“He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him.” – 2 Kings 18:5

Spiritually, there was never a king of Judah as faithful and devoted to the Lord as Hezekiah. However, that doesn’t mean his time as king was easy or problem-free. Far from it! His faith was tested in the deepest way imaginable. The massive army of Assyria marched to Jerusalem and loudly pointed out Judah’s military weaknesses to everyone in the city. The people were terrified as Assyria’s king demanded Judah’s surrender and even claimed it was the will of the Lord! The only options available appeared to be slavery and forced relocation on the one hand or suffering and inevitable death on the other.

This was a test of faith like no other. Would the most godly of kings assess the situation the way everyone else did? Would he accept Assyria’s theological interpretation of its own power as an endoresement from the Lord? Should he surrender or fight? In the end, the answer was “None of the Above”. Hezekiah sought the Lord in prayer, was told to hold firm, and then God miraculously destroyed Assyria’s army. Assyrian lies about God’s will were punished with death and destruction, even for its king.

What’s the significance of all this today? First and foremost, trust and serve the Lord! As you do, don’t assume you won’t face difficult times. You almost certainly will. Times of difficulty, deprivation, disaster, weakness, or suffering that make you question everything. Don’t fear those times – as a follower of Jesus, you never face them alone. When the hard times come, lean into your relationship with God and earnestly seek His path forward rather than the one or two options that seem obvious to everyone. Perhaps God will work or a miracle like He did for Hezekiah. Or perhaps, He’ll simply strengthen and guide you through hardship by wrapping you in His peace and love. Seek the Lord in every trial and He will make your way through it. #FollowJesus

“Sow for yourselves righteousness;
reap steadfast love;
break up your fallow ground,
for it is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come and rain righteousness upon you.”
– Hosea 10:12

What God promised so long ago is still true today. It’s always the right time for followers of Jesus to plant seeds of righteousness in their lives, their families, their workplaces, their communities, and the world. Sowing righteousness implies being intentional about living and practicing God’s holy righteousness in everything you do. That you’re doing your best, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to act like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and think like Jesus. As you do, you will more clearly and fully abide in Christ and experience His infinite love and joy. Those who’ve been made righteous by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ must practice righteousness in private and in public. When people are watching and when they aren’t. Live a life of humble, holy, obedience to the example and commands of Jesus Christ. In doing so, you will enjoy the abundant harvest of God’s steadfast, unfailing love no matter how the world responds.

In the same way, it’s always the right time to examine your life and ask God to reveal areas of it which “lie fallow”. This describes areas that aren’t yet committed or fruitful for the Lord. Most of us have parts of ourselves that are like that. Are there aspects of your life that you’re still holding onto control over rather than turning over to Jesus? It could be your ambitions, your finances, your relationships, or your career that you aren’t willing to let Jesus transform. Or, are there areas of sin or selfishness that you aren’t willing to let Jesus remove? If so, break that fallow soil up, turning it over to the Lordship of Jesus. Seek His transformation for those areas. Let His Spirit fill you and bring new life and fruitfulness to that part of your life.

God isn’t far. He isn’t holding back. He isn’t keeping His distance. He’s near at hand and will bless and transform you whenever you’re ready to turn control over each and every part of your life to His righteous, holy, empowering Spirit. #FollowJesus

“It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.”
– Psalm 127:2

When you work, who is doing the hard work? Is it you, yourself, and you? Or are you inviting and permitting the Lord to work through you? Do you work – in the office or in your field of ministry – relying on your abilities, knowledge, talents, and strengths? Or do you work in the Lord, filled with His Spirit, and letting Him shine through? Are you stressed about all the work you think you need to do? Are you work, work, working to the exclusion of spending time with loved ones, worshipping God, and serving the Lord? That isn’t the life God wants for you!

The first verse of this psalm explains that unless you’re letting God work through you, you’re wasting your time. As Jesus explained in John 15, apart from Him, you can’t do anything that ultimately matters or lasts for God’s Kingdom. Nothing. Of course, you can be very busy, impressing many people, and definitely building some things. But if God wasn’t ultimately the One working through you, those projects simply won’t have the impact you imagine. They won’t last the way you expect. And you’ll have worked much, much harder than you needed to, to the detriment of your health, happiness, spiritual life, and relationships.

God has infinitely more power and ability than you do. Invite Him to work through you. Devote meaningful time every day to fellowshipping with God as you read and meditate on Scripture and talk to Him in prayer. This isn’t wasted time that keeps you from working, this is the most important time of the day! Talk and listen for God’s quiet promptings and clear directions. Let God direct your priorities. Let Him give you clarity about how long to work on a particular task vs. devoting time to the needs of others vs. enjoying rest in Him vs. fellowshipping and worshipping with other believers.

Work hard, but work for God’s glory when you do. Pray when you work and about your work. Rest when God tells you to rest. Ask God to reveal His strength through your weakness rather than trying to hide your weakness. If you’re willing to truly submit your life, and your work, to God, He’ll give you the time and strength to do everything that truly needs to be done. He’ll give you peace about what you simply can’t do. He’ll work in ways you can’t and produce fruit beyond your abilities. #FollowJesus

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17

For everyone sealed and indwelt by the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ, the Bible is God’s one and only necessary and sufficient means of reshaping them for the life of faithful service God has prepared for them to live. The Bible is God’s perfect, inspired, inerrant Word, given to teach YOU. To rebuke YOU when you’re wandering off the narrow path of following Jesus. To correct YOU when you’re wrong in your thinking, speaking, or acting. To train YOU to live out the righteousness of Jesus that has been credited to you as a gift of God’s grace.

If Jesus is your Lord, then there’s nothing that will change you more over time than daily encounters – substantive encounters – with God’s Word. Try to read your Bible every day. Do it systematically, not randomly, so you’ll hear the whole counsel of God over time. Do it carefully, making notes and thinking about what you read, prayerfully meditating about what it means, and what you should stop, start, change, or continue because of what you read.

The Bible is unlike any other book you’ll ever read, including wonderful books by great and godly authors. Those are terrific and meaningful but they aren’t God-breathed. Let God’s Word work on you, in you, and through you every day you possibly can. The Holy Spirit within you will use the Word you’re reading or listening to, to prepare and equip you to live out the disciple-making calling that God has placed on your life. #FollowJesus

“And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” – 2 Timothy 2:2

As Paul wrote to his dear friend, Timothy, he had four generations of faithfulness on his mind:

• Paul (generation 1)
• Timothy (generation 2)
• Those Timothy will teach to follow Jesus (generation 3)
• Those they will teach to follow Jesus (generation 4)

Four generations of believers who receive the good news of Jesus Christ, believe it, are transformed by it, and then pass it on to others who likewise taught to take up their cross and follow Jesus daily.

That’s how the gospel spread all over the world! That’s how it must continue to spread, until it reaches people from every ethnic group, tribe, and language on earth. Faithful men and women must share good news with others and teach them how to follow Jesus. Including by sharing this same good news as they go through life.

So, what about you? If Jesus is your Lord, then you’ve been entrusted with the same gospel message Paul and Timothy were. Are you actively entrusting it to others? Are you helping them understand how to share it with still others? Are you swapping encouraging testimonies with them about sharing and discipling, the way Paul and Timothy did?

If so, God bless you and may you continue in the power of the Holy Spirit! If not, why not? What’s holding you back? What do you need to equip or encourage you to take your place in the long chain of faithful people stretching back 2000 years and continuing forward until Jesus returns? #FollowJesus