1 Esdras 2:2 (Ezra)

“Thus says Cyrus the king of the Persians: Israel’s Lord, the Lord Most High, revealed and indicated to me, the king of the inhabited world, that I should build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judea.”

Encouraging Words

It is easy to get the mindset that we, the Christians in our modern-day, are God’s elite and that He only speaks to us. Then as we hold onto this belief it grows and we begin to believe that He only speaks to our like-minded group, church, or denomination. This is not so, God chooses whom He wants to speak to and guide to do His will. In this scripture, He spoke to Cyrus, a Gentile and the king of Persia, and Cyrus heard His voice. Cyrus listened to the God of the Jews, rebuilt their temple, and set them free. We must stop acting like we are God and that we know whom He will speak to or not and let Him work the way that He chooses. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Chronicles 33:12-13

Now when he was in affliction, he sought the face of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him. And the Lord received his entreaty, heard his cry, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.

Personal Challenge

Manasseh was one of the kings of Israel. Like so many of the other kings, he chose to disobey God and practice the religions of those around him. The result was that the nation of Israel was taken captive by the Assyrians and he was taken off in chains. It was this event that opened his eyes and led him to a point of humility before his God. At this low point he cried out to God and God heard his cry and restored him. Why do we do the things that we know will lead us away from God? Why do we choose to pursue the idols and false gods of this world? We do this because we, just like our Jewish brothers of old, are a stiff-necked and self-centered people. This is our personal challenge, to say “No!” to the world and “Yes!” to our Lord who is God. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Chronicles 16:9a

For the eyes of the Lord look over the whole earth and strengthen every heart that is loyal to Him.

Personal Challenge

Loyalty has become an aspect of our lives that has dissipated. We have become a people who only care about ourselves and what we want. We no longer revere those who deserve it, such as our God. We choose to ignore those people whom He has put in authority over us, especially the leaders in our church. God deserves our loyalty and He rewards us by strengthening our hearts when we are loyal to Him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

2 Chronicles 14:10

And Asa cried out to the Lord his God and said, “Lord, with You it is not impossible, whether with the many or with the few. Strengthen us, Lord our God, for we trust in You. And in Your name we go against this multitude. Lord our God, do not let man prevail against You!”

Personal Challenge

When will we ever learn that nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible for our Lord? We have become so accustomed to our modern conveniences and the culture around us that we have turned away from our God and put our trust in the things of this world. Nothing is impossible for the God of our fathers. If we rest in His arms and trust fully in Him, then nothing is impossible in our lives as well. Glory be to God!

2 Chronicles 7:14

If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will be merciful to their sins and heal their land.

Personal Challenge

The people of Israel, God’s chosen people, were given the instructions that they needed in order to get their land healed. Why was this necessary? Because they had departed from the way that the Lord had called them to. The church created by Christ is God’s chosen people. We too can follow these instructions to heal our land. it all begins with humbling ourselves before our God, seeking His face, and turning from our wicked ways. So often we call out this verse and call upon God to do the healing, but we do not follow the steps outlined for us to do. God desires to be merciful to us in our sins and to heal our land, but we must act first. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!

2 Chronicles 1:10-12

Give me wisdom and understanding, so that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can judge this great people of Yours?”

And God said to Solomon, “Because this was in your heart and you did not ask for riches or wealth or honor or the life of your enemies, nor did you ask for long life, but you asked for wisdom and understanding for yourself, that you might judge My people over whom I made you king, now I will give you this wisdom and understanding. I will also give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings before you possessed, nor shall any after you possess.”

Personal Challenge

What has become important to our society? What has become important to us? What has become important to me? Is it wealth and prosperity? Is it honor and respect from those around us? Is it to be able to live a long life? Is it life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness? Solomon was given the opportunity to receive from God whatever he asked for. He could have asked for all of the items above. He didn’t. He asked for wisdom and understanding, not for his own use, but so that he could effectively judge as the king over God’s people. Would I be willing to ask for something like this if given the chance? I would hope so. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner!

1 Chronicles 28:9

“And now, my son Solomon, know the God of your fathers, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing soul; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every thought. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you forever.”

Personal Challenge

We always make things more difficult in our Christian walk than it needs to be. We complain that we do not clearly know what God’s will is for us. We get anxious because we say that we do not know what He wants us to do. However, the scriptures make it clear to us the answers to these quandaries. We need to get to know the God of our fathers and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing soul. It is that which is in our hearts that God watches, not the things that we say or do. It is what is behind what we say and do that reveals our true nature. God wants us to seek Him at all times, for we will find Him every time. Jesus made all of this so much clearer when He gave the two commandments that sum up the entire law of the old Testament. We are to love our God and to love our neighbor. If we could pursue these two commandments from our heart, we will be seeking God and will know Him, the God of our fathers. Glory be to God!

2 Chronicles 30:18-20

Most of the people from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun had not cleansed themselves, but they ate the Passover contrary to what was written.

But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, even though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

Encouraging Words

The people of Israel had many laws that they were expected to follow. They kept straying from their God and therefore kept abandoning these laws. The laws were put in place because of their stubborn ways and their blatant refusal to follow their God, the God that brought them out of captivity in Egypt. And yet, at this point in time, they have returned to God and are desiring to practice their Pascha in repentance of their sins. They had not cleansed themselves as their laws demanded. Hezekiah prayed on their behalf asking that God look at their hearts and not their outward appearances, which is what He always does. By this supplication, they were healed and purified by the Lord. We too have a Hezekiah praying to God on our behalf, the Lord Jesus Christ, praying that we’ll be cleansed before our God. Glory be to God!