Old Testament reading: 2 Kings 9-10
If there had been an chariot version of NASCAR in the days of old, Jehu would have been a perfect participant, as he was well known to all as one who “drives furiously” (2 Ki 9:20). All jokes aside, the reign of Jehu is a story of both triumph and tragedy. Of all the kings of Israel, Jehu is the only king of whom it was said that he did those things that were right in God’s eyes (10:30). He was zealous to carry out the will of God in avenging the blood shed by Ahab and Jezebel. He was zealous in destroying every vestige of Baal worship in Israel. But his triumph would turn to tragedy in that he never abandoned the apostasy of Jeroboam the son of Nebat (10:31). I wish all who claim to follow Jesus would consider the severity of Jeroboam’s sin. No king in Israel escaped its reach, and its primary emphasis was apostasy in matters of worship.
New Testament reading: Acts 17-19
The book of Acts is sometimes called the book of conversions and non-conversions. It teaches us about different people in different places and how these seemingly unrelated individuals are all brought into the one fold by the same message and method. As in yesterday’s reading, today’s examination teaches us a great lesson about baptism. Namely, that not just any baptism is sufficient to save. John’s baptism was for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4), but it had been supplanted by the baptism in the name of Jesus, which also brought remission of sins (Acts 2:38). Though once valid, John’s baptism was no longer sufficient to bring the remission of sins. Moreover, those men in Ephesus could not take their new found knowledge and make it retroactive back to their previous baptism. The only solution was to receive a valid baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins (19:5). In like fashion, men today cannot take any new found truth and apply it to a previously unbiblical conversion or baptism. God is a God of order, and things must be done in the proper order and with the proper faith and understanding.
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