Isn't it good to see people give it all they've got, whatever they're doing? That's what we see in today's section of Scripture concerning King Hezekiah. Second Chronicles 31:21 tells us, "And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered" (KJV).
This is God's evaluation of Hezekiah's life: he sought the Lord and served Him with all his heart.
When Hezekiah came to the throne, he found the nation in shambles. But his first priority was not the government or the economy, but the spiritual health of the people. He challenged the priests and the Levites to sanctify themselves and get their hearts right with God, pointing out two current examples of their spiritual apathy: the lamps had not been lit and the incense was not being burned. The lamps speak to us symbolically of the Word of God, while incense evokes the prayers of the people of God rising before the throne of grace.
Hezekiah experienced his leadership by calling the priests and the people back to personal worship and spiritual discipline. And when the priests responded to Hezekiah's challenge and the people began to worship God again, the Bible tells us there was great joy in Jerusalem, unlike anything since the days of Solomon.
How's it going in your life today? Do you live like Hezekiah, "with all your heart?" In particular, is your spirit aflame with zeal for God? If not, why not ask Him to rekindle that fire through the study of the Word and the exercise of prayer.
Prayer
Lord, create in me a desire to live for You with my whole heart. Amen.
If we ask for cleansing, God will bring us back to the high road of fellowship ..
FOOTPRINTS OF JESUS
Sweetly, Lord, have we heard Thee calling,Come, follow Me!
And we see where Thy footprints falling
Lead us to Thee.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
Though they lead o’er the cold, dark mountains,
Seeking His sheep;
Or along by Siloam’s fountains,
Helping the weak.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
If they lead through the temple holy,
Preaching the Word;
Or in homes of the poor and lowly,
Serving the Lord.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
Though, dear Lord, in Thy pathway keeping,
We follow Thee;
Through the gloom of that place of weeping,
Gethsemane!
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
If Thy way and its sorrows bearing,
We go again,
Up the slope of the hillside, bearing
Our cross of pain.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
By and by, through the shining portals,
Turning our feet,
We shall walk, with the glad immortals,
Heav’n’s golden street.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
Then at last when on high He sees us,
Our journey done,
We will rest where the steps of Jesus
End at His throne.
Refrain
Footprints of Jesus,
That make the pathway glow;
We will follow the steps of Jesus
Where’er they go.
Daily Smile:
Why did the crow cross the road? !
Because he wanted to prove he wasn’t a chicken!
In The News:
Pakistani Christians Pray for Americans Affected by Hurricane Sandy
Pakistani Christians are praying for the safety of Americans affected by Hurricane Sandy, according to a message sent to the ASSIST News Service by Ashfaq Fateh, a Pakistani Christian leader who has been working to promote peace, human rights and Christian rights in his country, ASSIST reports. "We have come to know that Hurricane Sandy is about to affect 60 million Americans," Fateh said. "It has been learnt that a state of emergency has been imposed in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida and others. Sixty million is a very big population and we, the brothers and sisters in Pakistan, are worried for the situation in your country. We have been facing nonstop floods for the last three years and we can imagine how difficult it is to survive without shelter, food, medication and schooling for the young. So at this moment, we assure you that we shall be praying for your great people to be protected from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy." Fateh quoted Jesus as saying, "I am the vine and you are the branches," and added: "The branches from Pakistan will be continually praying for you. Please keep us informed about your safety." Fateh said he would welcome updates from people affected by the storm at ashfaq.fateh@gmail.com so he could pray for them specifically.
Ad Comparing Voting for Obama to Losing Virginity Causes Backlash
An ad starring a young actress comparing voting for Obama to losing her virginity has gotten backlash from Christians and conservatives, WORLD Magazine reports. In the ad, Lena Dunham says: "Your first time shouldn't be with just anybody. You want to do it with a great guy, somebody who really cares about and understands women. ... My first time voting was amazing. ... Before, I was a girl. Now I was a woman. I went to the polling station, behind the polling curtain, I voted for Barack Obama." According to the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, "It's low-brow even for this White House, which seems to think using expletives to describe your opponent is conduct becoming a U.S. president." Perkins thinks the ad will actually backfire with the audience it's supposed to attract -- women. "The gender gap has all but vanished in this election," he said. "What was once a 16-point lead for Obama has evaporated, thanks in part to demeaning strategies like this one. These women are moms, too, and they recognize that a president with two young daughters should know better."
In The News:
Pakistani Christians Pray for Americans Affected by Hurricane Sandy
Pakistani Christians are praying for the safety of Americans affected by Hurricane Sandy, according to a message sent to the ASSIST News Service by Ashfaq Fateh, a Pakistani Christian leader who has been working to promote peace, human rights and Christian rights in his country, ASSIST reports. "We have come to know that Hurricane Sandy is about to affect 60 million Americans," Fateh said. "It has been learnt that a state of emergency has been imposed in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Florida and others. Sixty million is a very big population and we, the brothers and sisters in Pakistan, are worried for the situation in your country. We have been facing nonstop floods for the last three years and we can imagine how difficult it is to survive without shelter, food, medication and schooling for the young. So at this moment, we assure you that we shall be praying for your great people to be protected from the destruction of Hurricane Sandy." Fateh quoted Jesus as saying, "I am the vine and you are the branches," and added: "The branches from Pakistan will be continually praying for you. Please keep us informed about your safety." Fateh said he would welcome updates from people affected by the storm at ashfaq.fateh@gmail.com so he could pray for them specifically.
Ad Comparing Voting for Obama to Losing Virginity Causes Backlash
An ad starring a young actress comparing voting for Obama to losing her virginity has gotten backlash from Christians and conservatives, WORLD Magazine reports. In the ad, Lena Dunham says: "Your first time shouldn't be with just anybody. You want to do it with a great guy, somebody who really cares about and understands women. ... My first time voting was amazing. ... Before, I was a girl. Now I was a woman. I went to the polling station, behind the polling curtain, I voted for Barack Obama." According to the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins, "It's low-brow even for this White House, which seems to think using expletives to describe your opponent is conduct becoming a U.S. president." Perkins thinks the ad will actually backfire with the audience it's supposed to attract -- women. "The gender gap has all but vanished in this election," he said. "What was once a 16-point lead for Obama has evaporated, thanks in part to demeaning strategies like this one. These women are moms, too, and they recognize that a president with two young daughters should know better."
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