As promised in the teaching yesterday at Life Change Community Church, once a week, I will post one of my personal pages from my journal. Following the S.O.A.P. system (Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer) and following the reading plan that allows us to read through the entire Old Testament once and New Testament twice this year, I hope to add encouragement and reinforcement to your own daily time with God.
2 Kings 24; Jeremiah 22; Psalm 112; John 18
(after reading all these chapters and underlining interesting, insightful, helpful, curious, wise verses throughout my reading, I selected this passage for my journal entry):
S-cripture: "A beautiful cedar palace does not make a great king!" Jeremiah 22:15 New Living Translation
O-bservation: Jeremiah reminded King Jehoiakim that his lifestyle of evil would result in personal destruction for him and captivity and exile for his people, unless he turned his heart back to God. Jehoikim is reminded that his father, King Josiah, was righteous in his living and devoted in his love for the Lord and consquently was blessed. Now, Jehoiakim, living in the same palace as his father, is told that the palace is not what makes the person. It's the heart for God and a life of devoted obedience.
A-pplication: The size of a congregation or the impressiveness of the church building, or tangible measures and metrics of success typically applied to ministry DO NOT make me who I am. If I live in a small house, drive a used car, struggle to pay my bills...that is NOT an indication of my heart for God. When I was financially rich, at the largest church between Los Angeles and San Francisco, known in national circles, my heart was drifting and I became a man other than what I now hope to be. The fame, the finances, the following...DID NOT make the man. My heart drifted far from God. Today, I have joy in my heart, a sweet tenderness toward the things of Jesus, a profound understanding of and gratefulness for His amazing grace. On the outside, I don't appear to be nearly as "successful" in life, but in my heart, I am more successful than I have ever been, richer in the things that matter, and content in my walk with God. Why? The outer trappings of a palace don't make the person. The heart makes the person.
P-rayer: Lord Jesus, I learned the hard way. With every outward sign of success stripped from my life, You helped me contend with what matters most to You; it's my devotion, it's my faithfulness to Your word, it's my genuine love for people, it's the grace and kindness I show to the hurting and fallen. Looking back on that season of being stripped, I now thank You for tearing down the palace so that You could truly build a man. Amen.