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June 23rd
The bible reading today is in 1 Kings 12,13,14.
The story of a man of God, a preacher of Judah. His bravery and his fall catch my attention.
Why? “Because” I am a preacher too. A preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ for fifty years. Because my son is a preacher. Because my brother in law is a preacher. And because many young men over my years of ministry have received the call of God to preach the Gospel.
The bible has been my sword of the Spirit. It has also been my food for faith’s nourishment and my drink for soul refreshment. I am taught the mind and heart of God by it. I am warned and corrected by it. I am thoroughly furnished unto good works by it. And my heart is strangely warmed by it.
However, my heart was chilled by it this morning. The preacher of Judah was given an assignment by God. A hard one, a life-threatening one. And he accepted it with bravery. I only wish that his story could have ended in honor the way it began.
Why was it a hard assignment? Because God called him to go to the wicked king of the ten tribes, Jereboam. The preacher was to deliver a confrontational message. Prophesying God’s judgment upon Jereboam and his house. A message about God tearing his kingdom from him and his sons. A message about dogs and birds eating his and his family’s flesh. Yes, I would call that a hard assignment.
But the preacher went and delivered God’s message boldly. May all of God’s preachers be so brave to accept God’s mission for them. No matter how hard, for the sake of the gospel, the building up of Christ’s church, and the salvation of people around the world.
I can't help but remember another preacher in the Bible Jonah. God gave him a dangerous assignment and Jonah refused. He ran from it thousands of miles from it. God had to use a “near drowning” and a “whale” to bring that man of God around. I am grateful for the grace of God displayed on Jonah’s life. God’s arm is never to short to reach his people and turn them around.
Back to today’s reading...So what happened to the courageous preacher after he spoke God’s message to the evil king? He didn't finish his mission and wound up being attacked by a lion and killed.
So what chilled my heart...well, that’s the rest of the story.
Have a great day
