hope

Prodigal

/ Gail Johnson / 5 Comments

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (KJV) 

Every year, we pull scriptures to piece together the perfect Christmas program. What we don’t include is Christ’s genealogy. Sadly, people admit they skip those hard-to-pronounce names in devotional time. What they don’t realize is there are astounding stories behind those names!

Hang with me here. I know it’s the busiest part of the year. But I want to share a story within Christ’s story. A tale of horror, rebellion, and captivity. It’s also a story of love, mercy, and forgiveness.

You can read the story later in 2 Kings 20:21, 21:1-18, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20, Jeremiah 15:14.

Child King

The Bible tells us that Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king and reigned for fifty-five years. His parents were Hezekiah and Hephzibah. Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of God. He removed the wickedness his daddy Ahaz committed in the land and brought back the worship of YHWH.

Manasseh, on the other hand, followed in his grandaddy’s footsteps and did evil in the Lord’s sight by delving into the occult, human sacrifices, and idolatry. Idol worship often included temple prostitution. In his commentary, Adam Clark writes that Ahaz (grandaddy), Manasseh (grandson), and Amon (great-grandson) did their best to destroy every copy of the written law.

Transgressor

Below is a list of Manasseh’s transgressions according to 2 Kings 21:1-18.

Rebuilt the high places of idolatry Hezekiah destroyed.
Built pagan altars in the temple of God.
Built altars in two courts of the house of God for the hosts of heaven
Worshiped Baal and the hosts of heaven (sun, moon, and stars)
Sacrificed his own son by fire to Molech in the Valley of Hinnom
Observed times. Practiced divination. Consulted spiritists and mediums.
Carved and set an Asherah (Canaanite fertility goddess) pole in the temple.
Shed innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to the other. (Tradition says he had Isaiah sawn into.)

Eighteen verses later, we read, “And Manasseh slept with his fathers, and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza: and Amon his son reigned in his stead.”

A tragic ending if we stop reading there. But God wasn’t through with this transgressor.

Captive

When we sin, it affects everyone in our lives. If only we had listened. If only we had not . . .

Earlier, the Lord promised David and Solomon he would care and protect Israel if they heeded his words and kept his commandments. Yes, Israel and Judah had been riddled with wicked kings, but the evil had never been as prevalent as in the days of Manasseh. The Bible says, “he (Manasseh) seduced his people to do more evil than the nations God had destroyed before the children of Israel.” God told his prophets that because of what Manasseh, king of Judah, had done and made Judah do, he would forsake them and deliver them to their enemies (Kings 21:10-15).

While Manasseh was busy destroying his kingdom, the world around him watched, waiting for an opportunity to pounce. Remember, the surrounding kingdoms knew God protected his people. Earlier, during Hezekiah’s reign, the Assyrian army besieged the kingdom, but God sent an angel to destroy them. Judah was safe in the arms of God. Right?

But the Lord’s people had abandoned Him for other gods. While they worshiped their idols, the Assyrian king invaded and captured a thirty-five-year-old Manasseh with hooks, bound him in chains, and transported him back to Babylon, where he remained for twelve years.

Prodigal

Rather than spending his reign caring for his people, Manasseh wasted his time, money, and energy killing innocent people, committing perversion in the house of the Lord, and seeking false gods that couldn’t help in time of need.

Thankfully, Kings 21:18 isn’t the end of Manasseh’s story. In his affliction, Manasseh humbled himself and prayed. God heard his prayers and brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. “Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.” 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 (KJV)

Is that a love story, or is that a love story?!

Beloved

Jesus told a story of another boy who squandered his blessings and forsook his upbringing. And when all was lost, came to himself and repented.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. Luke 15:18-20 (KJV)

My friend, God’s love is no different today. If you think you’ve gone too far, all you have to do is turn around. Change directions and run to the Father. Plead mercy. Ask forgiveness. Invite Jesus into your heart.

He’s waiting.

Hope

/ Gail Johnson / 6 Comments

Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. Psalm 33:22

For in thee, O LORD, do I hope: thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15

And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee. Psalm 39:7

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Psalm 42:5

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Psalm 43:5

For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. Psalm 71:5
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. Psalm 71:14

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Psalm 119:114

Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116

I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. Psalm 130:5


The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

Psalm 147:11

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. Proverb 13:12

The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

Lamentations 3:24

Promises

/ Gail Johnson / 12 Comments

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Psalm 119:89 (KJV)

Standing on the Promises

Verse One: Standing on the promises of Christ my King, Thro’ eternal ages let his praises ring; Glory in the highest I will shout and sing, Standing on the promises of God.

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1 (KJV)

Chorus: Standing, standing, Standing on the promises of Christ my Saviour; Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God.

Verse Two: Standing on the promises that cannot fail, When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail, By the living Word of God I shall prevail, Standing on the promises of God.

And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee. Jeremiah 1:19 (KJV)

Verse Three: Standing on the promises I now can see Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me; Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free, I’m standing on the promises of God.

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36 (KJV)

Verse Four: Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord, Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s sword, Standing on the promises of God.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Roman 8:37 (KJV)

Verse Five: Standing on the promises I cannot fall, List’ning ev’ry moment to the Spirit’s call, Resting in my Saviour, as my all in all, Standing on the promises of God.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV)

Standing on the Promises by Russell Kelso Carter Public Domain

Howling Storms

When I took a break from blogging, I had big plans to finish several projects. What I didn’t plan was a summer of storms that left me spiritually, mentally, and physically exhausted.

In the middle of howling winds were ongoing outside problems, a bruised rib, and a suspicious mole at the base of my neck. I made an appointment to have the mole removed, knowing what they’d say. “Let’s take a sample and go from there.”

Later that week, I talked silently with the Lord about my appointment. “I wished the thing would fall off so I didn’t have to deal with any of this.”

Honestly, I’d had it up to my back teeth. (Ever been there?) I’d lost my patience and was mentally on the floor whining in defeat over the outside problems.

Now, this firstborn tomboy learned a long time ago whining doesn’t get you anywhere. Especially when it comes to spiritual warfare. So I trudged on oblivious to the real problem.

Stand on Your Feet

When I thought about posting an article, I opted for an inspirational meme because I had no words. Although I was doing the right things, I felt like a hypocrite. Who was I to encourage another when I was in a mess? But I knew I had to upload that poster!

The morning the Rejoice post went live, Patricia Bettis commented. “Rejoice, Gail! Beautiful flowers!” (Thank you, Patricia.)

When I read it, I read it as a command. Not from Patricia, but from our Commander. Something suddenly shifted in me, and I realized I had lost the zeal to fight. Although I quoted scripture and sang hymns, I was on my face, not my feet.

“The psalms, and hymns, and songs were to be sung so that the heart should be engaged, and not so as to be mere music, or a mere external performance.” Albert Barnes

Fact: Without the heart’s engagement, our spirits grow weary of battle.  

Once my heart re-engaged, my strength and joy returned. And guess what? The mole fell off a few days later. The area is smooth and clear as a baby’s complexion. Praise the Lord!

The other problems are in the Lord’s hands, and I’m standing on his promises.

So, my friend, if you have problems that only the Lord can solve, if you have more than you can bear, let me encourage you to stand on His promises and sing your heart out!

Photo courtesy of Pat_Photographies on Pixabay