Thought for November 8

 History:

  • 392: Emperor Theodosius declares Christianity the state religion of the Roman empire
  • 1731: Benjamin Franklin opens first library in the colonies
  • 1789: Bourbon whiskey first distilled by Elijah Craig in Bourbon KY
  • 1895: Wilhelm Rontgen produces and detects x-rays
  • 1939: Attempt to assassinate Hitler fails
  • 1950: First jet-to-jet dogfight--Korea [US wins]
  • 1956: "The Ten Commandments" released
  • 1999: "The World is Not Enough" released
  • 2016: Donald Trump elected President
  • 2018: Camp Fire starts in California, destroys Paradise, 88 killed
  • 2020: Covid cases top 50 million world-wide
  • Born: Vlad the Impaler, Edmond Halley [comet], Milton Bradley, Bram Stoker, Margaret Mitchell, Esther Rolle [Good Times], Christiaan Barnard [1st heart transplant], Patti Page, Bobby Bowden, Morley Safer, Bonnie Raitt, Mary Hart, 
  • Died: John Milton, Doc Holliday, Otto Rohwedder [invented bread-slicing machine], Norman Rockwell, Alex Trebek, 
Thought: 

Reading some sad words this morning in 2 Chronicles 16:12. Asa was the third king of Judah. He became king in turbulent times, times when Judah had walked away from God, built altars to false gods, and followed those gods. Asa tore down the altars and idols [14:2-4], commanded the people to observe the law, and did right in the sight of the Lord. God responded with years of no wars. The Ethiopians came against Asa with a large army, but Asa prayed to the Lord and the Lord gave Asa victory [14:9-15]. Asa gathered all of Judah and the tribes of Benjamin, Manasseh and Simeon and sacrificed and made a covenant with the Lord because of His faithfulness. And God responded with years of peace. Sounds like a good king. But in 2 Chronicles 16, Asa fails to seek the Lord or rely on the Lord and the result is death.

The king of Israel [the northern kingdom] made war on Asa and he sought aid from Aram in Damascus rather than rely on the Lord who had given him victory over the Egyptians. Look at 16:9--The Lord strongly supports those whose hearts are completely His. But Asa had relied on the Syrian army, not on the Lord. As a result, wars returned.

Then, Asa gets sick. His feet were diseased. Read 16:12---he did not seek the Lord, but relied on the physicians and died. Now, this is not a passage saying do not go to the doctors. It is a passage that reminds us that we always turn to the Lord for every need. We rely on the Lord in every situation. We avail ourselves of the medicine and doctors He provides, but ultimately healing and cures are the work of the Lord. so we seek Him. 

So what does Asa teach me.
  • God is looking for people totally committed to Him.
  • God expects us to rely on Him for victory over all enemies---armies and disease. 
  • God rewards those who seek Him with the whole heart with peace, not just the absence of war, but with His peace that passes understanding. 
Today, Lord, I don't want to be self-reliant. I don't want to rely on the things of this world for my hope, my peace, my joy, my security, my provision. Help me rely on You alone for You alone are able and willing to provide everything I need. 
Blessings
Larry

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