I saw this question on YouTube this week—
“What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?”
(Question posed by Kaci Nicole on Youtube. To see the original link, click here.)
I heard this quote on another YouTube video I was watching.
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
(Anne of Green Gables quote)
And then I read in 2 Kings 17 where God finally let the kingdom of Israel go into captivity to the King of Assyria because they refused to follow God’s commands and sinned continually. The land of Samaria, where the Israelites were taken from was left uninhabited. So— the King of Assyria brought in men, “from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel:” (verse. 24)
Verses 25-26 states, “And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. Wherefore they spake to the King of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: Therefore he hath sent lions among them, and behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land.”
The next few verses tell us that the king of Assyria had to send in a priest to teach the people “how they should fear the LORD.”(see verses 27-28)
Several things stood out to me:
- God is— among many things— a God of the land.
- When the land is Holy, and you put people who do not “fear God” (have reverence for Him) in that land, God’s punishment will follow.
- God uses whatever He needs to punish people and straighten them out. In these verses God sent in the Lions. In 2 Kings 2:23-24 God sent in two “she bears” to punish forty-two young people who had made fun of His Holy Prophet, Elisha.
- Maybe one of the things we should be thankful for today is that even when we fall short of what God wants from us, He’s not sending in the Lions but is patiently working with us.
- And, tomorrow we can start a new day with no mistakes in it.
- And finally—what would we do if we woke up without Jesus, because we failed to be thankful yesterday for His sacrifice on the cross?
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3: 22-23
What have you been thinking about this week?
Thank you for your thoughts, Jane. Every morning in my quiet time, I write out numerous things for which I am grateful. Including that Jesus died for me, saved me, and forgives me.
I love that you take the time to write out what you are thankful for each day, Joni. Especially for Jesus and His sacrifice. This is inspirational to all who see your comment:)