05/27 Thoughts & Comments By Dr. Daniel Daves

27-May 1 Kings 13-1,4 Matthew 23-24, Psalms 131-135, Proverbs 27

1 Kings 14:22-28 (NIV) 22  Judah did evil in the eyes of the LORD. By the sins they committed they stirred up his jealous anger more than their fathers had done. 23  They also set up for themselves high places, sacred stones and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every spreading tree. 24  There were even male shrine prostitutes in the land; the people engaged in all the detestable practices of the nations the LORD had driven out before the Israelites. 25  In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. 26  He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. 27  So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. 28  Whenever the king went to the LORD's temple, the guards bore the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

We read through a very dark time in Israel's history where two kings promoted wickedness and the Lord's anger burned against them.  Amazingly, when leaders defile God's purposes in a nation, sickness, death, drought, famine, and national attacks come against that nation.  When leaders sin, the people of the nation follow in that sin and the entire nation is punished.  Today's nations are suffering like judgments because of national overt sins from the top downward.

Proverbs 29:2 (NIV)  When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

How do you keep yourself safe during times of national wickedness and punishment?  The Bible declares repeatedly, "Come out from them and be separate."  Continue to worship God and live for Him though no one will follow along.  Because of the famine for the Word of the Lord, you may find yourself lacking in leadership. Therefore you must become a student of the Word of God and become that leader that you needed originally.  God will help you, but you must live, talk, and walk differently than the sinful nation if you want to find favor in God's eyes.  It is possible to find favor with Him, though the whole world turn aside. Noah and his family of eight were favored by God, though the entire world had turned against Him.

It's important that you stick with your 25 word core vision statement and build the dream of God.  Builders of God's dream are friends with God.  They don't look like those who choose to worship in the high places, or on the altars of convenience.  Those minding God's business (whether church or business activities) don't have time to participate in the world's anti-Christ behavior.  They're busy serving and moving with God.

John 12:26 (NIV)  Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

In the day and hour when the world goes astray and follows their leaders into hell's abyss, where will you be found?  The right place to be is with Jesus.  Where He is - that is where His servants congregate.  And where His servants are located, there is blessing, honor, and an open heaven.  This is the place you want to be found during times of darkness, famine, and trouble.

COMPASS GUIDE STUDENTS:  As we present to the Lord, our 25 word core vision statement and all of our goals, plans, and vision, where does He want this MASTER PLAN to unfold?  Location is important. It's everything in the economy of God.  Being at the right place at the right time will make the difference between success and failure.  The right place and time would be to locate where God wants to do His work, and then for you to move into that location.  This might require a physical literal move, or a spiritual move of some kind.  But movement is the key.  He is on the move, therefore His servants must also be moving with him.

Find where He is going, and then move there with haste!  You will find the blessing of God!

Tomorrow's Reading:
28-May 1 Kings 15-16, Matthew 25-26, Psalms 136-140, Proverbs 28