Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 29:1-19 and Philippians 3:1-6

“Now sanctify yourselves, sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place.” 2 Chronicles 29:5

We all have junk in our lives that at times hinders us from doing what God has called us to do.  Therefore, while we are now the “temple of the Holy Spirit,” let us glorify God as we are being built up as a “spiritual house for a holy priesthood,” offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 28:16-27 and Philippians 2:28-30

Focus on: 2 Chronicles 28:16-21 & Philippians 2:29-30

Compare these two passages carefully.  In the first, Ahaz takes what belongs to God and gives it to wicked men, but no one will help him.  They just want his possessions. The second speaks of a godly man who has given everything to serve the Lord, and brings joy to everyone around him.  Which person would you rather be?

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 28:1-15 and Philippians 2:24-27

“Then some of the heads of the children of Ephraim… stood up against those
who came from the war,…” 2 Chronicles 28:12

This was a very dark chapter in Israel’s history.  Judah’s idolatry had brought defeat, and now thousands of them had been taken captive by the northern Kingdom of Israel.  Yet even in Israel, which had long since departed from God, the Lord had a remnant who served Him.  They fed the captives, clothed them, and returned them to their homes.  God always has a remnant of His people at work, even in the darkest times.

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 27:1-9 and Philippians 2:22-24

“But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” Philippians 2:22

Before we are able to effectively help others in their spiritual growth, we should be solidly grounded in our own faith, and our love for the Word of God.  Does that mean we should wait until we “have it all together” to help others?  No, far from it! But notice how Paul speaks of Timothy: he had a proven character, and had served faithfully with Paul for a while, so that now Paul knew he could count on Timothy to build up the Philippian church.

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 26:1-23 and Philippians 2:19-21

“For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.  For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:20-21

There is always a need for mature believers who genuinely care for others; people who are willing to pour their time, energy, knowledge and experience into the lives of others, so that believers who are new or less mature will grow effectively in their faith.  That’s the kind of person Paul was looking for, and he says they can be hard to find.  Are you willing to be the kind of person who will genuinely care for the spiritual state of others, and care enough to do something about it?

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 25:17-28 and Philippians 2:17-18

“After the time that Amaziah turned away from following the Lord, they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish;…” 2 Chronicles 25:27a

Amaziah turned away from the Lord, and in the end it brought his destruction.  Hebrews 12:1 exhorts us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”  A great start is a good thing in a race, but how you finish is even more important.  Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, and finish strong!

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 25:1-16 and Philippians 2:14-16

“Do all things without complaining and disputing,…” Philippians 2:14

This is a reminder we all need sometimes!  It can be easy to fall into complaining and disputing, but it is such a beautiful thing when God’s people work together in unity and love instead.  It brings so much joy!  Then, as the following verses state, we can be blameless and harmless, “Rejoicing in the day of Christ that we have not…labored in vain.”

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 24:1-27 and Philippians 2:12-13

“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12b-13

This speaks of the balance, the harmony of our works and God’s work in our lives.  As  we have given our lives to Jesus, and sincerely desire to do His will, it gives us the confidence that He is causing His will to happen in our lives.

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 23:12-21 and Philippians 2:10-11

“…every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10-11

Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord.  Not just the saved, but the unsaved as well.  If we know this to be the truth, how urgent have we made the need to spread the Gospel message of salvation to the unsaved?  How ashamed will we be when we witness those who are unsaved acknowledging what we failed to share with them while on earth?  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Reading for today: 2 Chronicles 23:1-11 and Philippians 2:9

“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,…” Philippians 2:9

Who should be exalted above all, but the Savior of all of mankind?  God proclaims Jesus’ rank in Heaven as the absolute highest.  “And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Revelation 19:16