Luke 7:31 And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying: 'We played the flute for you, And you did not dance; We mourned to you, And you did not weep.' 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' 35 But wisdom is justified by all her children."
Jesus was teaching and talking and ministering and walking through the region of Galilee. In the very recent past He had raised the son of a widow from the dead in front of two very large crowds: one crowd of those joyously following Jesus, and one crowd of those somberly grieving not only for the lost son, but also for the widow who now found herself alone in this world with no visible means of support. In the midst of all of that, Jesus reached in and touched the young man’s coffin and commanded him to “arise.” He did.
All those who saw were amazed and dumbstruck. The reports spread far and wide. The same news spread then is spread today by all those who have seen…all those who have seen Jesus. You see, at some point the number of witnesses to the power of Christ should come into play as being a deciding factor in whether Christianity is real or not. While there are many other proofs which can be offered, eye witness accounts of dead lives being raised are too many and too powerful to simply ignore.
To this day, Jesus is changing the “dead” into the “living.” To this day Jesus is turning drug addicts into pastors, and drunkards into missionaries. Somehow, at some point, that must be accounted for. There is a power present in true Christianity that converts the soul and changes the heart in ways which men simply cannot do. All of that is exemplified in Jesus raising this young man, the son of the widow of Nain, from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17)
But some who were watching and hearing of these things chose to place their focus on different things other than the dead being raised to life. Unfortunately, that is still true today.
Instead of paying close attention to Jesus’ miracles, the Pharisees and lawyers continued to reject the will of God for themselves. They spent their time evaluating the methodology of how Jesus did what He did rather than noting the results. And so, Jesus thought of their actions as exemplifying “children in the marketplace.” Saddest of all, (Luke 7:30,) they were rejecting the will of God for their lives. Their thoughts, like children, were only about what might please themselves – and since they were already “righteous,” there was no further need to examine what they needed most, and what God wanted them to have: salvation.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
TRUE Help Desk
Ever since Friday of last week, I’ve spent a lot of time on ‘help desk’ phone calls with various manufacturers of products, and even had a “expert” tech visit my home office to attempt to fix an audio problem with my computer.
My problem is unresolved. I still have no sound on my computer. (It happened when I installed USB 2.0 drivers, corrupting existing audio drivers – or at least confusing them.)
It struck me how much of the world’s ‘solutions’ are exactly like this. You install one thing in your life and you wind up with something else broken, and so on and so forth. You wind up chasing various solutions to various problems all your life, and remain unsatisfied and broken to whatever extent your existence has brought you.
In spiritual terms, we call this “brokenness.” None of us like to be broken, but life experience tends to do that anyway. The question is: How can whatever state of brokenness we are in be fixed?
Some might say the answer is “religion.” For centuries this has been the answer many have sought. The problem is religion cannot heal the spirit of man – but can only massage the soul of man. This is why it takes so much religion. The soul enjoys being massaged. (BTW – one of the foremost ‘religions’ in the world today is the religion of science.)
Luke 6:6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
The scribes and pharisees were practitioners - and recipients of - soul massage, in the form of religious zealotry. They were so comfortable in a fleshy system they were venomous toward anything or anyone who might attempt to change the ‘system.’
Luke 6:10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
We are left to imagine the expression on the face of Christ as He looked around at those who had come to berate the ONLY ONE who has a solution to the problems of life’s brokenness – no matter what or how great the extent. This is yet another example of Christ’s ability to restore our original operating system – no matter how badly it has been corrupted – and no matter what the ‘experts’ may say. Only Jesus saves.
- Pastor Bill
My problem is unresolved. I still have no sound on my computer. (It happened when I installed USB 2.0 drivers, corrupting existing audio drivers – or at least confusing them.)
It struck me how much of the world’s ‘solutions’ are exactly like this. You install one thing in your life and you wind up with something else broken, and so on and so forth. You wind up chasing various solutions to various problems all your life, and remain unsatisfied and broken to whatever extent your existence has brought you.
In spiritual terms, we call this “brokenness.” None of us like to be broken, but life experience tends to do that anyway. The question is: How can whatever state of brokenness we are in be fixed?
