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)
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
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
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
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
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
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
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
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
Would you like to receive my daily blog posts sent directly to your email? Subscribe for free by entering your email below.
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.
Do you ever just feel like you’re just a random cog in the vast machine of life, nothing more than an inconsequential human being among billions of others?
Reading today about when King Ahab who had intentionally disguised himself as a common soldier in an attempt to protect his life during battle was struck down by an arrow launched by a random soldier that just so happened to pierce him precisely between his armor and breastplate, I was reminded again that God is in charge over all our lives. God had ordained the number of King Ahab’s days. He couldn’t hide from God, and neither can we.
God knows precisely where you are, and He knows precisely what you’re thinking.
He knows what you did yesterday, He knows what you will do today, and He is in control of what your day holds. Does this thought scare you? Or comfort you?
Your answer will depend on two things: (1) the character of God and (2) your relationship with Him. Do you think God is harsh, cruel, distant, impotent, or uncaring? Or do you think He is loving, kind, patient, forgiving, and faithful? Do you see God more like a vengeful policeman eagerly waiting to give you a ticket or a concerned father eagerly waiting for you to come home?
Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your watchful care over Your creation. You see me. You know me. You know my thoughts and my ways. I cannot escape from Your watchful care. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me. I know that You are good, and that everything You allow into my life is ultimately for my good and Your glory. Increase my faith, Father, that I might be able to give thanks in all circumstances and walk by faith all the days of my life. In the Name of Jesus Christ, my Savior, Lord, and Friend, I pray. Amen.
I had my first boyfriend when I was 13. He was the first of a long string of boyfriends, one after the other. Each relationship’s ending simply caused me to look for a new boyfriend. Even after dating the same young man for 3.5 years in college, when we broke it off I was back on the prowl. I could never be content without someone to call mine, someone to make me feel valued. 🥺
In spite of all that brokenness, I never would’ve dreamed of having two boyfriends at once. If I became interested in someone else, I’d break it off with the first guy before pursuing the next. For some reason, that is what popped into my brain when I read Elijah’s words,
“How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word.
1 Kings 18:21 ESV
The Israelites wanted to worship both Baal and The Lord God Almighty. They wanted to play the field, to keep their options open. Aren’t we like that sometimes?
We don’t want to limit ourselves to a single-minded devotion to God and God alone. We turn to Facebook, food, friends, family, and fun to meet our needs and to make us happy. These things aren’t bad as long as they’re kept in their proper place, but when they’re competing with the Lord for our hearts, they’ve become idols.
Heavenly Father, You are our only hope. You are the One True God; all the other things that compete for our attention and allegiance are nothing more than lifeless idols. Forgive us, Lord. Show us Your power and might, that our hearts and lives would return to You, for You alone are worthy of our obedience and praise. In the Matchless Name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
What do you do when you find yourself in a pickle? Do you cry out to God for help? Do you beg Him for mercy? Do you plead for Him to save you?
I think many Americans run their lives on their own terms 95% of the year and then suddenly remember God when they find themselves in a jam, much like Jeroboam in 1 Kings 14.
As we read earlier in 1 Kings, Jeroboam had set up his own houses of worship complete with altars and golden calves in the Israelite cities of Bethel and Dan. And yet, when his own son, Abijah, became sick, where did Jeroboam turn? Did he send his wife to Bethel or Dan to inquire of those golden calves that he had erected? No, he didn’t. He sent her to Shiloh to inquire of the Lord’s prophet, Ahijah.
Is this genuine faith? No, it isn’t. Jeroboam’s faith is the faith of demons, not the faith of born-again believers.
Counterfeit faith says, “I know God is real, but I won’t submit my life to Him.”
Friends, genuine faith will result in obedience, daily obedience. Genuine faith says, “I know God is real, so I want to live my life for Him.”
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! …
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
James 2:19, 22-23 ESV
Do you have genuine faith? Or counterfeit faith?
Heavenly Father, You are the one true God. There are so many imposters, but You are the only One who is true. Search my heart and test me. Show me where I’ve fallen prey to the lies of the devil. Show me where I’m faking faith. Please don’t let me come to the day of judgment when my deeds will be laid bare and it will become clear that I was among those who never knew you. Do what You need to do to bring me into a right relationship with You. I want to know You more that I would love you more and walk in the daily obedience of faith. I pray this in the Name of Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb who died in my place, Amen.
In 1 Kings 12, I was reminded of the dangers of following counterfeit gods, and in 1 Kings 13, I’m reminded of the dangers of following counterfeit Christians. I’m afraid that all too often Christians trust whatever a professing Christian author, blogger, podcaster, or pastor says, without giving it serious thought or prayer. We need to “test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV)
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
1 John 4:1 ESV
Remember that “all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16) It’s so important to know the Word. All the Word. Not just John 3:16 and Genesis 1:1. So that we can discern truth from error
I’m praying Ephesians 1:17 for you, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.”
Heavenly Father, We need Your wisdom. We need Your guidance. Please, Father, give us a hunger for Your Word. Give us an all-consuming desire for Truth in our innermost beings. May the half-truths of the world and the devil be repulsive to us. Please, Father, let us not settle for sorta, kinda, half-hearted faith, but make us passionate for a Holy Fire revival to sweep through our homes, churches, cities, and nations. For Your glory and fame we pray by the blood of Jesus Christ shed for the forgiveness of our sins. Amen.
Teach What is Good 
You must be logged in to post a comment.