by George | Aug 6, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Why Are You Glad to See Me?
“Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.”
Ecclesiastes 5:2
Last night at a neighborhood outreach event, I stood outside the door of the community room, welcoming folks as they arrived.
A youth approached who looked to be around 12 years old.
“I’m so glad to see you!” I said as I gave him a fist bump.
“Why are you glad to see me?” He asked.
Hmmm… Why am I glad to see him? Was I just looking at him as a number, one more person attending, or was I glad to see his smiling face?
Trying to think quickly, I said something like “Because it’s a good day and we are here to have a good time!”
That got me thinking. How many times do I say things without thinking about what I’m saying?
Scripture says our words are important. Here are some examples:
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Ephesians 4:29
“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; it is set on fire by hell.”
James 3:5-6
Jesus drove the point home when He said:
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:34-37
I must admit… The last one kind of scares me.
So, how can we know what to say? Ask the LORD to help you.
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Psalms 141:3
I’m reminded of something my mom said several times. “If you don’t have anything nice to say… Don’t say anything at all!” Words to live by…
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”Colossians 4:6
by George | Aug 3, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
As Long As He Sought the LORD…
“Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.”
2 Chronicles 26:3-5
I don’t know about you, but when I read about the kings listed in 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings, my head starts to swim. There are so many! Some reigned a short time, others a long time.
When I read the name, and how long they reigned, l brace myself for the next sentence. I’m relieved when it says “He did right in the side of the LORD.”
But, many times it says the opposite. For example:
“Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not follow the Lord fully, as David his father had done.”
1 Kings 11:6
King Uzziah got off to a good start. Part of the credit goes to Zechariah the prophet, who seemed to be a mentor to him.
“He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.”
2 Chronicles 26:5
It’s important to listen to the right voices, folks who have understanding and wisdom.
The last part of today’s verses should serve as a guidepost, and a warning to us.
“… as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.”
Prosperity doesn’t always mean riches. I believe it’s also the end result when we live life right, walking closely to God.
Uzziah accomplished a lot during his reign.
Unfortunately, later on, he let pride overtake him.
“But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.”
2 Chronicles 26:16
Then the LORD struck him with leprosy.
“King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land.”
2 Chronicles 26:21
Very sad.
Let’s strive to be like Uzziah, in his earlier years.
Let’s continue to seek the LORD.
by George | May 28, 2021 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
What A Difference A Year Makes
“So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
II Kings 7:2
My wife told me that she found cans of disinfectant marked down to $2 at a store yesterday. One year ago, it was hard to find ANY disinfectant spray. If you did, it was probably at least $5! I don’t think any of us would’ve believed that one year later, the price would be so low.
The famine was really severe in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet.
Prices were inflated on what little was left.
“There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver.”
2 Kings 6:25
The meaning of “dove’s dung” is unclear, but you get the picture. There was very little food available. People were also resorting to cannibalism.
The outlook was bleak.
Yet, God inspired Elisha to prophesy:
“Then Elisha said, “Listen to the word of the LORD; thus says the LORD, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’ ”
2 Kings 7:1
Hearing this, an officer of the king, his “right hand man” sneered and said it was impossible. No way this could happen.
Elisha answered him and said that the officer would see it, but wouldn’t get to eat any of it.
Read the rest of the chapter. It’s a really cool story about how God ended the famine, in a very unconventional way.
Remember what Jesus said: “And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
Keep praying in faith, believing that God will answer, even when man says it’s impossible.
Oh, and don’t forget to go buy some disinfectant while it’s cheap!
