2 Chronicles 31-33, Psalms 109
What God said to me – Manasseh was a king of Judah who unlike his father, Hezekiah, did evil in My sight – he didn’t just do evil – he did much evil. He practiced horrible idolatry and went so far as to sacrifice his own sons to them. He practiced witchcraft and sorcery and even went so far as to set up an idol and altar in My house. I spoke to he and his people, but they paid no attention to Me. I finally allowed the commanders of the king of Assyria to come against them and Manasseh was captured and bound and taken to Babylon. It would seem to be the end to a horrible story and yet . . . “I AM” a God Who loves His people and Who forgives them when they humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways and seek My face. I did just that with Manasseh. When he was in such horrible distress he finally sought Me and humbled himself and believed. I heard his prayer and was moved by his supplication and brought him home to Jerusalem. After he got home, he tore down the idols and cleansed My temple. He bore fruit in keeping with repentance. You see one of the signs that someone has truly repented and believed is what happens afterwards – they bear fruit in keeping with repentance – the change in their heart and life is obvious. How about you? Are you living in such a way that it is obvious you belong to Me?