Today’s reading: 2 Chron 17:1–18:34, Titus 3:8–11, Ps 99:1–100:5
Today’s theme: Be courageous, devoted and holy
Today we learn that we are to be courageous in heart, devoted to good works and holy as God is holy. We also learn that the Lord is holy, He is good and He is the only true God.
2 Chronicles 17:1–18:34
Be courageous in heart
His heart was courageous in the ways of the LORD. And furthermore, he took the high places and the Asherim out of Judah. 2 Chronicles 17:6 (ESV)
Courage is the strength of spirit that enables a person to face fear and difficulty. As Christians we are called to have this virtue in our character and in the way we serve God, just like Jehoshaphat. We must be bold and stand for the Lord.
Paul encourages us to be bold because of the hope we have through Christ, in 2 Corinthians 3:12 “Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.”
Jesus gives us boldness, we can be courageous because He gives us assurance, in Ephesians 3:12 “in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.”
We should pray for one another, that we would have courageous faith. Paul also requested this prayer for himself in Ephesians 6:19–20 “and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Titus 3:8–11
Be devoted in work
The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. Titus 3:8 (ESV)
As Christians we should be devoted to good works in both our own behaviour and in doing good for others. We were not saved by works but we do work, because we are saved.
Here the word ‘devote’ has the sense of “to be preeminent”. We should lead the way in good works as an example to others and it should be one of the highest priorities of our lives.
Psalm 99:1–100:5
The Lord is holy
Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he! Psalm 99:5 (ESV)
Here and in verse 9, we read that the Lord is holy. This is one of God’s great, unique attributes and speaks of God’s essential being, God literally is Holy.
The Hebrew word “qados” is translated as “holy”. It describes that which is by nature sacred, or that which has been admitted to the sphere of the sacred by divine rite. It describes therefore, that which is distinct or separate from the common or profane.
With this definition in mind, we realise that we are made holy by God and called to live in honour of that, by remaining separate from sin.
Hebrews 12:14 reminds us to “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
The Lord is God
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3 (ESV)
In our secular society we should affirm again that yes, the Lord is God.
Whilst the lie of evolution has become the conventional wisdom on how we got here, we must stand by the truth that God created us, we belong to Him, He is the king and deserves our allegiance.
The Lord is good
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:5 (ESV)
Another great attribute of God is that He is good. God is not evil and cannot be tempted with evil, He is good, He always has been and always will be.
We see the reflection of God’s goodness all around us, in creation, in the coming of Jesus and in the truth of His word.
Romans 2:4 remind us “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.
Additional resources
Desiring God on Titus 3