Category: obey God

In Seasons of Struggle. And…

in Seasons of Strength.

2 Chronicles 32-33

In 2 Chronicles 32, we see King Hezekiah face overwhelming odds as the mighty Assyrian army threatens Jerusalem. In this moment of crisis, Hezekiah listened to the prophet Isaiah and turned to God with courage and prayer. God answered powerfully, as he sent an angel to destroy the Assyrian soldiers, delivering Judah from their enemies. It’s a powerful picture of faith under pressure – God was glorified through Hezekiah’s faith and hence, Jerusalem was protected.

Unfortunately, once the threat had passed and success was secured, Hezekiah faltered. In his pride, he failed to give thanks for God’s blessings, and judgment nearly comes upon him, until he humbles himself once again. His story reminds us that remaining faithful isn’t just for hard times – it’s a daily posture, even in seasons of comfort and strength.

In chapter 33, we meet his son, Manasseh – a king who begins with blatant rebellion and leads his nation into idolatry and evil. Yet, even Manasseh, after being taken captive, humbles himself before God. Astonishingly, God restores him!

The rise and fall of these two kings show us both the blessings of obedience, the consequences of our disobedience, and the gracious mercy that awaits repentant hearts. Remaining faithful to God isn’t a one-time decision, rather it is a lifelong journey! Hezekiah’s pride and Manasseh’s rebellion serve as warnings and encouragements. God is patient, but He desires our hearts fully, in every season – whether we are in a season of strength or a season of struggle. God calls us to faithfulness at all times, as displayed by our humility, obedience, repentance, and trust in Him.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to remain faithful to You, not only in times of need but also in times of blessing. Protect me from evil, that my heart would be humble and obedient. Please have mercy on me and draw me back to You quickly when I stray. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• How does God’s willingness to forgive even the worst rebellion shape the way I treat others who fail? Do I extend the same mercy that I hope to receive?

• Am I more likely to seek God in crisis than in comfort? How can I cultivate a heart that remains humble and repentant even when life seems to be going great?

• In what ways can I live for God today, as a response to God’s radical love and forgiveness in my life?

• What does true repentance look like – not just in words, but in action? 

-Beth Osborn

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Big Trouble Brewing

2 Kings 20-21


In 2 Kings 20, we see King Hezekiah, a ruler who (mostly) honored the Lord and brought reform to Judah. When he fell ill, he prayed earnestly, and God mercifully extended his life by fifteen years. Yet even this godly king displayed flaws and selfish pride, especially during the end of his rule. After his recovery, he proudly showed off his treasures and bragged to the Babylons, failing to seek God’s wisdom instead. This prideful act led to Isaiah’s sobering prophecy and indeed Babylon would one day carry all of his riches away. Hezekiah also showed a lack of care or concern for the people who would come after him. He was pleased just to know that the Lord’s wrath wouldn’t fall upon Jerusalem during his lifetime. He did not set up future generations for success.

In chapter 21, we meet Hezekiah’s son, Manasseh, who reigned for 55 years. Unlike his father, Manasseh rejected the Lord completely! He rebuilt pagan altars, was engaged in every form of occultism, including black magic, fortune-telling, demon contacts, and even child sacrifice. Manasseh led Judah deeper into sin than the nations God had driven out before them. The history of God’s people was a history of disobedience toward the Lord. With the reign of Manasseh, the sin of God’s people climaxed, God’s patience was withdrawn, and the judgement of exile became inevitable.

The contrast is striking: King Hezekiah sought God yet stumbled in pride; King Manasseh abandoned God altogether. This contrast reminds us that faith must be personal, it cannot be inherited. Hezekiah’s faith didn’t guarantee Manasseh’s obedience. Likewise, partial obedience or past faithfulness doesn’t excuse compromise. God calls each of us to a life of daily trust and surrender.

Prayer:

Lord, help me walk humbly before You, not resting in yesterday’s faith, but living in daily obedience. Keep me from pride and arrogance and please lead my heart to fully trust in You and Your precious son, Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.

Reflection Questions:

• Where might you be relying on past spiritual victories, rather than seeking renewed dependence on God today?

• Are there areas in your life where pride or compromise have crept in?

• Are there “treasures” that you show off, revealing misplaced confidence?

• What legacy of faith are you building for those who come after you? 

-Beth Osborn

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What is Required?

Micah 4-7

After the heavy words of judgment in chapters 1–3, Micah shifts his tone in chapter 4. We are given a beautiful glimpse into a future when there is a godly rule from Zion, and nations will come to learn His ways (Micah 4:1–4). Peace replaces war. Oppression is overturned. God gathers the lame and makes them into a strong nation (4:6–7).

Micah chapter 5 reveals God’s answer to a broken world: a king born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This prophecy clearly points to Jesus, the ruler who will bring security and peace to all of the Earth. Though God is serious about his judgement, He is also a gracious and merciful God who has offered redemption for us. 

Micah chapter 6 is home to my personal favorite verse. For some reason, Micah 6:8 constantly comes up in any messages I do. I believe it’s because it so broadly applies to many message themes and is an answer to the idea of sacrifice. First, Micah exaggerates the idea of a sacrifice that would be worthy to be in the presence before God in Micah 6:7:

“Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬)

Afterwards, he amends by stating my favorite verse:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬)

Sometimes, it may feel like a lot to read through the Bible, meditate on His words, and realize that there is a lot that we are called to do. However, we come almost full circle here with this idea of walking humbly with God. If we do this, and we put our faith in him and act justly, we are more worthy of our calling in his presence than any sacrifice ever could make us. 

Then, at the finale of this book, Micah laments. He laments the corruption and distrust in Israel, and he laments the misery in the nation. However, he does not end the book on a sour note. Instead, Micah presents words that should echo for us in times of darkness.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬)

Micah ends on a message of clear hope. Hope in God being with him. Hope in God redeeming the nation of Israel with the remnant of Jacob. Hope in God delivering on his promises. 

-Colby Leggitt

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think the people offered sacrifices instead of obedience?
  2. What does it practically look like to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” in your life or community?
  3. Micah 7:7 says, “My God will hear me.” Do you live with that same confidence? Why or why not?
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Order Your Way

2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 9-12

“Jotham grew powerful because he walked steadfastly before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6). 

Jotham could be considered to be an overlooked person in the Bible, but his accomplishments and example were great. He was young when he ascended to his position as a king: only 25 years old! However, at that point he had the spiritual maturity to humble himself before God unlike those around him. Because of that, he made a quiet yet profound impact on Israel during his reign (not to mention conquering the Ammonites). 

We will take this example and then examine Isaiah 9-11. Here, we find once again that wrath will be upon the wicked in the form of judgement from God. The language in these chapters do not spare us from imagery of fire and death. These seem to allude to a judgement of the wicked that has not come completely to pass just yet. 

Speaking of not coming to pass yet, prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 11 makes allusions to the (then) coming messiah: Jesus Christ. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). The root of Jesse spoken in this chapter is Jesus as he is in fact a descendant of Jesse according to the genealogy found in Luke 3. Here, we have a much more hopeful note to look to after the judgement that must pass. Importantly, that remnant that he will gather up is foretold in Isaiah 10:20.

 “In that day the remnant of Israel,

    the survivors of Jacob,

will no longer rely on him

    who struck them down

but will truly rely on the Lord,

    the Holy One of Israel.”

This “remnant of Israel” speaks of those who truly rely and trust in the Lord.

This brings us back to Jotham from 2 Chronicles 27. He sets an example for us as he walked steadfastly before the Lord, humbled himself, and put his trust in Him. Jotham overcame the war with the Ammonites with God on his side. Furthermore, the “remnants of Israel” were relented of the judgement that passed on the wicked, as they also walked with the Lord. If trusting in the Lord and setting your spiritual anchor with him allows for you to weather a calamity that only God can create, imagine what else you weather in your life if you put your trust in him! 

