2 Kings – Chapter 7

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them. 2 Kings 7:8 – I absolutely love this chapter for it so exemplifies the Gospel. We have an enemy surrounding the city and the people are dying of starvation. God though works a miracle and causes all the enemy army to flee, leaving all this food and belongings behind. Four lepers stumble upon the abandoned, but well stocked, camp and shares the good news with the starving city. Because they shared the good news, life was found for all those heading towards death. This is the Gospel, but isn’t what happens in verse 8 so important too? Yes after verse 8 they share the good news, but in verse 8 they enjoy the good news for themselves. They eat and drink to their fill and they take some plunder for themselves. They discovered the blessing and enjoyed the blessing. Such should be our story with the Gospel. We need to enjoy it. Yes, share it with the world, but also enjoy it within your life! How can we ever tell someone the beauty of something that we haven’t really embraced the depth of ourselves? Spend time with God because you can now anytime you want. Enjoy freedom from the sinfulness of the world because you’re no longer held captive to it. Think on all the blessings you have as a result of the Gospel and enjoy them deeply. Then you will not only have the good news to share but the stories to go with it. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3073

Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” 2 Kings 7:9 – We can find ourselves enjoying our blessings so much that we forget what we are called to do, invite others into that blessing. That’s exactly what’s happening in our passage. We have a city starving and this smaller group coming across an abandoned army campsite full of food and provisions. They are stuffing themselves with the goods when one stands up and says what we read in our verse. That today is a day of good news, but we are keeping it to ourselves. For us today is the day of good news. We have life, love, grace, and forgiveness in Jesus! Let’s enjoy that to the fullest, yet don’t forget that good news is for more than just you. Remember, your story is very much like this one here in scripture. You have found the life giving substance you needed and are able to fill yourself on it, but all around you are people dying not knowing the food they need is right here waiting for them. Share the news that what they have been searching for is right here in Jesus. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 378

Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the Lord himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 2 Kings 7:2 – Answer honestly, how often are we really much different than the captain in similar situations? We may say how could he doubt God and what God can do after seeing such miracles as we’ve been reading about. But how often when faced with a new struggle do we find ourself worrying as if we’ve never seen God provide for us before? Do you believe that God can open the windows of Heaven for you? Do you believe that God knows your story and loves you to provide for you like you need? If so, why worry? It’s so much easier said than done to not worry, but remind yourself that God can open the windows of Heaven for you. He is taking care of things even when you aren’t aware of it. Trust that. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1030

Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 2 Kings 7:3-4 -This is what a life without any hope looks like and how a life without hopes moves. We see it within the way the lepers see their future and even within the lives of those within the previous chapter. We had mothers even eating their own children because of their severe lack of hope. While today our story may look so vastly different than that of what’s happening in 2 Kings, know around you today are people dealing with levels of hope like we see in our passages. They see their life as nothing, their future as black, and their today as just another reminder of their pain. So make your life with Jesus evident to all today. If you follow Jesus, make every effort to allow the joy and love of the Lord be genuinely seen in you. Remember the people in our story that are suffering like this aren’t needing any special word from you or any sort of hug from you or any gift from you. They need Jesus. Yes, all those other things we must be ready to offer as God directs, but what they first and foremost need is the Savior. Let then the saving, hope-giving God be seen within you by others. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 2213