Both the tragic and the blessed events in the history of the people of God were written down so we might learn from their mistakes as well as their successes.

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 9

Key Verse: 2 Kings 9:6

Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel…’”

God endorsed Jehu to replace Ahab. But Jehu’s choices led him down the wrong path. He murdered the King of Israel and the King of Judah, who were defending their lands against Syria. Both the tragic and the blessed events in the history of the people of God were written down so we might learn from their mistakes as well as their successes. In spite of the evil, there were still thousands of people humbly serving the God of Elijah and Elisha. Like Jehu, we are always in danger of relying on a past blessing while we are in the process of moving away from God. We can’t rely on previous experience with God as a guarantee that we are right in His sight now. We must communicate with God and hear from Him every day. Jesus, in His humanity, did that. He rose early in the morning and spent time in prayer, receiving His guidance for the day. He could say, “The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that please Him” (John 8:29).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, thank You for setting such an example for me. You demonstrated that as a human being, not using Your divine nature to help Yourself, I too can “do the things that please Him.” I ask that I will be given daily grace to remain always faithful to You. Because of Your indwelling presence, I live with confidence in Your keeping power. May the smile of Your approval be upon me. In Your Name I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

From my earliest memories as a child, I saw Jehu as a hero. Jehu driving his chariot “furiously” excited me. Then there was the death of wicked Jezebel and the dogs attacking her remains. Years later, I remember thinking that this was justice because of her many crimes. I remember seeing the body of the Italian dictator, Mussolini, near the close of World War II, hanging from a balcony in a central city square. It was justice, people said. I understood from Scripture that all of us “reap what we have sown.” Galatians 6:7-10, suggests reaping good things also. This “good” reaping will continue into eternity as I stand at the judgment seat of Christ, where believers are judged according to their works and eternal rewards are given or withheld (2 Cor. 5:6-10).