20-20 Blog

Scripture Focus:

2 Chronicles 35:22-24 But Josiah was spoiling for a fight and wouldn’t listen to a thing Neco said (in actuality it was God who said it). Though King Josiah disguised himself when they met on the plain of Megiddo, archers shot him anyway.

The king said to his servants, “Get me out of here—I’m badly wounded.”

So his servants took him out of his chariot and laid him down in an ambulance chariot and drove him back to Jerusalem. He died there and was buried in the family cemetery

Observation:

Josiah was such a good king. He swept away all the idols and altars to false Gods in Judah and Israel. He reinstituted the Passover holiday after it had lain dormant since the days of the prophet Samuel. (Even David and Solomon hadn’t observed the Passover.)

Then we read this story about a foolhardy decision he made to fight Neco, king of Egypt, when Neco was busy making alliances with the King of Assyria to go after the Babylonians. Neco warned him that not to fight saying that he had no quarrel with Josiah, but Josiah went after him anyway.

The end of the story? Josiah got killed, even though he disguised himself.

It’s a sad ending to an otherwise exemplary life.

Application:

If I’m doing all the right things, I can get cocky and bull-headed and not listen to good counsel or good judgement. I should be humble and pray for wisdom no matter how much “success” I’ve previously encountered.

Prayer:

Father God, I want to finish strong. Too many leaders are great for a season and then poop out right at the end. Help me to keep my eyes on you.

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Scripture Focus:

Isaiah 50:4
He wakes me up in the morning,
Wakes me up, opens my ears
to listen as one ready to take orders.

Observation:

God knows everything about my life, my business, my family, and he wants to give me his marching orders first thing in the morning. It’s HIM who wakes me up and whispers in my ears what I need to do today!

Application:

What better person to listen to than the One who already knows what will happen and can give me the inside scoop of what I should be doing today? And what better time of day to be tuned into what God has to say than first thing in the morning, when I need to plan out my day?

Prayer:

Good morning, God! I’m listening—go ahead and give me your marching orders!

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Scripture Focus:

1 Kings 4:1–7
King Solomon was off to a good start ruling Israel. These were the leaders in his government:
Azariah son of Zadok—the priest;
Elihoreph and Ahijah, sons of Shisha—secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud—historian;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada—commander of the army;
Zadok and Abiathar—priests;
Azariah son of Nathan—in charge of the regional managers;
Zabud son of Nathan—priest and friend to the king;
Ahishar—manager of the palace;
Adoniram son of Abda—manager of the slave labor.

Solomon had twelve regional managers distributed throughout Israel. They were responsible for supplying provisions for the king and his administration. Each was in charge of bringing supplies for one month of the year.

Observation:

It was marvelous to read through today’s Scripture passages and see how amazingly organized King Solomon was for building the temple and running the day to day activities of his kingdom. He didn’t do a stitch of the work himself. He hired good people and had a great team that surrounded him, which gave him the time to do what he did best: gain wisdom and understanding and get the reputation of being the wisest man on earth!

Application:

This chapter comes at an appropriate time in my life. I, too, have a marvelous team of people who help me in my business, but I’m still getting stuck in the minutiae. I need to finish setting up my team and let them do what they do best, so I can do what I do best—lead my company and move forward!

Prayer:

Father God, I love how practical the Scriptures are! Thanks for this reminder of how teamwork is supposed to function.

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1 Kings 3:10 God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart.

2 Thessalonians 2:17 May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.

Observation:

God was delighted that Solomon wanted the ability to lead and govern well. He was thrilled that Solomon would ask for such a thing! He got so excited, he answered his prayer and threw in a few extra biggies.

Then in Thessalonians we read Paul’s prayer that God would give them a fresh heart, invigorate their work, and enliven their speech.

Application:

God cares about my work. He’s pleased to give me wisdom to lead my team. He likes a job well done, and he’s willing to help me. I could use that wisdom today. I would love to be invigorated, to say words that are lively and cast a vision for my team!

Prayer:

Father God, as Solomon prayed, so I pray: give me the ability to lead and govern well!

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Scripture Focus:

Psalm 143:8 Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

Observation:

There is one who knows the way I should walk. Though the path may seem confusing at times, he invites me to lift up my soul to him.

Application:

It is not as important to know the path as to know the One who knows the path.

Prayer:

Father God, I lift up my soul to you and ask you to show me the way, even today, in which I should walk. Thank you.

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Scripture Focus:

Proverbs 10:23 To do evil is like sport to a fool,
But a man of understanding has wisdom.

Observation:

In our session this morning with Wayne Cordeiro he talked about this verse—how evil is like a game to a fool. He figures out ways to do it and he enjoys the challenge. On the other side of the coin, wisdom can also be like a game to a man of understanding. He takes delight and pleasure in figuring out what would be the wisest course of action in a particular situation.

Application:

It takes desire and a well thought out plan of action for not just a good resolution, but the best resolution to a problem, the wisest course of action.

Prayer:

Abba Father, give me the wisdom and patience to pursue the very best and wisest course of action to a problem.

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Scripture Focus:

Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Observation:

These verses from Proverbs and Romans have an interesting connection, which I can apply to my business, or any other “work.”. The first step seems to be committing one’s works to the Lord, so if I commit my business to the Lord, my whole thought process changes. It’s no longer “my” business, but God’s. This totally changes the way I think about my business.

Romans adds another spin to this idea. As I renew my mind through the Word of God, I know better and better what God’s perfect will is for my business—or any other work.

Application:

Everything I do is spiritual in the way I “own” it and think about it. How much better to commit what I do to God from the outset. That will, in turn, establish correct thinking, and as I continue to renew my mind through the Word of God, I get a clearer and clearer picture of what God’s will is for me and the “work” I’m doing.

Prayer:

Abba Father, my business is your business. Establish my thoughts correctly, and help me continue to renew my mind to know better and better what your will is for me and my business.

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