For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

    This is an important proverb to think about. When I talk to people I disagree with, am I having the conversation in order to increase my understanding? Or am I only interested in telling others what I think?

    I will praise God as long as I live. Others may put their confidence in their connections and the people they know in high places, but I will put my trust in the Lord. Powerful people will die, but God will help me for all of eternity. Let all that I am praise the Lord until after I breathe my dying breath.

    We have two references here to believers who only knew “the baptism of John” and had not yet received the Holy Spirit. Apollos was an enthusiastic speaker who became a powerful voice for the Lord once he received the Holy Spirit. The believers whom Paul met in Ephesus were genuine, yet it was not until they received the Holy Spirit that they gained the power to perform wonders. Is the lack of miracles in the Church in America because not enough of us have the Holy Spirit? How can we bring the Holy Spirit to more people of faith? What do we need to do differently in order to encourage believers to receive the Holy Spirit?

    In today’s passage we read of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, who did what was evil in God’s sight. Yet, when the land of Israel was being badly oppressed by the king of Aram, Jehoahaz prayed for God’s help and God delivered the people of Israel from the king of Aram. Despite God delivering them, they did not turn from their sins. We also read of Amaziah, king of Judah, who did what was pleasing in God’s eyes, but not as David had done. Amaziah allowed the people to continue worshiping in the high places where they combined worship of God with pagan practices. Amaziah became arrogant and went to war against the king of Israel. As a result, he suffered a terrible defeat. As I read this I see that God will some times come to the aid of those who sin, and those who usually do what is right will not receive God’s aid when their actions do not align with His will.