August 1

2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21, Romans 15:1-22, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 20:13-15

Pray: The celebration was a month late. The priests were not ready. Yet, the Passover in 2 Chronicles 30 happened. It was a great celebration and a return to the ways of the Lord. If you’re like me, you have expectations. When life takes a different path than you expected, it can sometimes throw you off course (again, if you’re like me!). Perhaps God wants to take you on a different path than you expect. Hezekiah did what was needed to honor the Lord and return a nation to the ways of God. As you pray, be open to what the Lord wants to say to you and to the new path He may be making for you.

Read: David opens Psalm 25 with, “O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God!” I have often prayed prayers like this only to be convicted that I really didn’t mean it. I wanted to be sincere. I wanted to give God my life and to trust in Him. In truth, I was giving part of my life to God and I was partially trusting in Him. Partial commitment and partial trust is, quite honestly, complete rebellion. God wants all of our life, no part left untouched by His mighty hand. God wants complete trust in Him. We admire David as a “man after God’s own heart.” Perhaps the reason he had such favor with the Lord wasn’t because he was perfect, but it was because his life was committed to the Lord and he trusted God completely. It’s the kind of life we should want. It’s the kind of life that pleases and honors the Lord.

Edify: If you’re a follower of Jesus, a Christian, you understand something about the grace of God. You know Jesus has accepted you and He gave His life for you, to forgive you of your sins. That is amazing news! Something we miss sometimes, though, is the instruction that Paul gives us to “accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory’ (Romans 15:7). It pains me to see brothers and sisters in Christ belittling and demonizing one another. More importantly, I believe it pains God to see His children bickering and fighting. We can do better. Paul believed so, and so do I.

Practice: Who needs to be built up today? Do you know anyone who could use some encouragement, in their everyday life or even in their faith? Paul says, “We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord" (Romans 15:2). It could be a card, a thank you note, a spoken word of appreciation, or whatever God lays on your heart. Someone needs to be lifted up today, of that you can be sure. Be the person that gives them a new perspective…add value to them today. You’ll never go wrong when you add value to another.