August 25, 2013 … The Repentance of the Faithful

Daily Berry Patch Devotions in 2013 - Day 237

Devotional Song: Go to this link   ... Please take in this powerful, sung by Steve Green, singing Find Us Faithful, reminding us that we, the repentant remnant of the faith, must do all we can to do what God commanded of His faithful and that is to walk the walk of faith no matter what our spiritual enemies and unGodly worldly leaders say or do.

 Highlight meditation passage – 2nd Chronicles 34: 19- [NLT]: …  
19 When the king [Josiah] heard what was written in the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 20 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 21 “Go to the Temple and speak to the LORD for me and for all the remnant of Israel and Judah. Inquire about the words written in the scroll that has been found. For the LORD’s great anger has been poured out on us because our ancestors have not obeyed the word of the LORD. We have not been doing everything this scroll says we must do.”
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Highlight reading study of 2nd Chronicles, Chapters 33-34: Go to this link …

Reference Passage #1: Romans 1: 18-32 [God will not allow a nation to go on in absolute disdain for His commands.] … [NLT] … Go this link ... 

Reference Passage #2: Luke 9: 23 [Jesus’ call is simply to follow Him – no matter what the leaders of the country say or do.] … [NLT] …  
23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow me. ... "

  Reference Passage #3: Hebrews 12: 1 [God’s call is always to avoid the sins of our predecessors and follow Christ.] … [NLT] …
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

My Journal for Today: Well, my friend, if you’re a history buff or a student of the Old Testament, you probably have read or studied in the books of 1st and 2nd Chronicles, where a lot of the history of God’s chosen people, is documented. And most certainly such reading may not be the most exciting of studies; but in those books a lot of what happened in God’s relationship with His people during the age of the Kings was laid out. And today Os Hillman leads his readers (that’s me!) to the accounts of the reign of Josiah, the young king who came to power in the southern kingdom of Judah after the rule of two successive evil kings, Manasseh and his son, Amon.

These latter two kings were really bad dudes; and they had led Judah way-way astray into evil practices which almost spit in the face of God. Josiah, on the other hand, when he became King in Judah at the age of only eight (8), began to turn things around; and somehow, and to me with the anointing and prevenient grace of God, led the people out of their previous rebellion, following what Josiah knew had been the past practices of King David.

However, when Josiah was 26, the priests in the Temple found the scrolls of God’s word, i.e., the Book of the Law. And when God’s word was read before Josiah, as you can read above in 2nd Chronicles 34: 19, he was deeply moved to grieve what God’s people had done during the evil years of Manasseh and Amon. And so, Josiah went into surrender and repentance mode; and though God ultimately had to punish Judah for the disobedience of His people, a merciful God spared Josiah and all of his family and the repentant remnant who had followed Josiah.

Reading these chapters (linked above), caused me to think about what is going on in our world today, especially in this country which was founded on Godly principles, following the lead of Godly leaders. However, now we’re living in a period of national choices and actions which would have to be akin to those years when Manasseh and his son were leading Judah. And I believe, in reading and knowing the truth of Romans 1: 18-32, God is in the process of lifting His merciful hand of protection from a nation which He has seemingly blessed for many, many ages after our founding.

Now however, knowing what Christ had commanded of His disciples (including nations) in Luke 9: 23 and His call for us to be His faithful followers (see Hebrews 12: 1 above), other than some wondrous act of mercy for God to protect His remnant of repentant faithful, I believe in the upcoming years, we’re going to see God, Who has already begun to lift His Spirit’s protection of America, let the leadership of the USA go into the hands of Satan for a season; and it could be an ugly spectacle! And oh, how I hate to think that my kids and grandkids may have to live through the upcoming agony.

But as Steve Green sings in the song to which I’ve linked you today, I pray that we can be of the faithful, as was Josiah in the Old Testament, and many of the faithful disciples of Christ in the 1st Century, remaining true to honor God no matter the circumstances … yes, even if it takes becoming martyrs for the faith.

My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to be faithful! … Amen