December 2, Reading 1 – 2 Chronicles 32

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

When hard and terrible times came, Hezekiah joined Isaiah in prayer, and the Lord answered and delivered His people. When God tested Hezekiah, Hezekiah, just like us, failed the test. Jesus did not fail! Look again at what Jesus said when tested in Luke 4:1-13.

SJA Notes

* Father God in Heaven, we call out to You for insight, we raise our voice to You for understanding.

“After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.”

Is this an experience we have had?

After choosing wisdom, seeking the Lord and putting Him first – Have hardship and trouble come knocking?

Why does this happen?

Peter speaks directly to us, in a similar way that this passage in Chronicles spoke to the returning exiles and speaks to us also,

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”

Sennacherib and those around him mocked the Lord. They ridiculed the king. They sought to sow fear and uncertainty amongst God’s people.

Today much the same is happening.

Those in the world around us seek to undermine God and His word, they seek to tear down the church, the people of God, living stone by living stone.

The apostle Peter continues,

“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

We are to rejoice!

As hard-won as the practice will be, we are to rejoice.

Hezekiah helps us with this, words that are echoed throughout all of scripture,

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

* Lord God,

Praise Your Name!

You are with us, You help us, You fight our battles.

All glory be to You, the Holy God of Israel.

You have saved us from the bands of death. Saved us into life, and life to the full!

May we work to rejoice in the suffering we experience, for our joy lives in Christ – Who suffered much more for our good.

Amen.

December 2, Reading 2 – Ezekiel 48

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Ezekiel ends his prophecies with a section that recalls the division of the land of Palestine under Joshua. God will give His people an eternal inheritance, a real inheritance, a place on the new earth. The LORD is there! Hallelujah!

SJA Notes

* God of Light, please shine Your word on our hearts today.

“And the name of the city from that time on shall be, The LORD Is There.”

While most of today’s passage is taken up with specific allotments of God’s people, this final sentence encapsulates all of Ezekiel.

Because like the rest of God’s word, the book of Ezekiel stirs within us the hope of glory.

THE LORD IS THERE

What depth of love and mercy, of grace and favour can be found in this name.

There is none of the corruption we see us humanity falling into time and again throughout history and in our world today.

Instead, this is a city of absolute rock-solid hope.

A better world. A better place. A better country.

Are we resting our own hope in this most-precious truth?

* Father God in Heaven,

Thank You for the hope of the new heavenly city that we read of throughout Your word.

Thank You that the name of this city is that YOU ARE THERE.

We long for Your return Lord God.

Please fit us for glory.

Amen.

December 2, Reading 3 – 1 John 2:18-29

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

Talk over with someone else what it means today to deny that Jesus is the Christ. Can you give examples from our society in Australia today? In John’s day these were people who were inside the perimeter of the Church.

SJA Notes

* Mighty God, giver of life and of all good things. Please bless us today with Your word written on our hearts.

“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son hast eh Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

John has a clear picture of the One True God in Three Persons – And he continues to point us to the reality of what this means.

No one who denies the Son has the Father.

Have you ever met anyone who believes that Jesus might have been someone important, but that He is not God?

John is writing to God’s people to warn them of this false teaching, this deception.

And it is a very confronting truth that John speaks here, that those who deny the Son do not have the Father, and are not in Him.

For those people who believe that Jesus is not God, then this word is for them. A hard word. But true.

For us who know this truth, we are to stand guard against this terrible lie, and to point those who believe the lie to Jesus.

Because Jesus is the answer. He always is.

* God Almighty,

Thank You for this letter from John. May You teach us from it today.

Please help us to stand for Your truth each day, to be found rooted and steadfast in You.

Help us please Lord God to clearly confess You, to confess the Son and abide in the Father.

Amen.