August 2

Today's Reading

2 Chronicles. "31 However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." This must have been some of what Jesus went through in His temptation by the devil in the wilderness. God allows us to go through a "dark night of the soul" when He seems to have forgotten us. At that time we either seek Him faithfully or turn to our own machinations to get things done.

Romans. Paul, in this conclusion, asks the Romans for a gift to help the poor saints in Israel. Jews were the first Christians. They were now parents and grandparents in the faith. Gentiles were newer followers of Christ, but many of them were either Roman citizens or at least more wealthy than the Jews. There had been a famine in the Middle East and the poor were suffering the most. Paul was collecting a benevolence offering to help them.

Psalms. David had learned well how to seek God in the dark nights of his own soul (see above comment on 2 Chronicles).

Proverbs. It is disastrous for someone to make a big decision without wise counsel. I have seen many leaders hit the wall because of this mistake.

What do you think today? Insights?