Character: Habacuc shares about Mary and how God is with us!

Character: Simeon/Anna My son Simeon is important to me. I’m just one guy in a world that is currently populated by 8 billion people. I live at this moment in history, but time stretches infinitely in both directions. Simeon matters to me, but I’m a nobody. Simeon matters to Jesus, and he is the King.

Character: John the Baptist. Why do we know any of these people? Because God came to be with us.

If you’ve heard of The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, then the book of 2 Kings will feel familiar. It tells the story of the spiraling of both Israel and Judah toward destruction and exile. On the way, their kings are measured using one assessment: whether they followed God or not. That same standard holds true for us today, and no other markers, no other achievements matter in comparison to our relationship with God.

This week our GLCC Intern, Todd Hilsman, shares on Godly Correction and the story of Jehosephat.

Prince Rehoboam listened to his friends instead of wise advisors, and his decision led him to be king over a much smaller kingdom. The decisions you and I make today have the potential to change our future, for good or bad. It’s on us to be sure that we’re seeking wisdom in our decision-making!

Solomon became famous for his wealth and his wisdom, but throughout his reign, Solomon ignored God and took shortcuts. In the end, God pronounced judgement upon him. Today we too are tempted to take shortcuts and ignore God as we try to build our own kingdoms. In contrast to that, Jesus calls his followers to give up their lives for his sake, and in return find salvation.

2 Samuel gives us two opposing views of the life of David. On one hand he can chase after God’s own heart, especially in the story of Mephibosheth. On the other hand, he can forget everything about God and be selfish, which leads to actions that don’t bring glory to God. We can have a heart for God or a heart for ourselves. Our actions show where our heart is. We need to die to ourselves to live God’s heart.

David was given the opportunity to easily eliminate Saul twice: once in a cave and once at night in Saul’s camp. In both instances, David chose to honor God’s anointed, and to wait on God’s timing. He knew what we need to learn today: that God is the ultimate check on human power.

Saul was chosen by God to be the first king of Israel. God was literally making him king; all he had to do was obey. Unfortunately for Saul, that wasn’t enough for him, and he wanted to make himself king in his own way. We struggle with the same temptation today – to make ourselves king in God’s place. Christians should ask themselves every day, “Who is the king of my life?”