Max Lucado Daily: LET’S TALK ABOUT JESUS
Jesus: J-E-S-U-S. Five letters. Six hours. One cross. Three nails. We live because of Jesus. We Live because he lives; hope because he works; and matter because he matters. To be saved by grace is to be saved by Jesus—not by an idea, doctrine, creed, or church membership, but by Jesus himself, our Redeemer who will sweep into heaven anyone who gives him the nod.
Timid Jesus? Not on your life. Timid Jesus happens only on Christmas and Easter. The real Jesus claims every tick of the clock. Timid Jesus winks at sin. The real Jesus nukes it. Timid Jesus is a lucky charm crucifix on a necklace. Jesus is a tiger in your heart. Do you know this Jesus? Let’s talk about Jesus.
2 Chronicles 26
The people of Judah then took Uzziah, who was only sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. The first thing he did after his father was dead and buried was to recover Elath for Judah and rebuild it.
3-5 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king and reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jecoliah from Jerusalem. He behaved well in the eyes of God, following in the footsteps of his father Amaziah. He was a loyal seeker of God. He was well trained by his pastor and teacher Zechariah to live in reverent obedience before God, and for as long as Zechariah lived, Uzziah lived a godly life. And God prospered him.
6-8 He ventured out and fought the Philistines, breaking into the fortress cities of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod. He also built settlements around Ashdod and other Philistine areas. God helped him in his wars with the Philistines, the Arabs in Gur Baal, and the Meunites. The Ammonites also paid tribute. Uzziah became famous, his reputation extending all the way to Egypt. He became quite powerful.
9-10 Uzziah constructed defense towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate, and at the corner of the wall. He also built towers and dug cisterns out in the country. He had herds of cattle down in the foothills and out on the plains, had farmers and vinedressers at work in the hills and fields—he loved growing things.
11-15 On the military side, Uzziah had a well-prepared army ready to fight. They were organized by companies under the direction of Jeiel the secretary, Maaseiah the field captain, and Hananiah of the general staff. The roster of family leaders over the fighting men accounted for 2,600. Under them were reinforcement troops numbering 307,000, with 500 of them on constant alert—a strong royal defense against any attack. Uzziah had them well-armed with shields, spears, helmets, armor, bows, and slingshots. He also installed the latest in military technology on the towers and corners of Jerusalem for shooting arrows and hurling stones. He became well known for all this—a famous king. Everything seemed to go his way.
16-18 But then the strength and success went to his head. Arrogant and proud, he fell. One day, contemptuous of God, he walked into The Temple of God like he owned it and took over, burning incense on the Incense Altar. The priest Azariah, backed up by eighty brave priests of God, tried to prevent him. They confronted Uzziah: “You must not, you cannot do this, Uzziah—only the Aaronite priests, especially consecrated for the work, are permitted to burn incense. Get out of God’s Temple; you are unfaithful and a disgrace!”
19-21 But Uzziah, censer in hand, was already in the middle of doing it and angrily rebuffed the priests. He lost his temper; angry words were exchanged—and then, even as they quarreled, a skin disease appeared on his forehead. As soon as they saw it, the chief priest Azariah and the other priests got him out of there as fast as they could. He hurried out—he knew that God then and there had given him the disease. Uzziah had his skin disease for the rest of his life and had to live in quarantine; he was not permitted to set foot in The Temple of God. His son Jotham, who managed the royal palace, took over the government of the country.
22-23 The rest of the history of Uzziah, from start to finish, was written by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. When Uzziah died, they buried him with his ancestors in a field next to the royal cemetery. His skin disease disqualified him from burial in the royal cemetery. His son Jotham became the next king.
Our Daily Bread reading and devotion
Monday, March 09, 2020
Today's Scripture & Insight:
Psalm 121:5–8
he Lord watches overe you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sunf will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harmg—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
Insight
Psalm 121 is one of the “songs of ascent” (Psalms 120–134). Three times a year, at the great feasts of Unleavened Bread (Passover), Firstfruits (Pentecost), and Ingathering (Tabernacles), the Jewish people were to gather together for worship (Exodus 23:15–17). The songs of ascent were to be sung by the pilgrims as they made their way up to Jerusalem. As one of these songs, Psalm 121 is a song for the journey and speaks about seeking God’s help amid the dangers that could be encountered along the way. These dangers might include slipping (v. 3) and sunstroke or lunacy (moon madness, v. 6). During a dangerous journey, rather than looking to the high places where false gods were worshiped, God’s people were encouraged to look to God for help—“the Maker of heaven and earth” (v. 2).
