Sometimes you have to take a loss to move forward

I ran into a great bit of wisdom this morning in 2 Chronicles.  Check it out.

 

2 Chronicles 25:5-10(NKJV)

Moreover Amaziah gathered Judah together and set over them captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, according to their fathers’ houses, throughout all Judah and Benjamin; and he numbered them from twenty years old and above, and found them to be three hundred thousand choice men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. 

He also hired one hundred thousand mighty men of valor from Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 

But a man of God came to him, saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the Lord is not with Israel—not with any of the children of Ephraim. 

But if you go, be gone! Be strong in battle! Even so, God shall make you fall before the enemy; for God has power to help and to overthrow.”

Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.” 

So Amaziah discharged the troops that had come to him from Ephraim, to go back home. Therefore their anger was greatly aroused against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

 

King Amaziah started down a path, investing his time and money.  He is warned and convinced that going down that path was a mistake but what about all that he has already invested?  The prophet in essence tells him don't sweat it.  It's chump change.  Follow God's leading and He can provide so much more.

Never allow yourself to feel trapped into a course of action because of what you already have invested.  If God is telling you to make the change then make the change!  Don't sweat the details.  Don't worry about what you already have invested. 

Follow God.  You won't regret it.  Not saying that there won't be struggles or disappointments.  Just saying you won't regret it!

You know how nice it is to just hang out with family and friends?

 

You know how nice it is to just hang out with family and friends?  It feels good doesn't it?  To just relax and enjoy the company.

Do you get the same feeling when you are in God's word? 

 

As is my practice, I spend time reading God's word, then ask myself what God was telling me in today's reading and that is what I write about. 

Some days there is no specific message. 

As I was praying about that here is what God told me.  "Not every day in my Word needs to be a great revelation or teaching.  Did you ever stop to think that it is just nice to spend the time together?"

Hmm.  Never thought of it that way.  Thanks God!

"...Take heed, watch and pray..." - What does that really mean?

There is a lot of turmoil in the world right now.  Naturally that brings about talk of the end times.  How will we know?  The Bible gives us clues but I have always defaulted back to what Jesus said on the subject.

Mark 13:32-33(NKJV)
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 
Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 

To begin with, I always count it folly when someone says they have it all figured out.  Jesus clearly says that even He doesn't know the exact timing.  Only God knows.

But Jesus does tell us to "take heed, watch, and pray".

Aren't "taking heed"and "watching" pretty much the same thing?

That is what I thought so I asked ChatGPT for an explanation of the differences.  Here is what it said.

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what is the difference between "taking heed" and "watching"?

The phrases "taking heed" and "watching" can both involve paying attention to something, but there are some subtle differences in their meanings.

"Taking heed" generally implies being aware of a potential danger or warning and taking necessary precautions to avoid it. It suggests a more deliberate and intentional action to avoid harm or negative consequences. For example, "He took heed of the warning and didn't go swimming in the dangerous current."

On the other hand, "watching" can simply mean observing something without necessarily taking any specific action. It can be more passive and less intentional than "taking heed." For example, "She was watching the birds fly in the sky."

In summary, "taking heed" suggests a more active and intentional approach to paying attention to something, especially in response to a warning or potential danger, while "watching" is a more general term for simply observing something without necessarily taking any specific action.

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Interesting.  It might be a little easier to think of the three steps in a slightly different order. 

1.  Watch - Be an alert observer.  You can't take heed of anything until you have some observations to take heed from.

2.  Take Heed - Based on your observations is there anything going on that you need to take heed of? 

3.  Now pray about those things that you are taking heed of.  NEVER start taking action on the things you are taking heed of until you take them to God in prayer. 

Pray for discernment. Is this something that you even need to be taking heed of? 
Pray for understanding.  How does this all fit into God's plan?
Pray for guidance in how God wants you to respond to the things that you are taking heed of?  Other than prayer is there anything else you should be doing on this or that issue?  Let God be your guide.

Most importantly, do all of these things with a sense of peace.  God has it all under control!

"…teaching as doctrine the commandments of men."

Seems to me we see a whole lot of this going on in the world.
 

Mark 7:6-7(NKJV)

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:      ‘This people honors Me with their lips,     But their heart is far from Me.

    And in vain they worship Me,      Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ 

 

Pray for discernment so that you can tell the difference!

 

I never cease to be amazed!

At how I can read the Bible over and over and over…and still find news stuff in there that I had never noticed before.

Here is an example from today. 

 

Mark 6:30-36(NKJV)

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 

When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 

Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

 

This is the story of the second feeding of the multitudes.  I've read this countless times.  Here is what I had not picked up on before.  John the Baptist's disciples were there.  In the highlighted verse Jesus tells John's disciples to “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”.

 

Because of this next verse I thought Jesus had sent them off by themselves. 

"So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.".   I didn't realize that the word "they" included Jesus.  They all went off in the same boat.  Here is what made me realize that.

 

 "But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him"

 

Him in capital letters indicates Jesus.  Jesus was in the boat with them (John the Baptist's disciples).  It is this boat ride with John's disciples that leads directly to the 2nd feeding miracle and John's disciples were there. 

Not sure that it has any significant meaning.  I just love how God continually reveals new things through His word!

Want to know the secret to discipleship?

It's not really a secret.  We as humans tend to overlook the obvious in favor of the more complicated.  Jesus actually gave us the "secret" In the following verse.

 

Mark 5:19-20(NKJV)

However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 

And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

 

Simply share what Jesus has done for you!

Go forward and live in God's favor!

 

Solomon the "Mansplainer" :)

 I'm sorry folks but sometimes things just tickle my funny bone.  This is one of those times.

A couple of years ago we kept hearing about "mansplaining".  Men explaining things to women.  For some reason that was all of sudden a thing to be offended by.  So imagine my surprise when I read this Scripture this morning.
 

2 Chronicles 9:1-2(NKJV)

Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test Solomon with hard questions, having a very great retinue, camels that bore spices, gold in abundance, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon, she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 

So Solomon answered all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for Solomon that he could not explain it to her. 

 

So was Solomon the first "mansplainer"?  :)

I hope you all have a blessed day folks!