Don't Shoot the Deputy

Then Asa was angry with the seer, and put him in prison, for he was enraged at him because of this. And Asa oppressed some of the people at that time. - 2 Chronicles 16: 10

Today’s Reading: 2 Chronicles 15-16; John 12:27-50

Good gracious! Ok… here’s a quick recap.

Asa, king of Judah, was in a predicament. Baasha, king of Israel, was preparing to attach Judah and Asa didn’t think he could do anything to stop him. So instead of going to God for help he went to Syria, paid them tribute, and asked their help. After this occurred a seer (a person in that time who God used to speak to folks) named Hanani told Asa that God said Judah would have many wars all because Asa trusted Syria rather than trusting God in his time of trouble.

I swear… it seems like some of these cats in the Bible and seem to win for losing! But that’s for another post…

The thing that jumped out at me was the end of the passage. Asa didn’t like what Hanani had to say so he locked him up.

That’s not a good look mayne…

Have you ever had someone in your life that you respect and care about tell you exactly what you did NOT want to hear? How did you handle it? Did you give them attitude? Did you ignore or marginalize them? Did you assume that they were hating on whatever it was that you were trying to do?

I have one small suggestion… stop and think before you shoot the messenger.

Sure there are times where folks are just trying to rain on our parade. But other times they have our best interest at heart and are trying to save us the trouble of learning the hard way.

How do we know the difference?

That’s a tough call, but the way I see it is this. Generally if what the person is saying is in line with my values and is constructive and life affirming… I will take it into consideration.

We have to remember that although God may speak to us in miracles and visions and dreams; often times God uses the people around us to get his message across.

And that message ain’t always so sweet.

So, before we shoot the messenger, we should check to see who sent them. Their message might save your life.

Don't Get Caught Slippin

In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.

Zimri, one of his officials, who had command of half his chariots, plotted against him. Elah was in Tirzah at the time, getting drunk in the home of Arza, the man in charge of the palace at Tirzah. Zimri came in, struck him down and killed him in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah. Then he succeeded him as king. - 1 Kings 16: 8-10

Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 16-18; Luke 22: 47-71

It’s interesting to look at the reign of some of these kings. When you see the short duration it’s like come on man… you know you weren’t supposed to sit on that throne.

But hold up a minute… maybe that’s not true.

Maybe it’s not that complicated. Maybe dude just squandered his opportunity. That Reeeeeeally sucks man. Dude drunk his way into getting snuffed out. So what are we supposed to learn here? How can the tenure of this man help us today?

The moral of the story here… Don’t get caught slippin’.

Yep that’s right. Don’t get caught slippin’. When you achieve your dream and reach the heights that you didn’t think were possible, it is so easy to get caught slippin’.

Why?

Because it is hard to prepare for a lifestyle that you never dreamed possible.

That’s why it is really important to have certain standards by which we live our lives. That’s why it is important to base our lives on good values and morals. And for me, that’s why it is important to have God at the center of my life. God is the secure foundation upon which I can build my dreams.

But what if we do slip? That’s ok right? After all no one is perfect…

Yes we can be forgiven. Yes we have grace. But sometimes there is a cost to slippin’.

Hopefully when we fall we will have the opportunity to get back up. Elah didn’t have that chance… but then again, I bet that wasn’t the first time he took a sip from that cup.