Ezra 1-3

"When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the LORD, as prescribed by David king of Israel. With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:

'He is good; his love to Israel endures forever.'

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation for the house of the LORD was laid. But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away."

This passage reminded me of what it is like for us to come back to God after we've strayed for a long time or perhaps just for a moment. God loves us and his love, indeed, endures forever. And when, by his grace, we turn our eyes on him, again, we do praise him for his great mercy. And at the same time we must repent, and true repentance usually causes us to weep.

Jesus is our foundation. If we just submit to him, nothing can ever move us. Let's praise God this day!

Ezekiel 1-2

"And whether they listen or fail to listen - for they are a rebellious house - they will know that a prophet has been among them. And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious house. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you."

I thought about how often I become rebellious toward the word of God. If I don't do what it says, I am rebelling about God's word which is himself. God is again telling us to turn to his word and repent of our sins.

Also, I am so thankful that God has called me to be a teacher to the youth group. And I should speak and teach whatever God tells me just like Ezekiel did. Also, we are called to be witnesses for God. Let us pray for boldness and wisdom to share the message of the gospel to everyone we meet.

2 Chronicles 33-35

"Josiah removed all the detestable idols from all the territory belonging to the Israelites, and he had all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. As long as he lived, they did not fail to follow the LORD, the God of their fathers."

What a testimony Josiah had. He led by example. And his people followed him in seeking God.

I've been pondering for a while about my life and how it totally lacks testimony. Good testimony, that is. I can't say that I've done my best in all that God placed me to do... And I want to.

Let's encourage each other to be truly set apart for God. If we truly have heart for God and we are walking with Jesus, it will reflect in our lives. Let us be a good testimony to the people God put in our lives.

Jeremiah 4-6

"O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?"

God is omniscient. He knows our coming and going. He knows our very inmost beings and thoughts. Nothing is hidden from him. God is telling us today that we need to examine our hearts. Like pastor Tim always says, sin is always premeditated. It starts with a thought and progresses to an action if we allow it. The bible says to guard our hearts more than anything else because that's where sin originates. We need to forsake every sinful thoughts from our hearts.

Let us ask God to cleanse our hearts and fill us with his thoughts this day. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

2 Chronicles 30-32

"He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with them. With him is only arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.' And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.

Later, when Sennacherib king of Assyria and all his forces were laying siege to Lachish, he sent his officers to Jerusalem with this message for Hezekiah king of Judah and for all the people of Judah who were there:

'This is what Sennacherib king of Assyria says: On what are you basing your confidence, that you remain in Jerusalem under siege? When Hezekiah says, 'The LORD our God will save us from the hand of the king of Assyria, ' he is misleading you, to let you die of hunger and thirst. ..... Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the people of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to deliver their land from my hand? Who of all the gods of these nations that my fathers destroyed has been able to save his people from me? How then can your god deliver you from my hand? Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you and mislead you like this. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or the hand of my fathers. How much less will your god deliver you from my hand!'"

What Hezekiah said to his people is the word of God. God tells us, if we would listen, to look upon him. Whatever dire circumstances we may find ourselves in, we do not have to be victim to it. Our God is the God of all things. He is sovereign. He is all powerful. And above all, he is loving to those that turn to him. Our God and him alone is our confidence.

The things Sennacherib said to discourage the Israelites are lies that we so often hear from the Devil. He reminds us of the hopelessness of our situation. How we have failed so many times and how others have failed long before us. Why should we be any different then all those others and their fathers that have failed? We have to remember this day that when we get any of these thoughts of doubt, it is not from the Lord.

We see examples all around us of people without hope. People just giving in to their circumstances and the way they are and feel powerless to change. So they look for other means of comfort or just surrender to them and choose to live unhappily.

Let's remember this day, just like the verse you posted from yesterday, that we are a new creation in Jesus Christ. And we can be a new creation, when we choose to and look to God, every moment of each day. We can come to him anytime, and he will always be there waiting. There is no one like our God. Hallelujah:)

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"

AMEN.