Christina – Page 2513 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2017
Chapters: II Chronicles 6-7, Psalm 136
Message: God’s People

Hello My Friend,

God may call Israel His people, but it does not mean that He limited any other nation from coming to know Him. God used Israel to prove to the rest of the world that He is the only living God, who is blesses those who are faithful to Him. I mean think about it, Israel was and still is not the best example of showing their faithfulness to God, most refuse to acknowledge Christ, but they are an example of His mercy and grace toward all His people, even the worst offenders. Whether they are a Jew or Gentile, God gives every person, no matter what nation they are born into, the opportunity to be one of His people. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God.” – Romans 2:9-11.

Being one of God’s people has nothing to do with race, it has everything to do with faith, and our willingness to love Him with all our heart, for when we love God we are faithful to Him. II Chronicles goes into more detail about the dedication of the Temple, when the Ark was brought in its place and the glory of the LORD came in as the whole congregation watched in awe. Solomon turned to the crowd and began to speak.

“And the king turned his face, and blessed the whole congregation of Israel: and all the congregation of Israel stood. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying, Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel: But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel. The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built the house for the name of the LORD God of Israel.” – II Chronicles 6:3-6,10.

“The LORD therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken:” There is not one thing that the LORD says that He will not do. Okay, sometimes it can take years or even centuries after we are gone for Him to do them, but what He says He does, in His time. Now, Solomon, standing on a scaffold he had made for so that all could see him, gets on his knees, raises his hands up to God, and begins to pray to Him.

“And he stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands: For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven, And said, O LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee in the heaven, nor in the earth; which keepest covenant, and shewest mercy unto thy servants, that walk before thee with all their hearts: Thou which hast kept with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him; and spakest with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day. Now therefore, O LORD God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.” – II Chronicles 6:12-16.

“For Solomon had made a brasen scaffold,” You know, Solomon proclaimed God in public, he wanted all to see that he was down on his knees praying to the Almighty. While God is all about public profession, He does not want us shouting and carrying on with words that have no meaning, He wants us at the altar, wherever that may be, whether in church, on our bed, or in the car, God wants us praying where no one can distract us. “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” – Matthew 6:5,6.

As soon as Solomon stopped praying something incredible happened, fire came down from heaven, consuming the thousands of sacrifices Solomon had placed on a huge altar, and the glory of the Lord filled the entire house.

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’S house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.” – II Chronicles 7:1-6.

“they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground” We all like to imagine what we will do when we first see Jesus face to face, and every person will, but the truth is, we will all be on our knees. Those with egos that were to proud to accept Him will be begging for mercy, those who know Him as their Saviour will be too humble to look Him in the face. Every knee will bow to Christ, whether we received Him or not. “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” – Isaiah 45:22-24.

Can you imagine a light so bright shining in front of you that lets you know God has heard your prayer? God loves to hear us pray, the more we pray, the more He rejoices. Why? Because we are saying to God, “I need You, I have tried it on my own, but I cannot do it. I humbly come before you and am depending on You to give me the things I need.” God answers our prayers, sometimes right away, sometimes, years later, but He always hears and answers the prayers of His people. Sometimes we need not ask Him for anything at all, because He knows what we need, we just need to thank Him for His goodness, mercy, and grace for redeeming us.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.” – Psalm 136:1-3,23-26.

Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through Solomon, who prayed for the people. Jesus prays for His people. “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” – John 17:8,9.

Today’s Prayer: God, I admit that my whole life I had to be independent, I did not know what it meant to depend on others because I had no one to depend on. Now, that You are in my life I have had to learn to depend on others, most of all upon You. I still struggle with this, yet You never stop showing me that no matter how low I get You are there to pick me back up. God, teach me to humble myself before You always, I know I would save myself a lot of tears and grief if I would just do that all the time. Give me Your strength to endure and give peace and comfort to get through my struggles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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