King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Repentance
Date: Saturday May 12, 2012
Today's Chapters: 2 Chronicles 12-14

Hello My Friend,

There is a quote that I use quite often lately, “Christians are not sinless, they sin less.” I heard someone on the radio define whom she thought was a Christian, her idea of a Christian was far from what God's idea of a Christian is. It was sad to hear how she distorted God, I couldn't hear another word and turned it off, vowing to never listen to her show again. Now, God loves everyone of His people, regardless of whether or not they live in sin, but that does not mean we can live in sin and just go up to heaven with no consequences for our actions while we are still here. Jesus said, “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.” - Luke 17:3,4.

When Rehoboam was so strong that he assumed he had nothing to fear from Jeroboam, he cast off his dependence on God and so did Judah, resulting in a war between Judah and Egypt. God quickly brought troubles upon Judah, to awaken the people to repentance, before their hearts were hardened.

“And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him. And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD, Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous. And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” - 2 Chronicles 12:1,2,6-8.

People have no idea what the word repent means, they think it just means to seek forgiveness of their sins. To repent means to feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken and to change ones mind. In some cases God does want us to repent of our sins, in other words, He wants us to feel deep sorrow and pain for living in sin, but He also wants us to stop committing the sin all together, that is repentance of sin not merely forgiveness of sin. Repentance is about changing your perception of things and acting upon them. God repents sometimes, that doesn't mean He sins, it just means that He changed His mind about some things. Every person born is born with a death sentence, but when they repent themselves, knowing that only Jesus can acquit them, God repents of that death sentence and gives them eternal life. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” - 2 Peter 3:9.

After Rehoboam died his son, Abijah, only reigned for three years, but during that time a civil work took place between Israel and Judah, in which Judah prevailed. “And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men. Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers. And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephrain with the towns thereof.” - 2 Chronicles 13:17-19.

Asa, followed Rehoboam after he died, Asa was like his great-great-grandfather, David. He rejected the heathen gods and idols that were in Judah and removed them all. He encouraged the people to seek and serve God and because he had a perfect heart for God all was quiet in the land for ten years. “So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years. And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God: For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves: And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.” - 2 Chronicles 14:1-4.

We face many more battles than we need to when we seek our own means to handle the difficulties we encounter. It's not that God wants us to just sit there, He wants to keep going, by faith, doing what is possible for us to do, then letting Him take care of the impossible. As we seek God when things are quiet and going well, we assure God that we know He is there and that He is the reason why we are at peace and everything is going so well. God assures us that when we seek Him at all times there is nothing that He will not do for us. “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” - Psalm 1:1-3.

As long as Asa sought God he and all of Judah was at peace, but do not be surprised if God does not test our faith when everything is going well. The ten year rest in Judah was about to come to an end when Zerah, the Ethiopian king, declared war on the Southern Kingdom. Asa and the nation of Judah were faced with a million soldiers who had 300 chariots, the largest army recorded in the Old Testament. When Asa saw that army all he could think to do was pray, and God did hear his prayer. “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled. And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.” - 2 Chronicles 14:11-13.

As Asa prayed he told God that he acknowledged that without Him they would be defeated, and that He alone is the only one who could give them the victory. Sometimes things go so smoothly that we forget that God is still around so, He will send a battle our way to remind us that without Him no battle is won. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” - 1 John 5:3,4.

Today's Psalm: 106:45 - “And he remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his mercies.”

Today's Proverb: 10:10 - “He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.”

Today's Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness. You never forsake me nor give up on me no matter how many times I mess up. God, open my heart to things in my life that I need to repent of and give me Your power, will, and strength to overcome them. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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