Skip to main content

A Step in the Right Direction

                Many people think that God is harsh, mean and demanding.  As evidence of this, they point to incidences where people did not follow the exact letter of the law and God punished them on the spot.  While those stories do exist, let me tell you a different story.
                For years, God’s people had neglected him.  Then, in 715 BC, a new king, a 25-year-old named Hezekiah, came to the throne.  He re-opened the temple and invited everyone to Jerusalem to celebrate the great feast called “Passover”.  There were a few problems though.
                First, they had waited too long.  Passover was to be held on the fourteenth day of the first month of the year.  That date was too close, so they decided that they would celebrate on the fourteenth day of the second month instead (2 Chronicles 30:2).
                Second, God’s instructions clearly stated that the people must offer their own sacrifice.  Unfortunately, the people had not performed the proper cleansing rituals leading up to the feast.  Therefore, the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for them (verse 17).
                Lastly, the same uncleanliness that kept them from offering the sacrifice should have disqualified them from eating it.  However, Hezekiah told them to eat it anyway (verse 18).
                To recap, they celebrated at the wrong time, the sacrifice was offered incorrectly and they ate the meal even though they should be disqualified.  You would expect God to be mad, right? 
                No!  In fact, scripture says that, “God heard… and healed his people” (verse 20).   What happened to the mean God who hates anything done incorrectly?
                Well, God is not mean.  He is good!  God will punish those who are rebellious, but that was not the case here.  In fact, their hearts were set on seeking God (verse 19).  They did not do everything perfectly, but God has always been more concerned about a proper heart than proper actions.
                We ought to listen to God and do what he says.  Sloppiness is never good.  But, do not let the fact that you will not get everything right the first time keep you from doing the good thing you know that you should do.  God will celebrate your faltering, incorrect, stumbling steps if they are leading you closer to him. 
                “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Consider This: What is so Great About Grace?

If you were to drive by our house, you would see that Sara loves plants.  Our yard is full of flowers, and Sara lovingly tends every one of them. Which is why I was so afraid when she left town and put me in charge of keeping things alive. She must have been a little concerned, too, because she sent me two videos with specific instructions on how to water, when to water, and what to do.  Honestly, those first two videos helped, but the third one she sent was the one I liked most.  In that one, she said, “Please do your best. I want the yard to look good for the family reunion in two weeks.  However, if something dies, we will dig it out and pretend that it never existed!” That is what grace looks like!  Try your best, do what you can, but if it goes wrong, it will be ok. Sometimes we talk as though grace and effort are opposites.  That is not true.  They are partners. In one place, scripture asks, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone c...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Article: Thanksgiving in Real Time

                    Thanksgiving weekend means that many of us will spend time together with family and friends, eat a lot of food and think about what we are thankful for in our lives.   Unfortunately, after that, most will go back to their normal routines and leave thankfulness behind.                   What would happen if thanksgiving were part of our everyday life, rather than something we focused on a few times per year?   Where would we even start?                 According to Philippians 1:18-26, the apostle Paul remained joyful and thankful, even while imprisoned for his faith, by holding on to three important practic...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do You See the Angel?

          In the gospels, the story of Jesus’ birth is preceded by the prediction of the birth of “John the Baptist”.              John’s father, Zechariah, was a priest at the temple in Jerusalem.   One day, while he was burning incense to God, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John” (Luke 1:13).               This was surprising news to Zechariah and so he asks, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years” (verse 18).   That is a logical question, right?   I mean, he is asking for a sign so that he can believe something that seems quite unbelievable.   Who would fault him for that?        ...
Post a Comment
Read more