First off, I want to give an update from last week. I have an appointment today (Monday) with the Barnabas Crisis Pregnancy Center in Peoria. I hope to find out how I can plug-in to help them as they minister to those who need help.

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This week I read the story of Hezekiah and how when he becomes deathly ill, God saves his life and grants him 15 additional years. What does Hezekiah do with his extra time that God gives him? Well, according to 2 Chronicles 32:27-30, he did some good things with this extra time.

However, when the envoys from Babylon came, Hezekiah foolishly showed them EVERYTHING he had–his weapons, his gold, his spices the whole royal treasuries. Isaiah tells Hezekiah that everything you just showed the Babylonians–they are going to carry it all away to Babylon–even his own sons! Hezekiah’s response is pretty shocking. He tells Isaiah that this is a good message because at least there will be peace and security in his lifetime.

Wow! Do you know anyone that is so caught up in the moment that they are willing to sell out the next generation! Is this how we should respond to God’s blessings in our lives?

I’m afraid it is a temptation that we entertain more frequently than we care to admit. We have been blessed by God in so many ways, but yet why do these verses resonate with me:

“For the leaders of my people–the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds–are blind and ignorant. They are like silent watchdogs that give no warning when danger comes. They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming. Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied. They are ignorant shepherds, all following their own path and intent on personal gain.” (Isaiah 56:10-11)

Our culture can lure us to sleep very unsuspectingly, can’t it? I know that is the case for me, anyway. Isaiah’s words were harsh for me to hear, but only because I felt like he was speaking to me!

Let us hold each other to the standard where we are blessed to then be a blessing to others!!

More to come…
Jeremy