“Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and, indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other purpose?”
― John Wesley
2 CHRONICLES 23-25
Jahoiada provides critical leadership and sets up Joash as King. As long as Jahoiada is alive the people obey and worship God. Then after he dies they rebel...his son Amaziah ultimately follows his father's deceitful ways...
14When Amaziah returned from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down to them and burned sacrifices to them. 15The anger of the Lord burned against Amaziah, and he sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand?”
Jesus promises the spirit to guide the disciples through the days of suffering...JOHN 16:16-33
29Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”31“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
JOURNAL
Jahoiada the priest pulls off an amazing cue and crowns young Joash...usurping Athalia. He has her executed and for the rest of Jahoiada's life...Israel knows peace. It is amazing the effect of Godly leadership. It changes everything and has the power to change people and a community. The forces of good and evil that create the tug of war within God's people is astounding. Yet I see that it is the same tug of war that exists within my own heart. The only solution to that is to surrender fully to God and the love of Christ.
The quote by Wesley is extremely troubling and gives me pause. It truly exposes my selfishness and the twisted ways I justify pleasure, luxury and the trinkets of modern society.
The quote by Wesley is extremely troubling and gives me pause. It truly exposes my selfishness and the twisted ways I justify pleasure, luxury and the trinkets of modern society.
25Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
~ Luke 14:25-27
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