Some might say the answer is “religion.” For centuries this has been the answer many have sought. The problem is religion cannot heal the spirit of man – but can only massage the soul of man. This is why it takes so much religion. The soul enjoys being massaged. (BTW – one of the foremost ‘religions’ in the world today is the religion of science.)
Luke 6:6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.
The scribes and pharisees were practitioners - and recipients of - soul massage, in the form of religious zealotry. They were so comfortable in a fleshy system they were venomous toward anything or anyone who might attempt to change the ‘system.’
Luke 6:10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.
We are left to imagine the expression on the face of Christ as He looked around at those who had come to berate the ONLY ONE who has a solution to the problems of life’s brokenness – no matter what or how great the extent. This is yet another example of Christ’s ability to restore our original operating system – no matter how badly it has been corrupted – and no matter what the ‘experts’ may say. Only Jesus saves.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Trying to Quit?
Romans 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
How many times have you tried to quit?
“Quit what?” you may answer. Well…just about anything. There are just some things in every life which seem to be the nemesis of our existence. Cigarettes, alcohol, sex, drugs, rock & roll…You know the list. You know the lust.
But there are many more. When we look inside our heart as God sees it, we see millions more.
Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
According to the Spiritual Law, (the law that KNOWS the attitude and desires of the heart,) I am – we ALL are – guilty of far more than we could ever hope to even begin to confess. But we also KNOW the blood of Jesus washes away the sin of every man. And when we apply the blood of Christ, ALL sins, past present and future are forgiven – and in Jesus’ power, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.
At times, when we still have a wrong heart attitude, or a wrong action, we wonder where it comes from? We are no longer slaves to sin, but we have been set free to sin. In other words, NOW we have a choice…one made in freedom – will we continue to choose Christ? Not just in a moment of conversion – but as a way of life.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. …24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Choose Christ, for life. Choose to be a slave of righteousness. Quit it by His power.
- Pastor Bill
How many times have you tried to quit?
“Quit what?” you may answer. Well…just about anything. There are just some things in every life which seem to be the nemesis of our existence. Cigarettes, alcohol, sex, drugs, rock & roll…You know the list. You know the lust.
But there are many more. When we look inside our heart as God sees it, we see millions more.
Matt 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.' 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt 5:27 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
According to the Spiritual Law, (the law that KNOWS the attitude and desires of the heart,) I am – we ALL are – guilty of far more than we could ever hope to even begin to confess. But we also KNOW the blood of Jesus washes away the sin of every man. And when we apply the blood of Christ, ALL sins, past present and future are forgiven – and in Jesus’ power, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness.
At times, when we still have a wrong heart attitude, or a wrong action, we wonder where it comes from? We are no longer slaves to sin, but we have been set free to sin. In other words, NOW we have a choice…one made in freedom – will we continue to choose Christ? Not just in a moment of conversion – but as a way of life.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. …24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin. Choose Christ, for life. Choose to be a slave of righteousness. Quit it by His power.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Death to Dying
It sure seems like we will live forever doesn’t it? I mean, it’s very difficult to think about dying, and even harder to think of dying.
By thinking of dying, I mean the literal instant of physical death. We like to pretend we never think of such a thing, and yet, if we are honest, we are thinking of just such a thing pretty often. But we really can’t imagine it, so we put it out of our minds as quickly as the thought arises.
Instead, a new thought floods over us…of invincibility. Better to lie to ourselves. Better to not even to think of dying since it is so hard to imagine. We can’t imagine it because no one has ever been able to describe the process. We can’t imagine what can’t be described, so we say things like, “I’m not afraid to die,” and roll on with our ‘invincible’ selves - all the while knowing we will die but not wanting to think about it. Are we all crazy?
The main reason we know we will die is because every human being that has ever lived on earth has died. Except Jesus Christ.
The truth is – we don’t have to die if we simply choose to live. The choice is so simple it has always boggled the minds of those who would consider such a thing – that man, me, myself, I, can have eternal life if I simply choose to.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The stumbling block to mankind has always been the simplicity of how it is we receive eternal life. The truth is all we must do, all we can do, is repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ. In doing so, we return to God a small part of the love He has shown for us, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sin.
