July 18

July 18

Manasseh (Southern King 55 years) -- Manasseh's sin, judgment, & repentance.

Today's Readings:

Reading 1: 2 Kings 21:1-16

Reading 2: 2 Chronicles 33

Reading 3: Ezekiel 18:21-32

Manasseh succeeds his father, Hezekiah, and immediately leads Judah on a slippery slope to destruction. Sin in every heart makes rebellion against God our default setting. We are all wicked.

But God is not an angry God, judging the wicked from a sense of impatience with their rebellion. Instead, He longs to see us return to Him and live. That is His desire all along, recorded clearly by Ezekiel's prophecy: "But if wicked people turn away from all their sins and begin to obey my decrees and do what is just and right, they will surely live and not die. All their past sins will be forgotten, and they will live because of the righteous things they have done."

Of course, we know that none of us can effectively choose righteousness for ourselves. We don't have the strength to reverse the ravages of sin alone. That is why God's gift of Jesus to demonstrate true righteousness, and to die in our place, is such good news. Who do you know who needs to know that today?

Have a great day!

Mark.