One Year Bible, August 3

2 CHRONICLES 33:14 - 34:33                                                                                     
FROM A PAGAN SHRINE BACK TO A TEMPLE:  King Manasseh tried to put it all back - undoing what he had done earlier to pervert the Temple. Unfortunately, some of the people he had influenced to do evil, didn't follow him back to God, including his son, Amon, who ruled next.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE WORD OF GOD:  In the restoration work of the Temple, the scrolls of the Word of God were discovered and brought to King Josiah. This began great revival. Josiah's Passover surpassed Hezekiah's!  Even though it was too late for Judah, Josiah himself averted judgment because of his "tenderness, humility and repentance." (34:27)

RESPONSE:  We, too, can avert judgment when we keep our hearts "tender" or soft toward God.   Every time we sin or disobey, we have to harden our hearts toward God in order to do it! Then we have to get it soft again by submitting to God and repenting, declaring our need and desire for His Presence.  That is true humility and repentance.

ROMANS 16:8-27                                                                                                             
WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE? It is of note that there are no Roman elders mentioned; was it a young church? Of the twenty-eight persons (including Prisca and Aquila), ten of them are women. Eleven people are people that Paul knew personally.   The list suggests that the Church in Rome was a "house church".   What is important about this list: It lists Jews, Gentiles, slaves, government officials, men, woman, Paul's relatives.  Yet the Holy Spirit brought unity, making them one body. 

WHO TO AVOID:  Anyone who causes division. Offense is to be avoided. To serve "your own belly"  is to be self-serving in trying to gain a following for yourself.  "Simple regarding evil" - Innocence is power.   You can't be tempted with something you never think about.

THE MYSTERY: The Church, One Body of Christ made of Jew and Gentile alike, all of ONE HOLY RACE.

RESPONSE:   I am never tempted to skip church to go hunting, because I am "simple" regarding hunting - I don't know anything about it and I just never think about it.   I think that the evil Paul was talking about here had to do with spending too much time with people who had their own agenda.   Eventually they will influence us.  Serve God with singlemindedness, then Satan doesn't have a hook.

PSALM 26:1-12                                                                                                                   

Examine me, judge me, prove me, try my reins:   Let God do a thorough examination of my inward parts because it is better for me that I am not left under any delusions.  Being self-deluded allows the enemy to take advantage of me.   We should have nothing in common with "sinners" or with "bloody men" or "evildoers."




PROVERBS 20:19                                                                                                            
It is tempting to tell your secrets to a flatterer, but it isn't smart because he will expose you.

RESPONSE:  The Psalmist David didn't want his name lumped in with "vain persons" or "hypocrites", or the "evildoers and wicked".  They have no future.  Wherever they go about their business, they will be "slipping and sliding".