For a description of the (Y2) reading plan, see the “About” page.
1 John 1
The introduction in 1 John is as cool to me as the introduction in John’s Gospel. Both are very descriptive, poetic ways of stating that Jesus is God in human form. This is the testimony of all those who personally experienced the physical presence of Jesus. And John is one of the few who we know put this testimony into writing.
Those of us who believe this testimony enter into fellowship with God by way of His Holy Spirit, who we received through the work of Jesus. And so, though we did not see and touch God as Jesus’ disciples did, we have the same testimony because we know that Jesus is God. We know because where there was darkness, now there is light. Where there were lies, now there is truth. And where there was sin, now there is forgiveness. If that truth doesn’t make our joy complete, we must be missing something!
2 Chron. 17-18
What did Jehoshaphat do right? What did Jehoshaphat do wrong? The Bible gives us many clues as to what it means to live for God. In the case of Jehoshaphat, it tells us, “He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed His commands” (2 Chron. 17:4a). We no longer see these false gods in the form that they existed in Old Testament times, but I know for certain that they still exist. They exist in the form of anything onto which we project the attributes of God. We need look no farther than wherever we place our hope and trust to find them.
I find a stark warning for myself in Jehoshaphat’s behavior in 2 Chronicles 18, however. As faithful as he was to consult God alone and to learn and make known God’s laws, Jehoshaphat still made some poor decisions. I know that I am not immune to making poor decisions either.
I have no idea what Jehoshaphat was thinking when he allied himself with Ahab by marriage or when he followed Ahab into a doomed battle. Perhaps he thought he was being compassionate to a nation that was as much God’s people as Judah. Or maybe he thought he could have a positive influence on Israel through his alliance and help. He may have seen his actions as sticking with his brothers; his family. All of these are seemingly noble ideas. It is clear, though, that his actions weren’t good. Though my own potential for making similar mistakes unsettles me, I am also comforted in knowing that, even in the midst of his poor decisions, God still protected Jehoshaphat.
Ps. 81
How has God “removed the burden from your shoulder?” Sing a song of thanks to Him for this! I think the biggest burden God has lifted form me is my own stubborn heart. As it says in Ezekiel 11:19b, “I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” It is our stubborn heart that causes us to sin, leading us away from God and straight toward death and destruction. “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.” (Ps. 81:11-12). There is no life in a heart of stone. Thus, following our own heart can never lead to life. But God put His living Spirit in me so that I could have life everlasting. So sing for joy, I will!