Therefore, we must live like Jotham. Stay faithful, even when the world around you is falling apart. Order your life before God. Strength grows in obedience. Hold on to Isaiah’s vision. Jesus has come, and He’s coming again. In Him, we find light in our darkest moments. With that, we will only begin to understand the praise that adorns the short chapter of Isaiah 12:

“Surely God is my salvation;

    I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;

    he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)

-Colby Leggitt

Discussion Questions

  1. What does it look like for you to “order your ways before the Lord” in your current season?
  2. Are there areas in your life where you’re tempted to compromise instead of staying faithful?
  3. What does it mean to be still before the Lord?
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Five Deaths and A Resurrection

2 Kings 12-13
2 Chronicles 24

A few months ago, our worship team was looking for new songs for Easter services. We began practicing a song called “Rattle” by Elevation Worship, but I realized the bridge had a peculiar phrase. Here is how the first part of the bridge goes:

“My God is able to save and deliver and heal

And restore anything that He wants to

Just ask the man who was thrown

On the bones of Elisha

If there’s anything that He can’t do…”

My mind was whirling trying to remember who was thrown onto those bones, why did it happen, and what was the outcome? To my surprise, only two verses are devoted to this miraculous event. 2 Kings 13:20-21 very casually mention that in haste, a dead man was put into Elisha’s grave and as soon as he touched Elisha’s bones he was “revived and stood up on his feet.” To be honest, I would love more information. How did the man die and who was he? Did he live a long time after he was brought back to life? Did he do anything amazing with the extra time he was given? Alas, scripture doesn’t give us more details.

However, it does tell us a bit about the lives of Joash and Jehoiada. Joash was only seven years old when he became king of Judah and had a long reign. During his reign, he commanded that repairs would be made to God’s house. King Joash was ready to roll with this project and even specified they needed to do the work quickly but the priests were like,“Meh, lets do repairs another day” and didn’t get to work like they had been commanded.

Enter Jehoiada. Jehoiada was the chief priest who had even played matchmaker for Joash. Joash asks Jehoiada what the hold up is and commands him to get this project moving. Jehoiada does as King Joash commands and the repairs are finally made. Sadly, Jehoiada passes away and Joash begins listening to ungodly advisors.

King Joash was so misled by these advisors that he even has Jehoiada’s son Zechariah stoned to death. Things went from bad to worse from there. King Joash became sick and was eventually murdered by his own servants. He wasn’t even buried in the tombs of the kings because he was so reviled for his evil acts.

So what does it matter? People lived, did good, did evil and all eventually died. So what? It matters as a reminder for us to examine how we live our lives. Elisha was so connected with God that even after he was dead and buried, his bones radiated God’s power. Jehoiada was respected because he followed God’s laws and he was even buried in the area where other kings were buried. On the other hand, King Joash, although he possessed power and wealth, allowed himself to be led astray from God and died in disgrace.

I hope that we can all be a little bit like each of the men from today’s passage. Let’s be ready to take action for good like King Joash was while he was young. Let’s grow in wisdom and share it like Jehoiada did. Let’s speak the truth with passion, no matter the cost, like Zechariah did. And when we feel spiritually weak or even dead, let’s rise up and become restored with the help of our brothers and sisters in Christ, like the man thrown into Elisha’s tomb did.

-Lacey Dunn

Reflection Questions:

• You might have noticed that I didn’t bring up Jehoahaz and Jehoash. What happened as a result of their disobedience to God?

• Do you have a Godly mentor like Jehoiada in your life? If so, who are they and how do they inspire you? If not, who is a Godly person you could take inspiration from?

• Imagine that you are the guy who died and suddenly came back to life after touching Elisha’s bones. What thoughts are going through your mind? Who do you go visit first? What change do you make in your life with this new chance?

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Healed How?

2 Kings 5-8

Second Kings chapter 5 includes another miracle performed by God through Elisha.  Yesterday we considered four miracles from chapter 4, today we will consider one from chapter 5, the healing of Naaman of leprosy.  Rather than focusing on the miracle, let’s focus on the heart of Naaman.

In Second Kings 5:10 we find the words of Elisha to Naaman of how he can be cured of leprosy, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”  These seem like simple, albeit specific, instructions.  In the next verse we read, “But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.”  Naaman seems to have some pretty simple, albeit specific, expectations of how God would show up in his life.  In his first statement, I wonder if Naaman feels a little ignored or slighted that Elisha did not come out himself to see him.  Naaman is a man of some importance within Aram but Elisha sends his messenger to Naaman rather than coming out himself.  This is a good lesson to us to not think too highly of ourselves as well (Romans 12:3). 

