Thurs., 12/20/18 Devotion (2 Chron. 24:18)

Today's encouragement comes from 2 Chronicles 24:18, where we read these words:

"Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem be-cause of their trespass."

It is sad when professing Christians leave Christ, His church, His gospel, His word, His Sabbath, His worship, and all His means of grace—to go worship rocks, sticks, and pieces of dirt. But such is the inevitable tendency of the fall-en unregenerate human heart.

Was there any hope for these people (mentioned above), who had so devalu-ed their souls with idolatry? There *was* hope: but it called for faith and re-pentance. May we who are the beneficiaries of so much grace in our Lord Jesus not show ingratitude by abandoning God. Instead, let us humbly cling to Him (in Christ).

[Puritan quote of the day: "Christ makes us wise to ponder and weigh things, and to rank and order them accordingly . . . “ —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]