Jesus proved He had power over death and dying by rising from the dead. He is alive and present with us today. He continues to change the lives of all who call on His name. He continues to save from death all who believe.
If you desire to live forever, simply pray with all your heart, “Lord Jesus, I open my heart, and invite you inside, to be my Lord, my Savior, and my friend. Wash me clean of all of my sin. This day I have decided to follow you Jesus, forever and ever. Amen.”
It’s just that simple to make the impossible a reality. Do you believe?
- Pastor Bill
By thinking of dying, I mean the literal instant of physical death. We like to pretend we never think of such a thing, and yet, if we are honest, we are thinking of just such a thing pretty often. But we really can’t imagine it, so we put it out of our minds as quickly as the thought arises.
Instead, a new thought floods over us…of invincibility. Better to lie to ourselves. Better to not even to think of dying since it is so hard to imagine. We can’t imagine it because no one has ever been able to describe the process. We can’t imagine what can’t be described, so we say things like, “I’m not afraid to die,” and roll on with our ‘invincible’ selves - all the while knowing we will die but not wanting to think about it. Are we all crazy?
The main reason we know we will die is because every human being that has ever lived on earth has died. Except Jesus Christ.
The truth is – we don’t have to die if we simply choose to live. The choice is so simple it has always boggled the minds of those who would consider such a thing – that man, me, myself, I, can have eternal life if I simply choose to.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
The stumbling block to mankind has always been the simplicity of how it is we receive eternal life. The truth is all we must do, all we can do, is repent of our sins and believe on Jesus Christ. In doing so, we return to God a small part of the love He has shown for us, by sending His only begotten Son into the world to die for our sin.
Jesus proved He had power over death and dying by rising from the dead. He is alive and present with us today. He continues to change the lives of all who call on His name. He continues to save from death all who believe.
If you desire to live forever, simply pray with all your heart, “Lord Jesus, I open my heart, and invite you inside, to be my Lord, my Savior, and my friend. Wash me clean of all of my sin. This day I have decided to follow you Jesus, forever and ever. Amen.”
It’s just that simple to make the impossible a reality. Do you believe?
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Soon Everyone Will Know
Luke 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." 46 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 48 For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 49 For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. 50 And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty. 54 He has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy, 55 As He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever."
Known of as ‘The Magnificat of Mary,’ this portion of scripture is the profession of a new believer. As professions of new believers go, this one is classic – maybe even the classic.
There is something profound that happens to a life when New Life is found within. Of course, we know the story. Mary has conceived of the Holy Spirit, and is with child. She has gone to visit her near-relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant, (in her old age,) and there has been a glorious exchange between the babies in the respective wombs, with John the Baptist leaping for joy in Elizabeth’s womb, in the presence of Christ in Mary’s womb. A phenomenal occasion.
The Spirit fills Elizabeth, and she speaks wonderful prophecy over the life of Mary.
Mary, obviously filled with the Holy Spirit as well, follows suit, praising the Lord for all He has gone. How glorious the praise of one filled with new life! We don’t know a lot about Mary’s life, but we do know this: she loves the Lord! Mary is blessed among women as THE one to bear God’s only Begotten Son. As THE one to be responsible for His upbringing. As THE one to be the mother of The Messiah.
As the bearer of New Life, Mary understood completely this had nothing to do with her. This is all an act of God’s grace being poured out upon a humble, observant servant. As she considers all of this, and the enormity of the condition she finds herself, there is one thing certain: soon everyone will know. She knows this is not something that can be hidden – or even should be hidden. This is an amazing miraculous act of The Father. Mary’s declaration is a revelation of her understanding.
When Christ is inside you it cannot be hidden. You may try oversized baggy clothes, you may even try to stay away from people, but eventually everyone will recognize the presence of The New Life within. Mary understands.
- Pastor Bill
Known of as ‘The Magnificat of Mary,’ this portion of scripture is the profession of a new believer. As professions of new believers go, this one is classic – maybe even the classic.
