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Scripture for the day: 2 Chronicles 30:6, 10-11 Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria…. So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them. Nevertheless some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.
Thought for the day: As I was reading in the Old and New Testaments today, I came across two passages of scripture and thought, “Now, which would it be best to share with others this morning? On the surface they seemed so different from one another that I couldn’t really decide. Then, as I sat staring at each one in turn, I realized these two scriptures were the same, just worded a bit differently. Let me explain.
The children of Israel had, as was their habit, strayed from the Lord once again. As we know, the kingdom had split following the death of Solomon and the two factions were often at odds with one another. Israel had endured a long train of evil kings who led the people further and further away from the Lord while Judah, at least, enjoyed intermittent fellowship with the God of their deliverance. Hezekiah instituted reforms that once again led the people back to God. Not only that, he sent messengers throughout Israel to invite any who would to come to Jerusalem for revival services. As we saw from today’s passage, they were laughed at, mocked and ridiculed. But some responded and came. When they did the Lord was not stingy with His blessings.
Jump ahead with me to the beginnings of the Gospels. There we find a man named John, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” Most scoffed and ridiculed; some responded and the Lord was not stingy with His blessings.
Jump ahead again to the 13th chapter of Romans. Paul is writing to the fledgling church in Rome in order that he might help set them on the right path. He has already told them of the need for each to minister in the Kingdom of heaven, using the gifts the Holy Spirit has provided. He has urged his readers to walk humbly among those who do not believe, to live, as best they could, within the confines of the laws of the State, and to love one another. “And do this,” he tells them, “knowing that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Romans 13:13).
We could go on an on with examples of those who have sounded the call to repentance and revival through the ages. Martin Luther stood alone as he nailed his 95 theses to the Wittenberg door and ushered in what we call the Reformation. Most scoffed, many ridiculed, but some responded and a renewal of salvation by grace through faith took place. John Wesley, George Whitefield, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham; the Lord has always had a herald calling the faithful back from the distant fields to which they’ve wandered.
And what of 2021? The call is still there; the runners are still moving from city to city, calling the faithful to return to their first love. They are still laughed at, ridiculed and ignored. But some are responding and the Lord will not be stingy with His blessings. And what of you and me? Will we respond to the call of God to revival, knowing that the time is short, or will we continue to drift? Will we be part of the solution or part of the problem?
Now go take on your world. - Bill