;thank you ! ! and to the rest of the Mainse family including Crossroads.
    As we read in His-story,throughout the bible,God requires His servants to often do strange things.When they don’t make sense to us (except in the hindsight of history),they make sense to Him (“My ways are above your ways…”) and the ‘obedience’ in such cases shows the faith of His servants to follow through.
    I wrote this for David around the time he made his health situation public.Maybe it’s egotistical but I wondered if God granted him more time for my sake?Keep trusting and may God bless
    Catch The Fire (4 David Mainse)

    Though you have walked many oceans
    And spread My word to many nations,
    I saw in you and your devotions
    A servant of joyous exhalations.

    You have not asked for earthly wealth,
    But just to be My most humble voice
    And when adversity was kept in stealth
    You still worshiped Me out of free choice.

    So out of free choice I give you
    More time upon the stage of learning,
    Whereby My word you show to be true
    And catch the fire that’s forever burning.
    G W(Bill) Marshall / 01 February, 2014

  6. To find 100words when you do not get itgoogle 100words and that should give you a link to find the link to 100 words. Then store that link in your favorites orsend yourself an email so the next tieme you do not get the 100 words you can copy and paste the link into your browser and get the 100 words for tht day.

    • I always use the link in my bookmark bar but you can also click on the main link then on the far right,scroll down to the same month but 2 years earlier and then scroll from there to the same date (it won’t be the same weekday),

  7. Some of the worst in Israel’s history recorded here today and lessons to learn. Was thinking this morning how this God we serve is a miracle worker and we pray He will touch you this morning Beverlee and Marilyn and take away these headaches and also reveal what is the cause of them in Jesus name. Amen!

  8. I do not comment often, but am still following the scripture reading. I do not get the Huntley program on TV very often any more. the times vary. Praying for the people who answer the phones.

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