KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, July 28, 2018
Chapters: II Kings 19, Psalms 46, 80, & 135
Message: Be Still And Know
Hello My Friend,
As Christians we can expect that our faith is going to be tried, especially when we make the decision to trust God in the public view. The devil would love to see us fall after we have told the world we stand with Christ, and he is good at throwing temptation in our faces in an attempt to do so. How does he tempt us? He puts us in positions where they may try to compromise our faith, or cause us to make rash decisions instead of trusting God. We can overcome any temptation, but we cannot do it alone, we must be grounded in Christ, and we must be in His strength to do so. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – I Corinthians 10:13.
The people of God that were here before Christ came here are no different than us today, they too knew they needed a Saviour to save them from themselves and hell, and they knew their Saviour was the LORD. When a nation starts turning away from God judgment always begins with His house, it is sad, but many Christians are more corrupt than some who live in the world, that leaves the faithful Christians pleading with God to have mercy upon them. Remember Abraham, how he pleaded with God not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah when he knew Lot was there? Remember Moses, how he pleaded with God not to destroy the Hebrews after they had the golden calf made? God still works the same way and listens to the pleas of those who seek salvation.
“Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.” – Psalm 80:14-19.
“cause thy face to shine;” Until we see Jesus, until His Light shines upon us, we will not be saved. God uses many means to get the world to see their need for the Saviour, and He will use any means to get His people on the straight and narrow. Once we are, here comes temptation to try and get us to go against God, and here is where many Christians will fall. II Kings tells us again about the time Hezekiah went to Isaiah for help when the Assyrians invaded Judah. He took the disturbing letter he got from the king of Assyria, placed it upon the altar and prayed for God to deliver them from their hands. Isaiah returns with an answer from God.
“And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD. And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth. LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God. Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard. And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this. For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” – II Kings 19:14-16,20,29-31,34.
“shall yet again take root downward,” Affliction has a way of uprooting our faith, it can cause us to make rash decisions out of fear. However, all we need is faith the size of a mustard seed to see God move mountains, and that is what God is looking for when He places these temptations in our lives. Here is the reason why Hezekiah knew that God was with them and would spare Judah, when Assyria invaded Judah they prevented the land from being sown of its crops, the next year would have been a sabbatical year, meaning they were not allowed to sow. God gave them a sign that for next two years there will be enough food, this promise was to be made after the destruction of Sennacherib’s army, which happened shortly after. Within the message was a reminder that Judah was still going to be judged, but a remnant would be saved. There is not temptation that God does not allow us to face that He does not show us the way out of. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” – II Corinthians 10:13.
Whether we realize it or not, it is much easier to hear God’s voice when we are facing challenges. Why? When things are going well we become confident that we can handle everything on our own and do not feel the need to call on Him for things. God wants to be in every part of our lives, He never wants us to get to the point that we think we do not need Him. Whenever we are doing well or struggling He is our refuge.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” – Psalms 46:1-5,10.
“Be still, and know that I am God:” We are going to face affliction, but Jesus is with us , He will not be moves, and will see us through, as long as we are still, and know that He is with us. While we do not intend to forget that God is with us even when things are going well, it happens more that we realize. However, God does know our heart so if it takes affliction to get us to be still and know, then that is what He will do. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – I Peter 4:12-14.
Throughout the Bible you will often read, “God is above all gods” or something similar. Of course, there is only One God, but sometimes ancient rulers were referred to as a god, but thanks to false religion, rebellious people, and a society that hates God’s Word, there are other gods, man made gods that take place over Christ. In an instant a person who lives for Christ can forsake Him for their new god, if they stop walking with Him, but thanks to His mercy, while they will be judged, they will not be forsaken.
“For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 135:14-21.
“and he will repent himself concerning his servants.” Keep in mind that although judgment always begins at the house of God, He still has a heart for those whom received His Son as their Saviour. We may face some chastening, but we will be saved from eternal destruction. God truly is our refuge during our affliction, He will give us hope and encouragement even through the darkest times. I do not know how I made it through the first twenty-eight years of my life without hearing God, but I do know that He was watching over me the entire time waiting for me to be still and know that He is the only God. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” – I Peter 5:10.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.” – II Kings 19:31.
Today’s Prayer: God, In the midst of affliction I admit that I did not always hear You speaking to me. I tried so hard, but could not hear You through all the noise in my head telling me to just give up. However, whenever I am still there you are right there in the midst of all the noise. Lord, break through the voices in my head and all the distractions of the day and let me hear You. Help me to be still and listen for You among all the chaos, lead me and guide me in Your will, and help me to trust You through all my struggles, I know I can endure them through You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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