Friday, September 02, 2011

A World Without You?

 
 
Bill Rice Ranch - First Light Devotionals 

II Chronicles 32:31  "Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."

In the 1940's, Jimmy Stewart starred in a motion picture called "It's a Wonderful Life."  (The movie has become somewhat of a tradition during the Christmas season.)  The main character has experienced hard times and is thinking about taking his own life.  He is given the opportunity to see what life would be like without him.  Have you ever imagined what the world would be like without you?  Think of all the things that would be different!

As different as this world would be without you, think of your world without God.  That would be true misery!  II Chronicles 32:31 says that "God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart."  This particular time in Hezekiah's life is explained to us in II Kings 20.  While his storehouses were full of gold and silver, Hezekiah's kingdom had been threatened by the enemies of God, and his own health was threatened by a serious illness.  Hezekiah's story reminds us that God does not dwell with the rich and powerful; He dwells with the needy and humble.

It is true that this life is wonderful and the world would be different without me.  However, the world was here before me and it will be here after me.  This morning, the tragedy would not be a world without you or me; the tragedy would be you or me without the God who made the world.  When, like Hezekiah, our storehouses are full, our health is good, and we have victory over our enemies, we are perhaps in our worst position.

This morning, you can do without many things, but you cannot do without God.  Plus, everything you may need this morning is provided by God Himself.  Do you know God and His presence in your life?  Whatever you may live without today, don't live without God!

 

 

 

  

Prayer Requests: 

- Services this weekend in Camp Verde, AZ; Pittsburg, TX; and Louisville, KY

 

 

 

Looking for more devotionals?  Visit the archives here

 
 
Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

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