Today’s Bible readings: Isaiah 37:8-20 and Matthew 17:1-13
Isaiah 37:14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
Out of all the earthly kings in the Bible, Hezekiah of Jerusalem is my favorite. He ruled his people during some of the worst crises that his people had ever seen. He faces seemingly invincible foes and things look extremely bleak. His advisors have no idea what to do, so it is left to the king to abdicate, capitulate, or totally surrender to his enemies.
Hezekiah does something wonderful which reveals his faith. He takes the unconditional surrender document that his enemies have prepared and places it on the altar in the Temple. He realizes that the situation is way beyond his control and so he goes straight to the top with his problem. Hezekiah is the king of his people, but he is also a servant of God. He places the matter into God’s hands, fearfully knowing that God could reject his prayer. Instead of seeking a political armistice, Hezekiah respects God’s authority and ability to deal with the situation. It’s a remarkable act of faith and it’s a courageous way of expressing his beliefs. He is aware that his enemies will mock him for this, but good old Hezekiah trusts in the sovereignty of God. No matter what the outcome is, his faith is secure.
Sometimes we carry our burdens far too long. We try to be strong and resolute in the face of personal problems, domestic worries, or work related issues. We may be determined to solve these things for ourselves, but perhaps we are missing the opportunity to really ask for God’s help, to seek His guidance, and to acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives.
Most churches have sanctuaries that are open during the day. Perhaps if you’re overwhelmed or heavily burdened, you should make time to go and pray at your local church. Write out your problems and place them on the altar or communion table. Give them over to God and allow Him through the Spirit of Christ to really help you. There’s nothing wrong about needing God’s help; we are, after all, only human.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You completely know the issues and are perfectly aware of the problems that beset each of us. Help us to seek Your Counsel and enable us to truly come to God with our heartaches and burdens, our worries and anxieties. Grant us the courage to place them in Your hands. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.
Today’s image is John’s 2011 Nativity Storyboard which was drawn to help parents teach their children about the real Christmas story. You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7002/6562257899_9ffba05e28_b.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment