“Oh Israelites! Turn again to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel that he may turn to the remnant which is left of you from the hand of the kings of Assyria… So the couriers passed from city to city… but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless, some men from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.” ~II Chronicles 30:6, 10-12
“Oh Israelites! Turn again to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel that he may turn to the remnant which is left of you from the hand of the kings of Assyria… So the couriers passed from city to city… but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. Nevertheless, some men from Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.” II Chronicles 30:6, 10-12.
This was Hezekiah’s message to his people – same message all over the country – ‘come back to God.’ Some humbled themselves and responded while others were hard hearted and only listened when later judgement fell. It makes me ask myself – what kind of message will I listen to from the Lord and how will I hear it? Balaam couldn’t hear from the Lord until his own donkey spoke!
Don’t we want to be sensitive to what the Lord has to say? I find that being in a different place or doing things a little bit differently gives me a new point of view and helps me to be fresh to the Lord.
A group of us recently had this opportunity for a day at camp Kawkawa. Some fresh teaching on prayer, being with people we have not known before, and sitting outside and praying among the trees gave us a fresh point of view to connect with the Lord.
Carol and I have had the opportunity over the last couple of months to be in two different churches: one on our vacation time and this last weekend to be at the Kamloops Alliance church for a speaking engagement. While we have things in common with every bible believing church, being in a new place gives us a fresh point of view – we sing differently, we see scriptures in a new light, and we appreciate Christian community afresh.
So let me encourage you to put yourself in a place for a fresh point of view. Instead of asking – ‘what do I need’ – ask – ‘what do I have plenty of?’ Maybe sit in a different spot in the church this weekend and talk with some different people. Go for a walk and pray out loud as you do so. Read the bible in a different translation for a while. Ask some new spiritual questions to your friends. Pray for a country or a people you haven’t prayed for before. You get my drift. Position yourself in a fresh way to hear from God. Read the rest of II Chronicles 30. Maybe there is an Encounter with God in your future – maybe for all of us…
Lord haste the day.
Pastor Leon Throness
