Today’s Reading, 2 Chronicles 32-34
Focal Scripture: 2 Chronicles 34:27 “because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and against its inhabitants, and because you humbled yourself before me, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard’ — this is the Lord’s declaration.”
Being a humble person is a quality that gets overlooked. Most people today are only noticed if they are loud, out front, center of the stage, or the primary act. However, the people who have always impressed me to the most are the ones who in quiet humility go about their business. One of the most humble people I have ever met is also one of the greatest men I have ever seen love and minister. He never bragged, lied, gossiped or put others down. He just served and showed a heart that was sensitive to God.
In today’s reading this is what we see happen it is declared to the king that because he has a tender heart and a spirit of humility the Lord heard the prayer and relented from his wrath until the King died. The King changed the direction of the people because his heart was tender to the Lords leading. His desire was to lead from a place of humility not arrogance and pride.
So that is the message we must deal with today in our own lives when it comes to sin and our own lives. Will we have tender hearts to what breaks Gods heart? To often when we are confronted with sin we become obstinate and defiant instead of humble and tender hearted. It amazes me that we get so defensive when God exposes sin in us and around us and requires that we deal with it immediately.
The challenge that we need to take away from today’s reading is to be a people that has humility when we are confronted with our own sin and the sin of others. I have witnessed people be confronted with sin and instead of saying “Yes, I committed that act.” Will deny it was them and then blame everyone else for their decisions. They will blames their family, circumstances, pain, money and even their favorite sports team.
However, what the Lord desires is for a person to deny themselves and acknowledge their sin towards a Holy God. Consequences will still take place but a right relationship will be restored. I know it is never easy to acknowledge our mistakes and our sin but this is why we are required to die to ourselves and live a life of humility.
So how would you be described by others? A person with a tender heart and humble spirit or would you be described as mean, arrogant, and prideful. Our lives tell a story and we must be aware of our daily witness.
Humble yourself and have a tender heart before others.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading 2 Chronicles 35-36
