July 8 Thought for Today – “All That You Can Be!” “There was never another king like him in Judah, either before or after his time.” – 2 Kings 18:5 “Be sure that you feed and shepherd God’s flock over whom the Holy Spirit appointed you as elders.” – Acts20:28 Do you remember the long-time U.S. Army recruiting slogan, “Be all that you can be – in the Army?” These two verses remind me of that slogan, and our challenge as Christians. Hezekiah reigned in Israel twenty-nine years after the deaths of Ahaz and Jezebel. It is amazing he turned out as well as he did; perhaps because his mother was not Jezebel but Abijah. Second Kings 18 tells us that Hezekiah was “all that he could be!” “Hezekiah son of Ahaz began to rule over Judah in the third year of King Hoshea’s reign in Israel. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. He did what was pleasing in the LORD’s sight, just as his ancestor David had done. He removed the pagan shrines, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke up the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because the people of Israel had been offering sacrifices to it. The bronze serpent was called Nehushtan. Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before or after his time. He remained faithful to the LORD in everything, and he carefully obeyed all the commands the LORD had given Moses. 7 So the LORD was with him, and Hezekiah was successful in everything he did.” - 2 Kings 18:1-7 Paul may not have had Hezekiah on his mind in his parting words to the elders of the church at Ephesus, but his message to them certainly contains the essence of how Hezekiah reigned: “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—His church, purchased with His own blood - over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.” Paul pointed out that he had never “shrank from telling the truth…of the necessity of turning from sin and turning to God and faith in our Lord Jesus” (Acts 20:20). He also said he had “never coveted anyone’s money or fine clothing,” worked with his own hands “to pay my own way,” and “been a constant example of how you can help the poor by working hard” (verses 33-35). Paul’s message was to the church leaders, but it applies to each and every Christian. From King Hezekiah and the Apostle Paul, this is what we learn about being “all that you can be:” • Be faithful to the Lord in everything • Carefully obey all of God’s commands • Always tell the truth (not just concerning what it takes to be saved, but “in everything”) • Don’t be covetous of others’ wealth (or of anything!) • Work hard and pay our bills (including college and credit card debts) • Be an example to others We can’t expect all these attributes from the unsaved, but they simply should be among other high-standards a Christian sets for him/herself. In Christ Jesus, we need to be “all that we can be!” “Serve only the Lord your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 Selah! copsonthestreet
Posted on: Mon, 08 Jul 2013 10:24:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015