So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.
2 Kings 17:41 ESV
The world says you can have it all. That’s not true. You can’t worship the one true God while still worshipping the world, its idols, and its ways.
You have to make a choice. Like Joshua said, “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15)
Who can remember all these kings’ names? Are Joash and Jehoash the same man? What about Joram and Jehoram, or Azariah and Uzziah? And wait – Is he a king over Israel or Judah? I’m so confused.
But … Listen … There’s ONE name that matters most. The ONE name by which we must be saved.
Here’s my thought for today: Don’t Quit! Mom-life is hard. Wife-life is hard. Following Christ is hard. Don’t quit.
And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The LORD’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.”
2 Kings 13:17-19 ESV
Don’t Quit! FormerAtheist58
He will Hold Me Fast – Getty and Selah
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If you want GOD to reign in your life, you have to put His enemies to death. If you want GOD to be your King, you can’t let sin and Satan keep having dominion over your life.
2 Kings 11:12-15a ESV — Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people. And when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.”
Colossians 3:5-8 ESV — Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Romans 8:13 ESV — For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 6:11-14 ESV — So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan.
2 Kings 10:28-29 ESV
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who brings conviction of sin and Your Living Word that pierces our hearts like a skilled surgeon removing a cancerous tumor. Thank You for the body of Christ, for those iron sharpening iron relationships that are so essential in this dark world. Grant us wisdom to know when to admonish the idle and when to encourage the fainthearted. May we help the weak and restore with gentleness the repentant, remembering our own need for help and restoration. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray. Amen.
Beware of Hating Other’s Sins while Overlooking Your Own – 2 Kings 10 – FormerAtheist58
Matthew West – Good (Lyric Video)
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When I was an atheist, it sometimes felt like Christians WANTED me to “get what I deserved.” That was not Elisha’s reaction.
And the man of God [Elisha] wept. And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.”
2 Kings 8:11b-12 ESV
Seeing Elisha weep over the destruction coming to the people of Israel reminded of Ezekiel 33:11, “As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”
Heavenly Father, Give us a love for the lost. May our hearts break for them. May our love for our neighbor drive us onto our knees and out of our front doors. May we not rejoice in the death of the wicked, but desire earnestly for them to repent and be saved. May we remember that it is only by Your grace that any of us can be saved. Thank You for Your mercy and love. In the Name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, we pray. Amen.
Elisha Wept. Do We? – 2 Kings 8-9 – FormerAtheist58
Jesus is Coming Back Soon – Forrest Frank & Josiah Queen
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If your town was starving and you happened upon an abandoned warehouse with enough food to feed everyone for a year, would you keep that good news to yourself, or would you invite others to feast with you?
When four starving lepers discovered an abandoned city full of food and riches, they began taking everything for themselves. “Then they said to one another, ‘We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.’” (2 Kings 7:9 ESV)
Friends, I’m afraid all too many of us are hiding a Costco-size stash of bread inside our hearts and homes, too selfish, too busy, or too lazy to share. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV) Do you believe that? Don’t keep it to yourself. SHARE THIS GOOD NEWS! God wants you to tell others where to find this bread.
Quit Hiding the Good News – 2 Kings 6-7 – FormerAtheist58
Dusty Bibles – Josiah Queen
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This story of Naaman and Elisha and Gehazi is a warning for me to remember that I’m just a poor beggar telling other beggars where to find bread. This story, like all Scripture has been “breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16) May we all remember Paul’s warning in 1 Timothy 6:10, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
The Love of Money is the Root of All Kinds of Evils – 2 Kings 5 – FormerAtheist58
Worthy of It All – The Worship Initiative, Shane & Shane
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In 2 Kings chapters 3-4, we read about one miracle after another. God sends water into the desert. God fills vessel upon vessel with oil. God conceives a child in a barren woman’s womb. God brings a boy back from the dead. God makes pure a poisonous stew. God feeds a multitude with 20 loaves of bread and a sack of grain.
This is a light thing in the sight of the LORD.
2 Kings 3:18a ESV
Yet, to the Lord, all of these things are light. None of these incredible events are hard for Him. God isn’t exhausted after doing them. He doesn’t struggle or labor night after night to achieve these mighty feats. What is a few jars of oil or one little baby to a God who can speak the entire universe into existence by the sheer power of His voice?
In light of this truth, we need to remember that there is nothing too big for Him, but also there is nothing is too small for Him.
Out of work and need a job? No problem.
In a hurry and need a parking spot? Got it.
Struggling with discipling and disciplining your children? He can help.
Nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for Him. And nothing, absolutely nothing, is too little for His care.
As a mom of four adult children, I can tell you first-hand, how much I love it when my children ask for my advice and my help, no matter how big (or how small) it is. Likewise, our perfect Heavenly Father loves His children to seek His help in all areas of our lives.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:6 ESV
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7 NLT
Heavenly Father, thank You for always being there for us. We know that nothing is impossible for You. We believe that You are able to do all things. Help us to trust You and turn to You moment by moment and day after day. Whether the thing to us looks too big or too small, may we entrust it into Your watchful, loving care. In the Name of Jesus Christ our Savior we pray. Amen.
I Cast All My Cares Upon You / Jesus Loves Me
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The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”
Obadiah 1:3 ESV
Heavenly Father, I lift my family, my church, and my nation before Your throne of grace. Help us to remember that every good gift comes from You, that everything we have is a gift from Your habds. It’s not by our own strength or wisdom, but by Your Spirit and power. Keep us on our knees for Your glory and good. Amen.
For more information about the book of Obadiah, I recommend David Guzik’s commentary. It’s available here.
Teach What is Good 
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