There is something profound that happens to a life when New Life is found within. Of course, we know the story. Mary has conceived of the Holy Spirit, and is with child. She has gone to visit her near-relative Elizabeth, who is also miraculously pregnant, (in her old age,) and there has been a glorious exchange between the babies in the respective wombs, with John the Baptist leaping for joy in Elizabeth’s womb, in the presence of Christ in Mary’s womb. A phenomenal occasion.
The Spirit fills Elizabeth, and she speaks wonderful prophecy over the life of Mary.
Mary, obviously filled with the Holy Spirit as well, follows suit, praising the Lord for all He has gone. How glorious the praise of one filled with new life! We don’t know a lot about Mary’s life, but we do know this: she loves the Lord! Mary is blessed among women as THE one to bear God’s only Begotten Son. As THE one to be responsible for His upbringing. As THE one to be the mother of The Messiah.
As the bearer of New Life, Mary understood completely this had nothing to do with her. This is all an act of God’s grace being poured out upon a humble, observant servant. As she considers all of this, and the enormity of the condition she finds herself, there is one thing certain: soon everyone will know. She knows this is not something that can be hidden – or even should be hidden. This is an amazing miraculous act of The Father. Mary’s declaration is a revelation of her understanding.
When Christ is inside you it cannot be hidden. You may try oversized baggy clothes, you may even try to stay away from people, but eventually everyone will recognize the presence of The New Life within. Mary understands.
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Let It Begin!
Luke 1:11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." 18 And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
There is a great deal of difference in what may appear a minor difference of expression. Responses may differ only slightly as far as the world or our own perception may be concerned. But to God, perception is not part of the equation. He knows the reality of every situation, and the attitude behind every response, and there is no way for us to conceal our intentions or our attitudes from God.
And so, in Zacharias’ response to the angel Gabriel, rebellion or lack of faith is barely perceptible – to us.. One thing is clear, even to us - and that is unbelief. And why not unbelief? After all, Zacharias is well advanced in years, “stricken with age.” Here an angel stands before him proclaiming his prayer is heard – and that he and his wife Elizabeth will be having a son! What a dramatic message for those so far beyond child-bearing years. In essence, Gabriel has informed Zacharias something impossible is about to happen.
How well do you respond to the “impossible?”
Life in Christ is one impossibility after another. We live on a planet spinning at 1000 miles per hour, revolving in our galaxy at 200,000 miles per hour, hurtling through the deep vastness of space which is billions and billions of miles across. We perceive none of this. The space present within the atom is so vast, everything we touch or perceive as a solid mass is exactly not. Solids are mostly space. An atom blown up to the size of a tennis ball would have a space between the neutron and the electron roughly the distance from San Francisco to New York. None of this can be discerned by any of us. No way. No how. Even when informed of the facts, we are still incapable of perceiving them.
Yet when it comes to distinguishing what is ‘possible’ from that which is ‘impossible’ we consider ourselves expert. Nothing is impossible for God - and the birth of John the Baptist is meant to illustrate that point to a belligerent people. So let it begin!
- Pastor Bill
There is a great deal of difference in what may appear a minor difference of expression. Responses may differ only slightly as far as the world or our own perception may be concerned. But to God, perception is not part of the equation. He knows the reality of every situation, and the attitude behind every response, and there is no way for us to conceal our intentions or our attitudes from God.
And so, in Zacharias’ response to the angel Gabriel, rebellion or lack of faith is barely perceptible – to us.. One thing is clear, even to us - and that is unbelief. And why not unbelief? After all, Zacharias is well advanced in years, “stricken with age.” Here an angel stands before him proclaiming his prayer is heard – and that he and his wife Elizabeth will be having a son! What a dramatic message for those so far beyond child-bearing years. In essence, Gabriel has informed Zacharias something impossible is about to happen.
How well do you respond to the “impossible?”
