Western Hills Christian Church: “You are family here!”

Colossians 2:6-8

Grace and peace be with you.

Go and tell Hezekiah,"Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:’I have heard your prayers, I have seen your tears;surely I will add to your days fifteen years.’ "
Isaiah 38:5

The fundamental premise of Christianity is that God knows what is best better than we do.  When we are experiencing God’s blessing, it is easy to believe that God knows what is best.  But when God allows sickness and sorrow in our lives, we may be tempted to question His wisdom.

The Lord told King Hezekiah that his life was coming to an end.  God advised him to prepare himself for death and to make arrangements to turn over the kingdom.  Instead, Hezekiah plead for his life, begging God to spare him from death (Isaiah 38:3).  God loved the righteous Hezekiah and, in His grace, granted him an additional fifteen years to live.  Those fifteen years would prove that Gods wisdom far exceeds human wisdom.  During those added years, Manasseh was born, and he eventually succeeded Hezekiah as king of Judah.  Manasseh, who reigned for fifty-five years, was the most evil king ever to rule over Judah (2nd Kings 21:2).  Manasseh encouraged the worship of idolatry throughout the nation.  He passed his own son through fire according to the abominable practices of idolatry.  He shed much innocent blood during his reign; every part of the nation suffered from his cruelty.  Manasseh’s wickedness provoked God to anger, but Manasseh ignored God’s warning (2nd Kings 21:16; 2nd Chronicles 33:10).  All these hardships were caused by Manasseh, a king who would never have been born if Hezekiah had accepted God’s will for his life!  Furthermore, Hezekiah’s extended reign led to Judah’s eventual defeat by the Babylonians (2nd Kings 20:12- 20).

So much suffering resulted from Hezekiah’s unwillingness to accept God’s will for him.  God knows what is best.  Whether your circumstances are easy or difficult, you can completely trust His guidance.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Thus says the Lord of hosts:
"Return to Me," says the Lord of hosts,"and I will return to you."
Zechariah 1:3

God places much of the burden of what we will become on our response to Him.  If we have drifted from God, His call is to return to Him.  God promises that if we will return, He will immediately renew His relationship with us.  James 4:8 promises that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us.  Matthew 7:7 guarantees that if we seek Christ, we will find Him.  Much of the Christian life rests upon our response and our desire to experience God to the fullest.

Why is it that some Christians seem to go so much deeper in their walk with God than others?  Why have some had such powerful intercessory prayer ministries that have changed the courses of nations?  Why has God chosen to anoint the words of some so that, when they speak or pray or preach, it is obvious that their words are consecrated by God?  It is because these individuals have committed themselves to pursue God until His presence is powerfully real in their lives.  They have decided to settle for nothing less than a vibrant relationship with God, and He has honored their desire.

Have you become complacent with your relationship with God, or are you hungering for more?  Don’t become satisfied with a relationship with God that is broken by sin and void from the power of the Holy Spirit.  You have just as much of God’s powerful presence available to you as the greatest saint in Christian history!  Return to God.  There is so much more in store for you if you will return to Him.  He awaits your response.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
John 19:25

There is no Christianity without a cross, for you cannot be a disciple of Jesus without taking up your cross.  Crosses are painful, they forever change your life, but sometimes the greatest cost will not be to you but to those you love.  You may be prepared to obey the Lord’s commands, whatever they are, because you’ve walked with Him and know that His way is best.  Yet there will be those close to you who have not related to Jesus in the same way and have not heard His voice as clearly.

Jesus understood that His Father’s will for Him led to a cross.  The cross would mean a painful death for Jesus, and it would also bring suffering to those closest to Him.  Because of the cross, Jesus’ mother would watch in agony as her son was publicly humiliated, tortured, and murdered.  Jesus’ aunt and close friends would witness His excruciating death.  His disciples would be scattered in terror and confusion in what would be the longest, darkest night of their lives.  Because of Jesus’ obedience, there would also be a cross for each of His disciples.

Obedience to your Lord’s commands will affect others (Luke 14:26).  Don’t refuse to obey what you know God is asking because you fear the cost to your family will be too great.  Beware lest you seek to prevent those you love from taking up the cross God has for them.  Don’t ever try to protect those you love by disobeying God.  The cost of disobedience is always far greater.  Rather, look to Jesus, your model, and see what it cost those around Him for Him to be obedient to His Father.

Henry and Richard Blackaby
Experiencing God Day-by-Day