One Year Bible Reading Plan and Devotional
Today’s Bible Reading: May 15
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One Year Bible Reading Plan
Clicking on the Scripture links above will open a new window where you can read the scripture from the Holman Christian Standard Bible at Biblegateway.com or choose the Bible version you prefer to read. Check back each day to get the Scripture to read in the One Year Bible Reading Plan.
A King who did right, but…
A 7-year old King did what was right, but…
Joash (also called Jehoash) was only seven years old when he was crowned king of Judah. And in our verse for the day, the young king receives a great complement from the writer. The Bible tells us that as long as the priest, Jehoiada, instructed him, the young king did what was right in the sight of the Lord. In the midst of many evil kings, this young king wears the crown and did what pleased God. But then the bombshell drops with “Yet.” The New King James uses just one word – “But.” The ESV Bible uses the word, “Nevertheless.” Joash did what pleased God – Even so. Joash did what please God, but. Joash did what pleased God, nevertheless, he left the fertility shrines.
Regardless of the word used, the story ends up the same. This 7-year old king did what was right, but he didn’t finish the job.
They started out well, but…
As soon as Jehoiada had Joash crowned king, he made a covenant between God, the king, and the people that they would be God’s people and they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down, broke the altars and images and killed the priest of Baal. They started out well – but they didn’t finish the job.
They left the shrines in place and the people still sacrificed and burned incense there, along with many immoral, sexual sins. By not ridding that nation of all the idol worship, Joash left a door cracked open for the people to return to idol worship. We might say, “yes, but he was a better king than others that ruled before him.” And that is true. However, anytime we leave the door of sin cracked open, Satan will stick his foot in the crack and swing the door wide open – and that’s what happens to Joash and the people.
Complement turned to Condemnation
In 2 Chronicles 24 we learn that as soon as Jehoiada died, Joash and the people “left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.” (verses 17-18). As a result, Joash’s servants take action and they assassinate him and make his son king in his place (2 Kings 12:20-21).
What started out as a compliment ended up being condemnation. We should never underestimate the power of small words such as “if,” or “but” or “even so.” We’ve all had those kinds of moments.
She had felt called to be a missionary, but she wanted to get married and he wouldn’t go.
He would have been promoted, if he had better work attendance.
They could have avoided divorce. Even so, he couldn’t stop flirting with his secretary.
She tried losing weight, but couldn’t resist chocolate.
He felt God called him to the ministry. Even so, he was too afraid to quit his well-paying
job and go to seminary.
What is your “even so” moment?
If someone were writing this verse about you and said: “[Insert your name] did what pleased God all the days of his/her life. Even so…” how would the sentence be finished for you?
We can live all the days of our lives in a way that pleases God, but then not do that one thing or not finish the task and in doing it, we invite sin into our lives. Would you confess the “even so” to God now and ask for His forgiveness? Would you repent and turn away from your “even so?” Are you willing to close the door to it and never go back?
We should also never underestimate the people that God puts in our lives to help steer us in the way we should go. Can you identify a “Jehoiada” in your life? Do you listen to this person of Godly wisdom? If that person was somehow no longer a part of your life, would you continue in the wisdom he or she planted in you – or would you return to the life you had before they entered your life?
#ReadYourBible #2Kings #John #toseekandtosave
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Week 19: May 9-15, 2022
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