Watched by God
The Lord watches over you. Psalm 121:5
Our little grandson waved goodbye, then turned back with a question. “Grandma, why do you stand on the porch and watch until we leave?” I smiled at him, finding his question “cute” because he’s so young. Seeing his concern, however, I tried to give a good answer. “Well, it’s a courtesy,” I told him. “If you’re my guest, watching until you leave shows I care.” He weighed my answer, but still looked perplexed. So, I told him the simple truth. “I watch,” I said, “because I love you. When I see your car drive away, I know you’re safely heading home.” He smiled, giving me a tender hug. Finally, he understood.
His childlike understanding reminded me what all of us should remember—that our heavenly Father is constantly watching over each of us, His precious children. As Psalm 121 says, “The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand” (v. 5).
What assurance for Israel’s pilgrims as they climbed dangerous roads to Jerusalem to worship. “The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The Lord keeps you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (vv. 6–7). Likewise, as we each climb our life’s road, sometimes facing spiritual threat or harm, “The Lord will watch over [our] coming and going.” Why? His love. When? “Now and forevermore” (v. 8). By: Patricia Raybon
Reflect & Pray
What “mountain” are you climbing today? What assurance do you find in knowing God is watching over you?
Our loving Father, as we travel the road of life, thank You for watching over us, keeping us safe.
My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers
Monday, March 09, 2020
Turning Back or Walking with Jesus?
Do you also want to go away? —John 6:67
What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk.
“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not into sin, but away from Him. Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is a oneness with Jesus Christ. After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, all your striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. All that is required is to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.
Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him.
In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him. And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The fiery furnaces are there by God’s direct permission. It is misleading to imagine that we are developed in spite of our circumstances; we are developed because of them. It is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them. The Love of God—The Message of Invincible Consolation, 674 R
Bible in a Year: Deuteronomy 8-10; Mark 11:19-33
A Word with You, by Ron Hutchcraft
Monday, March 09, 2020
Your High-Paying Construction Job - #8651
I've got a lot of friends who live on some pretty isolated Indian reservations in the United States. And, frankly, there just aren't many jobs there. But recently, a couple of them have suddenly found themselves making some pretty big money on a construction job. One of my Native friends said, "Man, this is a great job! They're building a road, and I got hired, and it's great money!" Actually, when you're working construction, it usually does mean some pretty decent pay.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Your High-Paying Construction Job."
If you're a follower of Jesus, you already have a construction job. Yep! He's assigned every one of us to work on His building crew, and it's really rewarding. Except it's not a road or a structure He's hired us to build. It's people - the people you're with day after day in your personal world.
Our divine Contractor's instructions are in our word for today from the Word of God in Ephesians 4:29. The Lord says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." God is trying to build the people around you, and He wants you on His construction crew. And your primary tool in building people up is what comes out of your mouth.
For some of us, the problem is that first thing we need to do is resign from the demolitions crew! Our mouth may actually be tearing people down. People who are close to us, and it's tearing them down more than it's building them up. And according to the next verse, that literally "grieves the Holy Spirit of God." Why? Because you've been tearing down someone that He's trying to build, with your sarcasm, your criticism, your focus on what they're doing wrong, the names you call them, or the wounds that you inflict when you're angry or when you're frustrated with them.
God says, "Don't let any of that kind of junk come out of that mouth of yours!" Instead, dedicate yourself to using your mouth as something that builds people, not tears them down. So, how do you do that? Well, by always praising the good you see in someone and by always looking for something to praise. You're in the construction business when you share something encouraging from God's Word that can lighten their burden that day, or when you consistently thank people and don't take them for granted, when you say the nice things now that people usually say at a person's funeral - when they can't hear them anymore!
And when you're in the construction business with Jesus, it really does pay well. People look forward to being with you. Because your own attitude becomes much more positive as you look for the positive in other people, and then your own joy increases. Working relationships have less friction, your family has less friction, and your church has less friction. People trust you. They open up to you because they feel safe with you. They feel you care about them. They feel like you believe in them. And, most important of all, you have the blessing of Almighty God on your life.
Jesus is still hiring people. There's a want ad out there for His construction crew, and the rewards of being in the construction business with Jesus are tremendous. Won't you help Jesus build the people that He's placed under your influence where you are?
His mission is pretty simple. It's expressed in just a few words in Hebrews 3:13. Let's see how you're doing. "Encourage one another daily."