- And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king’s household, governing the people of the land. 2 Chronicles 26:21 – Our sin excludes us from being in the house of the Lord as well. As with the king, we can no longer come into the presence of God due to our sin. What Jesus did on the cross though was create a way for us to have our sins forgiven so we could be welcomed back into the house of God. So if you are a believer in Jesus know you have free access to God, to come in and out of His house freely because of what Jesus did for us. Keep though in mind how our sins today can have an effect on all that. While we are forgiven and are allowed in, sin can distract us and entice us away from God’s house. We can have an open door to all God gives but be blinded to it all because of the sin in our story. So yes, your sin is forgiven, but it can still keep you away from God’s house. Not because you’re stained with sin and not allowed in but because when sin is our focus, God isn’t. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1540
- In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong. 2 Chronicles 26:15 – “Till he was strong.” This short phrase is the pivot point for the whole chapter. Uzziah was faithful to the Lord, seeking out the Lord, and finding great help from this Lord in all his efforts. Yet, when he became strong, he began to rely on himself rather than the Lord, which ultimately lead to his demise. Such stories are common in scripture and such stories are common in our day too. We can see people trusting deeply in the Lord, seeking God out in their life, but then they become ____ and that seeking of the Lord stops. They become rich, they become wise in their own eyes, they people popular, they become healthy, they become strong. Fill in the blank however, but we can find when people get to a spot in life where it feels like they don’t need God anymore, they stop relying on God. Oh how this is to their demise and oh how they have been deceived! Do not let the blessings take you away from the One who blessed you. Without God, you would have not strength, fame, health, or wealth. So when you take Him out of the equation, the result will be nothing good. If you do not have, turn to the Lord and rely on Him for what you need. If you do have, turn to the Lord and give praise for what you have. Whether you have or have not, the posture of our eyes being on the Lord is the same. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2615
Daily DEVO 