On this Thanksgiving Day 2009, we join the psalmist in inviting all nations to praise the Lord! His steadfast love and faithfulness are to be praised! As you read today and as you begin your day, say a prayer for those who are struggling to find the WAY to Him; to experience His steadfast love and faithfulness!
Today’s history lesson tells of the 11-year reign of twenty-one-year old Zedekiah as the last king of Judah before it’s surrender to Babylonian domination and occupation. The destruction and the sorrow of that time is described in great detail. In the nineteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar it occurred; the house of the Lord and all the houses of Jerusalem were burned, the walls of the city were broken down and people were carried into exile. Key religious and political leaders were humiliated and killed by the Babylonian king. What do you and I learn from this history lesson? This and other scriptural accounts of the tragic consequences that result from leaving God out of one’s life ought to be enough to cause us to make the right choices. Sadly, this is not always the case. Lord, help me today to make those right choices!
Today’s Readings: Psalm 117; 2 Kings 24:18-25:21; Isaiah 19-20; John 17
The lesson from prophecy today is this – not to place our hope in those who offer to deliver us through physical strength and power but to place our hope in God. Isaiah 20:6 is a key verse in this section. Remember Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th kings of Judah (Jotham, Ahaz,and Hezekiah; 740-710 BC) so it precedes the events of 2 Kings 24 and 25. Lord, help me to HEAR the wisdom in these words and to live with you as my hope today!
Jesus’ words, spoken through John, speak to my heart this morning to say, “Randy Sexton, I sent My Son into this world to show you how to live! Live today, and every day, the way He lived. Glorify Him and accomplish the work that I have given you to do. Protect the little ones and help guide the ones who have lost their way back to me. Lead your family through the low valleys of darkness and doubt. Lead them up to the mountain top to see the exhilarating view of the promised land. Then lead them over the Jordan and into the City of God where you will live with them and with Me forever.”
Have a blessed day, dear reader! Give God thanks and give Him praise! Be an influence to lead others to that promised land, to take up eternal residence in the City of God!
–Randy Sexton