Life in Christ is one impossibility after another. We live on a planet spinning at 1000 miles per hour, revolving in our galaxy at 200,000 miles per hour, hurtling through the deep vastness of space which is billions and billions of miles across. We perceive none of this. The space present within the atom is so vast, everything we touch or perceive as a solid mass is exactly not. Solids are mostly space. An atom blown up to the size of a tennis ball would have a space between the neutron and the electron roughly the distance from San Francisco to New York. None of this can be discerned by any of us. No way. No how. Even when informed of the facts, we are still incapable of perceiving them.
Yet when it comes to distinguishing what is ‘possible’ from that which is ‘impossible’ we consider ourselves expert. Nothing is impossible for God - and the birth of John the Baptist is meant to illustrate that point to a belligerent people. So let it begin!
- Pastor Bill
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A Sorry State
2 Chron 33:1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. 2 But he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down; he raised up altars for the Baals, and made wooden images; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem shall My name be forever." 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.
We all have high hopes our children will follow in our footsteps, especially if we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Hezekiah was a man of God, led by God, who had been a great influence on the nation of Judah. But for whatever reason, he had seemed less of an influence on his own son Manasseh, who succeeded him.
And so one of the longest reigns for good, (29 years,) had been followed by the longest reign for evil, (55 years.)
Under Hezekiah, the nation had returned to God, had re-established the priesthood in its order and provision throughout the land, and had re-established the celebration of the Passover to the Lord. Under Manasseh, the nation dis-established all that had been established under Hezekiah in rapid order. It seems as though no stone was left unturned in seeking after evil, as if to do everything possible to cause offense to the Lord.
Was Hezekiah such a poor father that this was bound to happen? The Bible remains silent about Hezekiah’s fathering, and so we cannot make a judgment – but we do know this: Manasseh was living in full-on affront to the Lord - and he was leading the nation likewise. Judah was “Cruising for a bruising,” as my earthly father used to tell me when I was acting out. Manasseh soon found himself exiled to Babylon – one of the first to be taken. He was imprisoned, having been led away by hooks in bronze chains.
Alone with his thoughts in a Babylonian prison, we finally see the influence of his father Hezekiah. Here we see the importance of Godly fathering. We can never know when or where our influence will take hold, but we do know this – when we are at the end of ourselves, outside influences predominate. However and whatever had been done by Hezekiah to influence Manasseh did not show up until it was needed most – and only when Manasseh had been emptied of himself. Manasseh repented, and was restored to right relationship with God – despite all he had done for evil. He was TRULY sorry. God’s grace abounds when our sin is at an end.
- Pastor Bill
We all have high hopes our children will follow in our footsteps, especially if we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
Hezekiah was a man of God, led by God, who had been a great influence on the nation of Judah. But for whatever reason, he had seemed less of an influence on his own son Manasseh, who succeeded him.
And so one of the longest reigns for good, (29 years,) had been followed by the longest reign for evil, (55 years.)
Under Hezekiah, the nation had returned to God, had re-established the priesthood in its order and provision throughout the land, and had re-established the celebration of the Passover to the Lord. Under Manasseh, the nation dis-established all that had been established under Hezekiah in rapid order. It seems as though no stone was left unturned in seeking after evil, as if to do everything possible to cause offense to the Lord.
Was Hezekiah such a poor father that this was bound to happen? The Bible remains silent about Hezekiah’s fathering, and so we cannot make a judgment – but we do know this: Manasseh was living in full-on affront to the Lord - and he was leading the nation likewise. Judah was “Cruising for a bruising,” as my earthly father used to tell me when I was acting out. Manasseh soon found himself exiled to Babylon – one of the first to be taken. He was imprisoned, having been led away by hooks in bronze chains.
Alone with his thoughts in a Babylonian prison, we finally see the influence of his father Hezekiah. Here we see the importance of Godly fathering. We can never know when or where our influence will take hold, but we do know this – when we are at the end of ourselves, outside influences predominate. However and whatever had been done by Hezekiah to influence Manasseh did not show up until it was needed most – and only when Manasseh had been emptied of himself. Manasseh repented, and was restored to right relationship with God – despite all he had done for evil. He was TRULY sorry. God’s grace abounds when our sin is at an end.
- Pastor Bill
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