Bible League: Living His Word Amaziah asked the man of God, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?” The man of God replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this!”— 2 Chronicles 25:9 NLT Amaziah was 25 years old when he became the king of Judah. As soon as he gained the throne, he began the process of organizing his army. His plan was to attack the Edomites. He took a census and found that he had 300,000 select troops. He decided it was not enough and, consequently, he paid 7,500 pounds of silver to hire 100,000 experienced fighting men from the Northern Kingdom of Israel (2 Chronicles 25:5-6). The Lord didn’t like the fact that Amaziah had hired the Israelites. So, He sent a man of God, a prophet, to warn him. The prophet said, “Your Majesty, do not hire troops from Israel, for the LORD is not with Israel. He will not help those people of Ephraim! If you let them go with your troops into battle, you will be defeated by the enemy no matter how well you fight. God will overthrow you, for he has the power to help you or to trip you up.” (2 Chronicles 25:7-8). That’s when Amaziah asked the prophet, “But what about all that silver I paid to hire the army of Israel?” The prophet replied, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this!” Amaziah was obedient and he discharged the hired troops and sent them back to Israel. He then went out without them and defeated the Edomites in battle. (2 Chronicles 25:10-12). Like Amaziah, maybe you’ve taken steps in a direction that you thought was right. You organized your effort and took stock of what you had and what you didn’t have. As a result of this, you decided to make a heavy investment in the effort. The problem, however, was that the Lord was not happy with your plan. He had other plans for you. What do you do now about the investment? What about all the time and money you’ve spent? Does it make any sense to just throw it away? The message in our verse for today is simple. It’s more important to obey the Lord. He’s more than able to make up for anything you lose as a result of being obedient to Him. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingLeviticus 15, 16, 17 Leviticus 15 -- Cleansing Unhealthy Discharges NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 16 -- The Day of Atonement NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Leviticus 17 -- Blood Designated for Atonement, Forbidden as Food NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 27:1-31 Matthew 27 -- Judas Hangs Himself; Jesus' Trial, Crucifixion and Burial NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. Insight God's protection of his people is limitless and can take many forms. David characterized God's care with five military symbols. God is like (1) a rock that can't be moved by any who would harm us, (2) a fortress or place of safety where the enemy can't follow, (3) a shield that comes between us and harm, (4) a horn of salvation—a symbol of might and power, and (5) a stronghold high above our enemies. Challenge If you need protection, look to God. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation.Come, my soul, think thou of this. Believing in Jesus, thou art actually and effectually cleared from guilt; thou art led out of thy prison. Thou art no more in fetters as a bond-slave; thou art delivered now from the bondage of the law; thou art freed from sin, and canst walk at large as a freeman; thy Saviour's blood has procured thy full discharge. Thou hast a right now to approach thy Father's throne. No flames of vengeance are there to scare thee now; no fiery sword; justice cannot smite the innocent. Thy disabilities are taken away: thou wast once unable to see thy Father's face: thou canst see it now. Thou couldst not speak with him: but now thou hast access with boldness. Once there was a fear of hell upon thee; but thou hast no fear of it now, for how can there be punishment for the guiltless? He who believeth is not condemned, and cannot be punished. And more than all, the privileges thou mightst have enjoyed, if thou hadst never sinned, are thine now that thou art justified. All the blessings which thou wouldst have had if thou hadst kept the law, and more, are thine, because Christ has kept it for thee. All the love and the acceptance which perfect obedience could have obtained of God, belong to thee, because Christ was perfectly obedient on thy behalf, and hath imputed all his merits to thy account, that thou mightst be exceeding rich through him, who for thy sake became exceeding poor. Oh! how great the debt of love and gratitude thou owest to thy Saviour! "A debtor to mercy alone, Of covenant mercy I sing; Nor fear with thy righteousness on, My person and offerings to bring: The terrors of law and of God, With me can have nothing to do; My Saviour's obedience and blood Hide all my transgressions from view." Daily Light on the Daily Path Psalm 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction, That Your word has revived me.1 Corinthians 15:45 So also it is written, "The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. John 5:26 "For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; John 11:25,26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, • and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 1:4,12,13 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. • But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, • who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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