Sweeter Than Honey: Two Brothers—Two Choices

What if we spent a few quiet moments with God each morning? What if we were intentional about making time for it? What if we committed to doing that all year long and by the year’s end we found that we had read the entire Bible!?

How many times, on January 1, have you committed to reading the Bible from cover to cover in a year? I have made that commitment too many times to count, and I have failed too many times to admit.

​A few years ago though, I used a one-year, chronological order of book authorship, Bible Reading Itinerary.

Did you know that Genesis was not the first book of the Bible written? While plans like this vary somewhat, because it is simply impossible to put an exact date on some books of the Bible, the plan I used begins with the book of Job.

​Sweeter Than Honey is a 365-day devotional journey ​that leads the reader
​through God's Word ​in chronological order of book authorship.

PRE-ORDER THE SWEETER THAN HONEY KINDLE VERSION

Let me introduce you to Sweeter Than Honey, friend. It is patterned after that Bible Reading Itinerary.

On Tuesdays, now through the end of the year, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through Sweeter Than Honey together! I'd also like to encourage you to Join us over at the private, Sweeter Than Honey Facebook group and share your thoughts. You'll find like-minded, Christian friends there. Let’s do this! Come join us as we move through the book and God's Word together.

We're waiting for you!

1 Kings 15-17: Two Brothers—Two Choices

We read about the kingdoms being divided into two—Israel and Judah. The people didn’t want God to rule over them. They didn’t want God to tell them what to do. After all, what had God done for them? He only delivered them from the hand of the Egyptians, miraculously parted the Red Sea, led them into the Promised Land… They wanted earthly kings to rule over them. So God allowed that. 

Israel had 19 different kings rule over her. None of them were good. Judah had 20 kings rule over her. Of those 20, 8 were good and served the Lord. Today, we read about one of those—King Asa.

“In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah, and he reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done. He put away the male cult prostitutes out of the land and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. He also removed Maacah his mother from being queen mother because she had made an abominable image for Asherah. And Asa cut down her image and burned it at the brook Kidron. But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. And he brought into the house of the Lord the sacred gifts of his father and his own sacred gifts, silver, and gold, and vessels.” (1 Kings 15:9-15)

If we look back to the beginning of chapter 15, we see Asa’s brother, Abijam, who reigned in Judah before Asa. This is what the Bible records about him: "He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah the daughter of Abishalom. And he walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father" (1 Kings 15:2-3).

Two brothers with the same father and mother make two very different lifestyle choices. Asa does “what was right in the eyes of the Lord” (15:11), and his heart “was wholly true to the Lord all his days” (15:14). Abijam, on the other hand, “walked in all the sins that his father did before him, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God” (15:3).

Maybe you have seen this in your own family. I know I have seen it in mine. Today, I am burdened to pray for the prodigals. Many well-meaning, devoted, God-fearing parents have raised children who have chosen different lifestyle paths. Some may even seem to be beyond God’s reach—they’re not! Today, let’s commit to pray for those prodigal children who have walked in sin and whose hearts are not wholly true to God. 

​Today, I am burdened to pray for the prodigals. If you would like to mention below the first names of the prodigals you will be praying for, we can pray together.

​About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a Love Letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can!

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in! ​

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