The resources God has given us to live a thriving life are His Word, Spirit, and People.
Read God’s Word:
2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33
Act 2: God’s Covenant People
Scene 7: Kings and Prophets: The southern kingdom as God’s people
Background Information: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 33
Manasseh was terrible. He was the worst of the worst, even to the point of murdering his own children by fire in a sacrifice to false gods. In fact, he was said to be worse than the nations Israel had displaced. His sin is the final straw for Judah. They will eventually be defeated, the temple destroyed, and the people scattered. Sounds like the case is closed for this wicked man, but what are we to do with his conversion account found in Chronicles? Why did the writer of Kings leave out such an important detail of his life? The book of Kings gives us the big picture of Israel’s kings and their impact. Manasseh’s sin did lead inexorably to Judah’s destruction; his later repentance did not change the nation’s trajectory. Chronicles, written after the exile, shows us that God responds to humble repentance. Manasseh’s repentance did not alter the ultimate course of history, for Judah’s judgment was delayed but eventually came about. However, Manasseh’s repentance did alter the course of his own personal history. His astounding conversion ranks up there with that of the Apostle Paul. We read his story, and we see God’s purposes for the nations and God’s plans for individual men and women held in a sovereign balance. God is in control of world events, and he is involved in the lives of each person on the planet. There are two equal and opposite errors we can make in thinking about our lives. We can think far too much of ourselves. We can think the cosmos revolves around us, that we are special, and that we’re more important than other people. This is often subtle, but it shows up in our attitude and actions when God doesn’t submit to our demands and the people around us don’t properly “see us.” We can also make the mistake of thinking that our small, short lives don’t matter at all. We can feel invisible and unimportant, but God sees us. He draws near to those who draw near to him. The key to good thinking is always in the starting point. Think first and much about God, not self. Then you will more likely come to good conclusions about your own life and your place in God’s grand story.
Pray:
Praise God for…
Thank God for…
Confess your sins to God
Ask God for opportunities to share the gospel. Ask God for boldness to speak as he gives you opportunity.
Ask God for… (what else concerns you?)
Reflect:
Write down one passage of scripture that stood out to you today.
Write down why this passage stood out to you.
Engage Community:
Text or call someone now and tell them…
– What you are praying for.
– What stood out from God’s word today.