Naaman goes on to communicate what he assumes will happen before he has an encounter with God.  He assumed Elisha would stand, call on God’s name, and wave his hand.  This might seem unique to Naaman, but are we sometimes a lot like Naaman.  Take a moment to consider how you expect to meet with God in worship.  Are there things you anticipate will happen before you experience God during a worship service?  Do you assume there will be songs led by a guitar or piano?  Do you think the speaker must have a dynamic presence on a stage?  Do you think God will show up if the singers have perfect voices and the lighting is ideal?  Is there a simple, albeit specific, formula that you expect to occur in worship before you think God will show up?

I would challenge you today to consider breaking free from your expectations of how to experience God and to lean into the method that is consistent in Scripture and historically.  Naaman experienced God when he followed God’s direction.  This is when we will experience God as well.  When we follow God’s direction for our lives or for our church, we will experience God and the blessing He has in store for us.  By Second Kings 5:14 Naaman was talked into obeying God and it says, “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”  It was obedience to God that brought about an encounter with Him.  It is our obedience to God, that brings about an encounter with Him today.

-Michael Cisler

Reflection Questions

What are your assumptions, or even preferences, of how you expect to encounter God?

What are the areas in which you need to continue to move toward obedience to God, rather than following your own path?

How can you begin to make that step of obedience today, or what is the first step you can make today?

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The Final Conclusion

Ecclesiastes 7-12

Yesterday we searched Ecclesiastes for the wisdom that Solomon put there for us to find.  Today we continue our search for the eternal truth that God has set for us to find.  Remember that the human mind wants to have the certainty of knowledge and wisdom, but that the only true wisdom is from God and not human thought. 

Ecclesiastes 7:8-13(NLT) Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride.
9 Control your temper,
for anger labels you a fool.
10 Don’t long for “the good old days.”
This is not wise.
11 Wisdom is even better when you have money.
Both are a benefit as you go through life.
12 Wisdom and money can get you almost anything,
but only wisdom can save your life.  Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?

It is interesting that wisdom and money can go hand in hand.  When we are part of God’s family we have the resources of the head of our Household to help us. 

Does God give us the financial resources that we have for us alone?  Or are the resources for the work of His church and kingdom?

Ecclesiastes 7:29(NLT) But I did find this: God created people to be virtuous, but they have each turned to follow their own downward path.”

Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 In my search for wisdom and in my observation of people’s burdens here on earth, I discovered that there is ceaseless activity, day and night. 17 I realized that no one can discover everything God is doing under the sun. Not even the wisest people discover everything, no matter what they claim.

Maybe Artificial Intelligence will be able to find all knowledge? 

Will it find that God’s Word is ultimate truth or will it decide that the Word is not correct? 

Is there ultimate true wisdom in any human endeavor?

I think these verses give us the truth that God alone has ultimate wisdom and we will find it when we search for Him, and not for the knowledge that comes from the world.  All else is “vanity” trying to breath into a bottle.

Ecclesiastes 12:11-14(NLT) The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.
12 But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.
13 That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. 14 God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.

How does the conclusion of Ecclesiastes compare with the proverb that Jesus gives us in Matthew?

Matthew 10:16(NKJV) Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves

May you have a great day being shrewd in the world’s ways, but with God’s love and truth as the foundation of the way to live.

-Tom Siderius

See Reflection Questions above in bold

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My Hope is in His Word

Psalm 119:89-176

I don’t think that any child would say that they love rules. And yet, they subconsciously crave them. Rules from a loving parent show a child that someone loves them enough to guide them. Structure makes them feel reassured and gives a sense of stability. Without those directions and guidelines, children become stressed and tend to feel out of their depth. 

Even as an adult, I like to have rules and guidelines that make logical sense. Structure eases my mental burden because it removes some of the many options that exist. In fact, research says that too many decisions and too many options are harmful to our mental health and can lead to mental fatigue and anxiety, causing us to either avoid making decisions or make harmful decisions that don’t align with our life goals. 

If I know that by following wise guidelines I will avoid many mistakes, my mind and soul feel more at ease. How blessed are we, then, that we have a loving father who cares so much about us that he has set boundaries for his children to keep us safe? 

The author of Psalm 119 clearly knows the value of God’s laws. His gratitude to God for providing wisdom and guidance is clear. When I first read through this passage my initial thought was, “How can someone go on this long about laws and rules!?” But the truth is that these verses aren’t proclaiming the glory of guidelines. They are testifying to the everlasting love God has for us.

