2 Kings – Chapter 21

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 2 Kings 21:17 – Let’s be grateful that we have the book of 2 Chronicles that gives more details of Manasseh’s life, for what we have here in 2 Kings is truly despicable. Manasseh chose to reject the lifestyle of his faithful father Hezekiah and took after the late, evil king Ahab. Manasseh rejected all worship of God and led Judah to the most vile worship practices. He gave them idols to worship, sacrifices children to demons, and even made the temple of God a brothel for cult prostitution. To say he was an evil king is an understatement. Yet, thankfully, we have 2 Chronicles 33. In it we see the miraculous repentance story of Manasseh. He tore down the idols, worshiped the Lord, and even made the worship of God a law in Judah. Let such a story of repentance give you hope for whoever it is in your life right now that you’re praying for their change. God can take the most vile, wicked heart and make it white as snow. Like Manasseh though, God may have to bring them to the lowest, harshest spot for their eyes to finally be opened to their need of Him. There we must trust God’s process. For if Manasseh never was taken there by the Lord, he would have never turned from his sin. Keep praying for them and keep trusting God is working within their life. God has a wonderful track record of changing hardened hearts. While ultimately they still may continue to reject God, don’t lose hope in what God is able to do. If they are still alive, it’s not too late for their change. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3087

For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 2 Kings 21:3 – Sin isn’t free. First think of the life of following God and eternity with Him your giving up for a life of temporary fills. Yet also just know sin will cost you to do it. It will cost relationships being destroyed by bad choices. It will cost your mind to be flooded with discouragement and depression due to the lack of never finding true fulfillment in anything. It’s will cost you everything. Yet so will following God, but look at what you get in return when you follow God. Peace rather than discontentment. Hope rather than hopelessness. Fulfillment rather than emptiness. Both following sin and following God will cost you everything so look at what you get in return and make your choice today which you’re going to follow. Abandon one and recklessly run after the other. If you want my input though, God is so much more worth going after. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 392

And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 2 Kings 21:4-5 – In the very place set aside for God he built altars to false gods. We may be appalled at such disrespect for God, but let’s check our own hearts for a moment. Our life is what God says to set aside for Him, so what “altars” have we built up within our life and are worshiping them with our time and focus more than our worship of God? Sure our altars are different from the ones we’re reading about, but they both can take our eyes off of God. Identify your altars, cut them down, and give back to God what should be set aside wholly for Him…you. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1044

Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh and all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 2 Kings 21:17 – What we have in this chapter is a retelling of the 55 year reign of King Manasseh. The word that we could use to describe it…sinful. Everything about his time as king from this chapter is simply sin after sin. He is marked in holy scripture by his sin. What will you go down in history for being after? We’re just starting out a new year, so we can look back at 2022 and get and idea of how to answer that question. What was your life about last year? While the answers will be many and may be difficult to pick one as the top answer, the answer that every follower of Jesus should hope comes to the top is the same. Our year should have been about Jesus. As clear as we can see Manasseh’s life was about sin others should be able to say our life was about Jesus. So, what can we do this year to make sure that is what is said of us? How can we make our year, each day, our whole life marked as one all about Jesus? Pray, ask God to show you what that looks like for you, and take the steps you know to take to make this a reality. Make this year a year marked by your devotion to Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac Daily DEVO 2227