Daily Dose of Hope

November 7, 2024

Day 5 of Week 32

Scripture: Hosea 14; 2 Chronicles 26-27; Psalm 61; Matthew 20

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope. This is the devotional that should have appeared on Thursday so forgive its tardiness.

Today, we complete the book of Hosea. Chapter 14 is a call to repentance. Israel has moved so far from God. Remember, they are going through the motions. They are going to worship, they are saying the prayers, and they are singing the songs. But they have other gods on the side. They are immoral. They are oppressing the poor. And God is over it. So this is one more call to repentance before God lifts his hand of protection. I think the final verse says it all (14:9), Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.

In 2 Chronicles, we meet the next two kings of Judah. Uzziah was a king who started out well. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and as a result, the land prospered. But as he got older, he seemed to forget who he was. He became arrogant and bold. He went into the temple to burn incense himself, something Uzziah knew was wrong. The temple was the purview of the priests. They stopped him but Uzziah raged against them. God swiftly afflicted Uzziah with leprosy as a consequence for his sin. Thus, he spent the rest of his life removed from society and unable to go to the temple. How often do we see this pattern in the Bible? How can we be sure that we end well?

Jotham was Uzziah’s son who followed him. He apparently learned from his father’s good and bad example. He also did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He lived righteously and governed well.

Matthew 20 is our New Testament text. The disciples still really didn’t understand God’s Kingdom. In this passage, we see the mom of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and asked if her sons could sit at the place of honor on each side of him when he came into his Kingdom. She and the disciples were still thinking of the Kingdom in earthly terms with places of power and prestige.

But Jesus’ reply is interesting. He asks them if they will be able to drink of the bitter cup of suffering that he is about to drink and then he says, “Oh you will experience it.” It kind of gives me a chill the way he says this. But the next part of the passage is the most riveting. Jesus says that this rulers of this world flaunt their power over the people. But among you it will be different. You will serve others. Whoever wants to be a leader will be a servant. And just like that, Jesus transformed the model of Christian leadership.

You know, it’s so easy to get caught up in the desire for position and power in this world, to want people to think highly of you, to have authority over others. We see over and over and over again throughout history. Who are we kidding? We see this in our own lives! But Jesus teaches us a totally different way. It’s counter-cultural. He says what is really valuable is when leaders and those in authority are humble, when they roll up their sleeves and serve others. Jesus lived this out and he calls us to live it out as well.

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki