Judah

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2 Kings 25:21 Brought Into Captivity

There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed. So Judah went into captivity, away from her land. 2 Kings 25:21

All throughout history various nations or groups of people have invaded the lands of other nations or groups of people. As they did this, they would conquer the nation and put many people into captivity. Those that were captured were bound up to force them to obey the new leadership and many placed in prisons or prison camps. Often those who rebelled against the new leadership were killed.

Nebuchadnezzar went into and captured all of Judah. Many were killed and the nation of Judah was placed in captivity outside of their land.

Out of the massive numbers of people and nations around the world very few will actually be brought into captivity by being overrun by another nation or group of people. Although most people are never physically captured, the majority go into captivity on a regular basis by their own personal choices.

Instead of being bound up in physical prisons, people are bound up in captivity to sin. In choosing to reject God and His ways of living, people choose to live their own way and sin against God. To many this feels like freedom, a freedom of choice to do what one wants.

Freedom in this way is short-lived. It brings pleasure for only a very short amount of time, but always ends up in captivity of death. True life and joy will always escape them. The more a person sins, the more he is bound up to sin, which ultimately leads to death.

Jesus died upon the cross and rose again to bring true freedom and true life. Turning away from sin and believing in and following Jesus breaks the captivity to sin and allows a person to live without captivity.

God has provided a life that is free from captivity and death for you. It is filled with purpose and a joy that the world cannot understand and will last for eternity.

Do not allow yourself to be captivated by the sin of this fallen world. Repent of any sins and turn from them to Jesus who has provided forgiveness and a new life for you. Flee the bondage to sin and death and take on the holiness, righteousness and life that Jesus provides.

Have you been set free? Or are you a bound captive?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will live your life for God; that God will give you strength to flee the bondage of sin; that turn from sinful living to living for God; and that you will be free to live the life God has for you.

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2 Kings 17:7 Results Of Sin

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods 2 Kings 17:7

There is an old saying that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Everyday people do many different things, both good and bad. Due to whatever action that one does, there is another reaction to it, sometimes good, sometimes negative. Often people do not expect anything negative to come from their actions, so they do the actions anyways.

God had destroyed Judah and sent them into exile because they had sinned against Him and worshiped other gods.

As finite human beings living in the here and now, many people do not think about the end results of their actions. The only thing on their minds is immediate pleasure.

Many nations around the world have some history of being predominantly Christian at some point in their history. Even though they had been delivered from the bondage and slavery of sin, the people of those nations have chosen to reject God and worship false gods.

Although some of these nations worship physical false gods, all work on worshiping self, self-pleasure and things. As a result, God has brought about disaster on nations and people.

Some believers have chosen to walk away from God partially or fully to live in sin and follow false gods in their lives. God works to draw them back but will allow them to suffer for their choices. Full joy, satisfaction, purpose, peace and love will elude them in worshiping the false gods. Ultimately death, eternal death awaits them.

God brings on disaster in the hopes of drawing people back to Him. As long as there is breath, there is a chance to repent and turn to Him.

You may or may not be drifting away from God following false gods in your life. If you are following any false god in your life, repent and turn back to God. He is waiting, ready and willing to forgive you of any sins you have committed against Him in following false gods and take you back as His child.

Make God the one and only God in your life. Leave the life of sin and do not go back to a life of sin and death.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal any false gods in your life; that God will give you strength to leave the false gods; that you will follow and worship God alone; and that you will never go back to your old life of sin.

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2 Kings 8:19 God Keeps His Promises

Neverthleless, for the sake of his servant David, the Lord was not willing to destroy Judah. He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever. 2 Kings 8:19

Promises are made all the time by people all over the world, yet many are not willing to keep them. Another person does or does not do something and people break their promises. Sometimes they get upset with someone and choose to hold back on fulfilling their promise. Other times fulfilling the promise is difficult, so they choose to break it.

Jehoram had become King of Judah and continued to lead the people in sin against God. God would not destroy Judah because of His promise to David to keep a light for David and his descendants forever.

God has made many different promises to believers. Although He has made all of these different promises, many do not fully believe them. They forget how God has already kept all of His promises in the past.

One of the great promises many forget is that He is willing to forgive when one chooses to repent of his sins. Many believers fall into some sinful habit and feel as if God cannot or will not forgive them anymore. They feel as if there is no hope left for them.

