Good morning...
Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo, is a television show host and author of four books on organizing. She became a household name in the United States after her first book was published selling 1.5 million copies.
She is famous for many of her quotes today including, "Clutter in your physical surroundings will clutter your mind and spirit." and "The important thing in tidying is not deciding what to discard but rather what you want to keep."
She also said, "Life truly begins after you have put your house in order."
Seems like we all have been doing that this past 5 to 6 weeks doesn't it... It made me think about King Hezekiah. In 2 Chronicles chapters 29, 30, 31, & 32 we have much of the story. The son of Ahaz, who was one of the most wicked kings of Judah in Jerusalem, Hezekiah didn't have a chance did he. But that's not what happened with Hezekiah. The bible says in chapter 29 verse 2 that "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord,"
There was a great revival in the first year of his reign, in the first month! The house of the Lord was repaired and the doors were opened. The Levites called the people to sanctify themselves and sanctify the house of the Lord. The temple worship was restored. He invited all Israel and Judah and Ephraim and Manasseh to come keep the Passover unto the Lord God of Israel. Many other days of celebrations were kept, idols were destroyed, reforms were instituted in the religious ceremonies... Yes King Hezekiah made a few mistakes, but each time he turned unto the Lord God of Israel and prayed and wept in asking forgiveness and God added unto him years to come.
In the end, 2 Chronicles 32:31 we learn that it was the Lord who had strengthened Hezekiah to "know all that was in his heart."
The exact words say, "God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."
Then the scriptures close with, "Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet,"
God tested King Hezekiah in 2 Kings 20:1 after one of his failures and told him to "Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live."
What was it that King Hezekiah did? He gave all the silver found in the house of the Lord as a gift to the king of Assyria. He cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the Lord and from the pillars and gave it to the king of Assyria.
Why was this so bad? This is exactly what his father Ahaz had done and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria! 2 Kings 16:8
This showed Israel's enemy that Hezekiah wasn't as near unto the God of his father David as he used to be.
God will test you and I just the same as he did with King Hezekiah. Hezekiah had passed every test he had been through until toward the end of his reign. Why was it the bible said, "God left him..."?
Hezekiah had become impressed with himself and proud and we know from James 4:6b that "...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
While we are getting our homes in physical order, finishing repair lists and making renovations, let's inspect our spiritual conditions and make plans to overhaul or renovate those areas where we are lacking fellowship with our Saviour and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's remove the barriers of pride that have separated our families and rebuild walls of acceptance and understanding.
Let's clean up misunderstandings and condition our relationships with love and peace.
Let us love one another because Jesus said, "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another."
Lord Jesus, Help us to be the Christ-like disciple you would have us to be. Help us Lord to set our spiritual house in order for your honor and glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
Please remember the phone tree prayer requests.
Please remember our church prayer requests and all those listed in our church bulletin.
Pray for one another. Pray for our Nation and ALL people.
Pray for our military, their families and the churches missionaries all around the world.
Pray for our Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and First Responders.
Pray for all those in the medical field, hospitals and doctors offices as they provide patient well care and also to protect themselves.
Finally Pray for the lost, those seeking after The Lord today.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen
"Wherefore edify(encourage) one another..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11
building my life... in Christ, Pastor Brian
Have a great day!