When Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 12:1 NLT
Rehoboam’s reign mirrors your own life. In him, you see your attitudes and predispositions. How easy it is for you to become intoxicated with your intelligence, take pride in your position, trust in your title, feel secure in your strength, and think humility is a virtue others need.
You are not as skilled at brinkmanship as you think. Feel you do not have limits? Strike out on your own, and you will find out the hard way. Arrogance makes you feel invulnerable, at the same time making you more vulnerable. Conceit makes you strut, weakening your armor and leaving you open for attack.
The greatest possible tragedy is that you would abandon My law. Think you are a law to yourself? Ready to attempt self-government? That would be moral suicide. Surrender to Christ as King of your heart—and you will inherit all the treasures I have in store for Him. Subject yourself to the world’s god, and you will discover it is much harder not to follow Christ.
Slavery to Satan kills joy, steals enthusiasm, and destroys influence. I am the Liberator who binds with chains of love—My yoke is easier than the evil one’s addiction, My burden is lighter than legalism’s obsession, and My freedom is better than the tyranny imposed by the dark prince. Take My Word for it!
Realizing your inherent tendency to transgress and rebel, considering the awful possibility of apostasy—humble yourself in My Sovereign Presence. Keep on the alert for vicious attacks from the Devil. He would like nothing better than to tear you limb from limb, then take pleasure in your pain. In My strength, stand your ground against him. Resist his wicked suggestions, and he will leave. Then you can throw a victory party.
Set your heart on walking with Me. You are maturing in faith, but you are not above sin. You are growing stronger, but you are not as strong as you think. John Bunyan got it right in The Pilgrim’s Progress: “He that is down, need fear no fall; he that is low, no pride; he that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.”
The meek, not VIPs—inherit paradise. The wise, not sophisticates—share My reign. The humble, not entertainment superstars—shine in glory.
Advance My eternal kingdom, not your ephemeral one; rely on My almighty power, not your puny strength; honor Me, do not call attention to yourself—then you will forever have it made!
When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s reputation, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.
2 Chronicles 9:1 NLT
Conduct a self-test to see if you have been accepted into kindergarten. Then you can dream of applying for graduate school. Personal faith is the basic test. Until you know Jesus Christ as Savior, you are not ready for higher education. As long as you trust in yourself—feeling you are somehow good enough to please Me—you will fail this test. As long as you depend on your imaginary self-righteousness, you will never pass the test of reliance on Christ.
With the most basic question settled, you can take the entry-level exam for the University of the Spirit. It is not necessary to endlessly repeat the basic introduction to Christian living. It is mandatory that you grow in Christlikeness and understand the connection of Truth to every life issue. There are many required courses in heaven’s curriculum for the heart—unselfish love, invulnerable joy, indefinable peace, enduring patience, understanding kindness, sacrificial generosity, unflinching faithfulness, angelic gentleness, and supernatural self-control.
Life is a test with some hard questions you will have to answer—
Are you holy? Are you faithful to Me? How is your thought life? Do your eating and spending habits honor Me?
Are you honest? Are you fair? Do you treat other people justly? Do you always choose to do the right thing?
Are you humble? Are you for real? Do you know who I am? Do you know who you are? What price tag have you placed on yourself? Do you consider yourself too good to hang out with ordinary folks?
Are you happy? Can you lighten up and enjoy life? Uptight?
Are you hard working? Planning your work? Working your plan? Zeal for My cause flagging? Warming up for a burnout?
Are you heavenly-minded? Current events sadden you? Able to see beyond earth’s turmoil to My promised bright tomorrow?
Are you hospitable? Are you friendly? Do you share what I have given you with others who have less?
Study for your final exam—score high and graduate with honors.
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NLT
The world is the object of My love.
Looking down from heaven, I dearly prized the people of all nations.
Understanding the hopelessness of the human situation,
I compassionately and mercifully provided a perfect solution.
Observing sinners scurrying around like cockroaches in dark alleys,
I sent Holy Light to show them a nobler way to live.
My Son is the offering of My love.
I am Love—I proved it once and for all by sending Jesus to earth
to make it possible for you to be My friend forever.
I did not dispatch My Son to condemn and pass sentence on you—
but to forgive you of your transgressions.
The bloody sacrifice on Skull Hill was the highest price He could pay.
He suffered excruciatingly when He took your sins on His shoulders.
Belief is the opportunity of my love.
Relying on Jesus places you in My eternal care.
Believing means more than nodding your head in mental assent—
it means trusting His words and relying on Him for power to change.
Jesus’ death on the cross is the only remedy for your sin.
Your eternal destiny hinges on what you do with My Son.
Eternal life is the optimism of My love.
Not guilty is the verdict I reach when you kneel in repentance and faith.
Safe and sound is your ensured state when you surrender to Me.
Eternal life is not just living forever—without Me, that would be hell.
Eternal life is a new earthly life in time—
and a heavenly life without death, sickness, or evil in eternity.
How can you be sure I will honor this insurance policy? You have My Word.
That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream and said,
“What do you want? Ask and I will give it to you!”
2 Chronicles 1:7 NLT
I am the Omnipresent God. I do not give you an Aladdin’s lamp you can rub to make a genie appear who will grant three selfish wishes. I do something better—I give you My Word lamp to guide on right paths. Far superior to a fairy-tale spirit who does your bidding, I am your Travel Companion on life’s highway who answers your prayers in line with My perfect will.
Wish for serenity in a chaotic world—I will grant it. Yearn for peace in pandemonium—I will bless you with it. Desperately need Me—I will be with you every hour, day and night, around the clock.
I am the Omnipotent God. I am infinite; you are finite. I am immortal; you are mortal. I am almighty; you are frail.
Wish for strength to meet life’s challenges—I will grant it. Plead for power to deal with problems—I will give what you need. Seek wisdom to know how to live—I will bless your mind. Pray for backbone to follow through when I show you the right way—I will fortify your will. Set your heart on soaring above mediocrity, running faster than sin, and walking farther than faintheartedness—I will make it happen.
I am the Omniscient God. Reverence for Me is the first thing you need to learn. Respecting Me is the fundamental principle of faith. Fear of Jehovah is a kindergarten lesson—you will never know anything until you know Me. I am Alpha—the beginning of grace. I am Omega—the end of truth. I am Heaven’s Holy Alphabet of reality from A to Z. Wisdom’s treasures are hidden in Christ—the better acquainted you are with Him, the wiser you will be.
Wish for sagacity to make wise choices morally, physically, relationally, and spiritually—I will grant it. Yearn for perspective on puzzling situations—I will provide behind-the-scenes insight into providence. My power working within you can do infinitely more than you can wish.
Dare to ask for more than skeptics think possible, to hope for more than worldlings think credible, to dream for more than cynics think logical, and to wish for more than atheists and agnostics think attainable. Remember who I am—no fanciful genie, the Faithful God!
Wish on the Bright Morning Star who inspires your long nights, illuminates your confusing mazes, and energizes your weak knees—and everything your heart desires will come to you.
