YouVersion Reformation Reading Plan, day 235

I Corinthians 6 §

To have lawsuits at all with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer wrong? Why not rather be defrauded?

I Corinthians 6:7

It is hopeless for us to try such a thing in human strength. Who can ever say they would rather be wronged than avenged? Or rather be defrauded than …raise a storm? Yet Christ did not answer his accusers one word. How can I set aside my rights and wholeheartedly work for the good of the body, even when I am not recognized? When I am not treated fairly? What claim do I have to fair treatment anyway?

And do not be deceived (verse 9): anyone who goes on sinning will not inherit the kingdom. I cannot hide my sin from God, and while He is merciful and gracious, He expects obedience. If I am washed and sanctified (verse 10), then I am free from all those sins — which means I won’t continue committing them.

But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

I Corinthians 6:17

Do you know you are one spirit with Christ?

II Chronicles 15 §

Asa is king of Judah for 15 years before God sends him a word through the prophets. Fifteen years he followed God, and God rewarded him. Fifteen years is not some magic number, but neither is a single whispered prayer.

After that, Asa goes twenty years without seeing war. What a blessing.

II Chronicles 16 §

Twenty years, and when war does come — not even war, but merely the threat of war — Asa decides not to trust God but to take matters into his own hands. Spoiler: it does not go well. Then Asa continues to make things worse for himself. Moral of the story? Seek God first and trust in Him alone.

II Chronicles 17 §

I like Jehoshaphat. He is the first king of Judah (or Israel) with an education program. It isn’t clear in the text whether the fear of the LORD that strikes Judah’s neighbors comes as a result of the priests and officials going out to teach the people, but it didn’t hurt. Amasiah, one of Jehoshaphat’s military commanders, has a great epithet: “a volunteer for the service of the LORD” (verse 16).