Pride, Humility, and Consequences

Pride, Humility, and Consequences

What is pride?

What is humility?

  • The opposite of the negative definition of pride.

What are consequences?

Today’s study looks at an example of pride, humility, and the consequences of both in the life of Hezekiah.

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Human Armies versus a Single Angel

Human Armies versus a Single Angel

In our natural state, it is easy to be overwhelmed by what looks like an intimidating display of strength and power.

Today, we are looking at a passage that is a review of events also found in 2 Kings 18-19.

Both passages report how a massive human army was overpowered and conquered by a single angel sent by the Lord.

Read on for insights that will encourage your own faith journey as you and others encounter challenges in your own lives.

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Are We Doing What is Good and Right?

Are We Doing What is Right and Good?

Today’s study continues the story of King Hezekiah’s leadership in restoring spiritual faithfulness to the Lord.

His concern was not about his own success but doing what is good and right in the eyes of God.

This intention spills over into the hearts of all who took part in the restoring of the temple, the celebration of the Passover, and the organization of providing for the ongoing worship practices thereafter.

Studying King Hezekiah’s heart for the Lord and how the people responded to his actions prompts me to ask, “Are we doing what is good and right?”

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Are You Walking Worthy?

Are You Walking Worthy? A Study of Colossians 1:9-14

Walking has been a topic on my mind since February of this year.

Why?

Because I’ve been recovering from a torn meniscus, a large baker’s cyst, and an osteoarthritis flare-up in my left knee. I’m also struggling with a bone spur on my left big toe that makes it feel like I’m walking on a pebble.

Doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and plenty of rest have altered my routine for the last several months.

But this is physical, literal walking.

The question of this post is about our spiritual walk and how we live our daily lives with one another.

Most importantly, what does it mean to walk worthily in God’s eyes?

And how should this impact our daily lives?

Join me in a study of Colossians 1:9-14.

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How Do We Rededicate Ourselves to Worshiping God?

How Do We Rededicate Ourselves to Worship God?

The definition of the word rededicate, according to merriamwebster.com, is: to commit (oneself, one’s life, etc.) anew to a cause, enterprise, or activity.

This act reveals that we have drifted away from whatever we are now committed anew.

An example of this is rededicating ourselves to living a healthy lifestyle with how we eat and the amount of activity we get.

But today’s study is not about physical fitness.

It is about spiritual fitness.

Join me in studying a passage from 2 Chronicles 29 as well as some verses from the book of Hebrews to get a fully rounded concept of how we can rededicate ourselves to worshiping God.

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Why Would You Come and See?

Why Would You Come and See?

What are you interested in enough to drop what are doing to go see something?

Is it usually something significant that you’ve heard about that provides motivation?

Or could it be something simple that you greatly enjoy?

One simple thing that motivates me to “come and see” is a gorgeous sunset or sunrise.

This simple thing also motivates me to invite others to “come and see.”

But this simple thing pales compared to who extended the offer to “come and see” in today’s passage.

And what motivated the invitees to do so.

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How Do We Know God Is At Work?

How Do We Know God Is At Work 2 Chronicles 29:1-16

On the one hand, the question for this post seems silly to ask.

Especially for those of us who believe the Bible, both the Old and New Testaments.

But sometimes the world gets so bleak that even the most stoic believer might find this question in their thoughts, even if ever so briefly.

When this happens to us, it is important that we turn to the Bible to find encouragement from our Creator.

2 Chronicles 29:1-19 provides just such encouragement.

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The Strength Needed to Bear Our Burdens

The Strength Needed to Bear Our Burdens | A study of Nehemiah 4:6-15

Have you ever had to build a wall from a pile of rubble?

I certainly haven’t.

Do you feel you have the strength to do that type of work?

I would need to secure help from others to do this type of work.

How would you go about the process if you oversaw that the work was done?

Do you find hope in the picture above or discouragement?

I see both.

The piles of stones reveal to me that someone labored to stack them, but that something has turned the structure into rubble.

I also see that to rebuild will take hard and exhausting labor, which can lead to discouragement.

But the eagle overseeing the site and the rays of sunshine signal evidence of strength and encouragement, i.e. hope for me.

What does this have to do with the study of Nehemiah 4:6-15?

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Are We Truly Listening to God?

Are We Truly Listening to God? 2 Chronicles 25

Truly listening to another person involves much more than just hearing their words.

It involves understanding their words.

When we do not listen for understanding, we are easily prone to making wrong conclusions.

Worse, we can spend more time focusing on what we want to say or our own desires than truly being aware of the other person.

How do you know when someone has truly listened to you?

Now imagine how God, the creator of all that exists, responds to us when we truly listen to Him?

Our study today reveals how important it is to truly listen to God.

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