Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…
Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you…Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and…all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you…
We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed…for the battle is not yours but God’s…Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed…the Lord will be with you.”
… And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries…So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
II Chronicles 20: 2-3, 12, 15, 17, 29-30 (ESV)
Wow! What a ride!
In this country which was founded upon a Judeo-Christian ethic, this past year, actually these past four years of hatred, discord and uncertainty have overwhelmed our days.
Such that a casual observer not paying attention within our country might look up and wonder how it all happened, while perhaps a passer-by from another country might wonder what happened to the great nation under God about which they had heard so much good.
So where do we start to find the nation established two hundred and forty-five years ago? Where do we start, to begin to find answers, guidance, help and hope—
Answers to our anxiety.
Peace through the pandemonium.
Pathways through the disorder and discord.
Help and healing through the hatred.
Faith for the future.
Hope and victory for our tomorrows—personally and for our nation.
Sadly, past experiences have shown that we probably won’t find any of those from many of our elected leaders, at any level of government around the nation.
So where do we start?
In the passage above, King Jehoshaphat, with all heck breaking loose in every corner of the nation of Judah as it was coming under attack from others, stood before the assembly of the people of Judah, and says this to the Lord God—
“… We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
There you have it.
We start there. At that same place that King Jehoshaphat called everyone to look. With our eyes on God.
The answers, peace, path, help, healing, faith, future, hope, victory and more—personally and together for our nation and beyond—will be found in the God of all creation.
In the instruction contained within His Word, in His continuing call to be all He created us to be, to love Him, each other and our neighbors, and through His call on each of us to touch the world for good and for His glory.
Again, then—start where?
Start there! With our eyes on God.
And in the ups of downs of the journey we will be on together with Him—
Stay there! With our eyes on God.
He’s got it all—stay there.
In His Name–Scott
