Think About It!

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 19

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Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes. (2 Chronicles 19.6-7)

Devotional Thought: I sometimes miss those days of "Amens" from the congregation.  In my first church I had a retired pastor who, when I made a particularly salient point (rarely, I confess!), would say, "Think about it!"  I like that...  Since I want people to think about what I say, I better think about what I'm going to say.  After all, I'm speaking for God, so I better think about it! 

As part of King Jehoshaphat's reforms, he "appointed judges in the land in all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city" (v. 5).  He told the judges that they needed to give careful thought to their judgments.  Why?

• They were not judging for man but for the Lord.  As you live before people do you do so with a sense that you represent God?  Think about it!

• God was with them in giving judgment.  As you solve complex problems do you do so with confidence in God as your helper?  Think about it!

• There is no injustice with the Lord our God.  When confronted with society's complex issues, do you side with truth and justice?  Think about it!

• There is no partiality with God.  Do you play favorites?  Do you treat some with lesser dignity because you don't like them or they annoy you?  Think about it!

• God is not to be bribed.  Are you tempted to cater to the wealthy, influential and popular?  Do you curry the favor of the powerful by compromising your core convictions?  Think about it!

We are not to live with a nervous tic, fearful that God is looking over our shoulders, but we are to "be careful what we do."  Think about it!

Prayer: Thank you Lord, for the amazing privilege of representing you.  Help me to think about the gravity and enormity of speaking on your behalf.  May the words of my mouth to be acceptable in your sight.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 68:1-10

1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him!

2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!

3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him!

5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

6 God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.

7 O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah

8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.

9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished;

10 your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.