While Judah was living in and promoting sin, there was hope. God had not given up on them. Until death, there is always hope available for the believer who chooses to repent and trust in the forgiveness and salvation offered by Jesus.

God will always be reaching out to touch a person and help him change. He does not want anyone to perish but to have a relationship with Him and everlasting life. He will keep His promise to pursue that objective.

You may be struggling and have fallen into some sinful habit and feel as if God does not want anything to do with you anymore. This is not true.

God has promised that He will save any who has repented of his sins. This includes you. He is ready and willing to provide anything and everything you need to have life and eternal life.

Do not turn away from God, but turn to Him and know that no matter what you have done, He is ready to forgive and save you. He is not willing to destroy you. He will keep His promises.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will repent of all sins and trust God for forgiveness; that you will know God wants to save and keep you; that you will know God will fulfill all of His promises to you; and that you will serve God with your whole life from this day forward.

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Jeremiah 36:3 Hearing Of Coming Disaster

Crumbling ice

Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin. Jeremiah 36:3 

There are times when warnings of coming disaster are declared. Some people completely ignore the warnings and keep going forward as though nothing is going to happen. Others heed those warnings and change accordingly. In the end some will regret their choices and others will be glad for their choices.

The nation of Judah had been living in sin and God was warning them of coming judgement against them. He sends Jeremiah to tell them of the disaster He will bring upon them because of their sin. God hopes that they will change their hearts and repent of their sin when they hear of the coming destruction.

Most people do not like to hear about coming judgement or disaster. They want to hear about good news, that things will get better or continue to be great. They want to hear about prosperity and love and peace, not disaster and destruction.

This type of thinking has also crept into the church. People only want to hear about love and forgiveness, not judgement. However, God does and will judge sin. Those who purposefully live in sinful ways will be judged some day.

There is coming a day when Jesus will return to judge everyone. Some may live to see that day, others will die sooner and see that judgement come sooner.

The one who is repenting of his sins and striving to live for God will not see that judgement hit him. Those who refuse to repent and turn from sin will only see the wrath of God and His judgement upon them.

People in the church and those in the world need to hear this message. But also need to hear that God is ready to forgive them and save them from the coming destruction of eternal death and punishment.

God is willing to forgive you as you turn to Him and turn away from sin. Be willing to repent and turn from sin, so that God can forgive you.

If you choose to live in sin and rebel against God’s commands, you have only one thing to look forward to–destruction in eternal judgement.

When you repent and turn to God, you can look forward to eternal life with God.

What is your choice? What is your message?

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you repent of all sins; that you will know God’s forgiveness and love; that you will obey all that God commands; and that you will let others know of God’s love and commands. 

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2 Chronicles 21:13 Prostitution And Murder

Storm on a road

But you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your own family, men who were better than you. 2 Chronicles 21:13

As whole in most nations the acts of prostitution and murder are not acceptable practices. These actions are looked down upon and usually carries a punishment if caught.

These acts of prostitution is done on a regular basis in every nation by many people, although not the physical act. People sell their bodies and lives to get what they want, while claiming loyalty to another. The desires are for money, fame, material thing, positions, love, family, recognition, and more.

They also perform acts of murder upon wishing people were dead, cursing people, abortion, and physically killing people. Many of those who do these things appear to be good people in society. Very few people look down upon these actions, though they are still wrong.

Jehoram had become king of Judah and led the people back into sin and away from God. A prophet had come and accused him of leading the people into prostitution and murder. They had prostituted themselves against God. They claimed to be God’s people, but worshipped idols.

Thousands of people attend church on a regular basis and claim to be believers. While at the same time, selling out their soul to their job or some dream not honoring God.

When Jesus died upon the cross, every believer became a part of the bride to the Father. They were now married to God and were to remain loyal to Him in every area of their lives. While still claiming this relationship with God and attending church, many live in purposeful sin and rebellion against God.

They refuse to hold themselves accountable to God and sell their body and souls to the things of this world, hoping to get more. They are jealous and hating of others, causing murder in the heart.

If you are a child of God, you are the bride of Christ. Do not allow yourself to be defiled by living as the world does. Do not flirt with the world. Remain loyal and faithful to God for what He has already done for you.

Do not allow your self to be able to be accused of prostitution against God or murder. God has given you a new life.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will be dedicated to God alone; that you will not follow the ways of this world; and that your life will a sign of God’s great love.