We live in a sinful world that is full of deceit, pitfalls, and endless opportunities for mistakes. But Psalm 119:113-114 offers reassurance that though the world is wicked, our God loves us so much that he has provided all of the guidance we need to navigate life. 

“I hate double-minded people, but I love your law. You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.”

What a beautiful reminder to bury ourselves in God’s commands. I pray that you find love, peace, and reassurance in his words written for you. 

-Jenn Haynes

Reflection Questions

What are some decisions you are facing right now? What would God advise? 

Many people find rules restricting. How do you feel about some of God’s rules for you? If you find them restricting, do some reflection to find out why. Is what God wants for you clashing with what you want? 

Take some time to thank God for some specific rules he has set forth for you that you have found helpful. Revel in his love for you! 

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Loving Laws

Psalm 119:1-88

As I read through the first half of this Psalm, one thing that stuck out to me was the repetition of the thought of loving God’s law/commands/decrees or desiring to love them. 

When we think about laws, we don’t usually think about loving them.  We follow the laws so we don’t get punished.  Some laws, we understand and agree that they are good, so it makes sense to follow them, and some, we don’t and the only reason to follow them is to not get in trouble (like prohibiting nursing homes from playing Bingo more than two times per week or not crossing state lines with a duck on your head).

The concept of loving laws makes much more sense when you consider a loving God that created them.  Though we may not understand all of them, we can know that God put them into place for the good of people.

Though the requirements of the law were fulfilled in Christ and there wasn’t an expectation for the Gentiles to follow the law, we can still look at the law and see valuable guidance like washing your hands.  You can see how the instructions on dealing with dead bodies or blood would have made sense, especially before more medical advances were made.  And whatever doesn’t make sense to you at this time, if you believe that God is good and loving, you can trust that the laws were made with a reason.

When we look at the direction given by Jesus that went above and beyond the call of the law, we can also believe that he gave those directives because he loves people too and wants us to as well.

When we want to do good because it is good rather than because of a fear of punishment (or a promise of reward), we can live our lives differently than the world around us.

God, teach us to love your ways, to truly believe that your ways are good and trustworthy.

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What are your favorite 3 verses in Psalm 119:1-88? Why did you choose each one?
  2. What is the benefit of having good laws? What laws help your home, school or work environment run more smoothly?
  3. Do you trust that God’s laws are good? Pick one of God’s good laws that God might want you to love more. What would that look like?
  4. What do we learn about God’s laws from Jesus?
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So Be Strong

1 Kings 1-2 & Psalm 37, 71, 94

As David gets ready to die in 1 Kings 2, the beginning verses as he speaks to Solomon stuck out to me.

2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man, 3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go 4 and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’”

“So be strong, act like a man” – what does that look like?  I think this statement connects with the next one.  To be strong and act like a man is to observe what the Lord your God requires which is to walk in obedience to him and keep his decrees.  Doing those things takes strength because it opposes the way of the world.

I am not a man, but I am raising a young one, and this is what I desire for him.  I want him to be strong, that is, to stand firm in faith and not give in to pressures from this world, but to instead walk in obedience to God.  I want him to be strong as in to stand up for those who can’t, to defend and protect the weak. 

Our culture puts definitions on what it wants men to be like, and that changes throughout time (for example, I read recently that pink used to be a very masculine color in the past), but those things don’t really matter.  How they follow God matters.  How they care for others matters.

As you continue reading in 1 Kings 2, you see poor examples of men in Adonijah, in Abiathar, in Joab, in Shimei as they tried to usurp the leader God put in place or followed the wrong people or refused to listen.  These aren’t poor examples of men in a cultural sense, they are poor examples of men in the sense that they were not walking in obedience to God.  They were not being strong/faithful to what they were told, but instead were led astray, or were trying to lead others astray.  If we can raise up men who follow God and care for others, we raise up men who are like Jesus and that is the strength that I hope to see.

~Stephanie Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. How is God’s definition of what it takes to be a man different from what the world currently says men should be?
  2. While it is not discussed in this text specifically, what do you think God would say to women about how they should act?
  3. Man or woman, how have you showed strength in opposing the way of the world? Is there an area where God would like to see more strength in you – more doing what God requires?
  4. What good examples have you had of men or women who were strong in the Lord?
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