2 Chronicles 6:12–42; Habakkuk 1; Luke 20; 1 John 5
Music is powerful. Each morning before sitting down to read God’s Word, I sing a few hymns and choruses. This morning, the words of an older piece lifted my spirits in joy. The refrain is easy to personalize: “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed, unto Him against that day!”
In these days of isolation, lockdown and not being able to spend much time with other Christians, I have not been saying out loud as often what I believe, but that song did wonders to lift my spirits. (I’m not a good singer but thankful that God asks only for a “joyful noise.”) A cure for discouragement is to loudly proclaim what I believe.
Christmas is powerful too. My hubby and I decorated our tree yesterday. I’m planning the food, buying a few gifts, and am thrilled by songs like Silent Night and A Hallelujah Christmas. Jesus came. He is present with me, in heaven interceding for me, and coming again to take me home with Him. This also is joy.
This morning I read and even prayed parts of Solomon’s prayer in 2 Chronicles. He is dedicating the temple and I was dedicating today’s temple of the Holy Spirit, myself and the church of Jesus Christ in whom He dwells. Part of that prayer is my prayer too . . .
“If there is famine in the land, if there is pestilence or blight or mildew or locust or caterpillar, if their enemies besiege them in the land at their gates, whatever plague, whatever sickness there is, whatever prayer, whatever plea is made by any man or by all your people Israel, each knowing his own affliction and his own sorrow and stretching out his hands toward this house, then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind, that they may fear you and walk in your ways all the days that they live in the land that you gave to our fathers.” (2 Chronicles 6:28–31)
The people of God suffer these days, as the rest of the world suffers. May God hear those who stretch out their hand to Him, forgiving them and answering them according to their hearts — for God alone knows the hearts of all people. May each one reverence Him and walk in His ways.
Habakkuk tells how God planned to use a wicked nation to judge and chasten His people for their disobedience. Is He doing that now, not with another nation but with a pestilence? I don’t know — yet He could be. Either way, turning from sin is always wise. As the prophet says, our world is in trouble:
O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear? Or cry to you “Violence!” and you will not save? Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise. So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted. (Habakkuk 1:2–4)
Whether Covid-19 is a wake-up call allowed by Almighty God or not, are we in need of a wake-up? When Jesus came, He was the ultimate wake-up call but the religious leaders of His day rejected Him and did everything they could think of to trap Him in His words. Their intent was destruction and eventually they put Him to death. Luke 20 has a few examples. This passage makes me wonder if Jesus came the same way today, would He face the same reception? His name is a curse word for many and His Word is rejected and mocked. Yet those who love Him believe His promises and long for His return.
The last reading repeats the good news; God does keep His promises. Those who love and obey Him are His children and are people who “overcome the world” because of faith in Him. This passage also gives incredible assurance:
And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:11–13)
APPLY: There is more, but this is the powerful promise of God for these uncertain days. Knowing I have eternal life erases fear. Jesus came — this is an historical fact. Jesus died and rose again — only fools argue otherwise. And Jesus hears my prayers, says yes to all that fits His plan, and He keeps His promises — “I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I’ve committed, unto Him against that day!” I don’t ‘play in traffic’ regarding a virus or anything else yet no matter how God decides to take me home, I have His sure and certain promise that I will live forever with Him.
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