2 Chronicles 36, Ecclesiastes 12, Matthew 23:1-28

What God said to me – The scribes and Pharisees seemed to everyone who saw them to have it all together.  Publicly they seemed to be great servants of Mine – always saying and doing the right thing.  Their lives and their service seemed perfect and yet they were hypocrites.  Their private lives were nothing like the show they put on publicly.  Their thoughts and their motives were self-centered and ungodly and the things they said and did that seemed to be in service of Me were done to gain the praise of people and not Me.  Their hypocritical service did more damage than good and actually blocked people from me rather than drawing them.  People don’t want or need to see someone perfect – they need to see someone genuine – someone who is open about their struggles and how I enable them to overcome or how I forgive them when they fail.  False displays of perfection only serve to discourage people who realize they have no hope of being perfect.  Strive to be genuine in your walk so the people I bring across your path will be drawn to the God who helps you and forgives you and transforms you.

2 Chronicles 35, Ecclesiastes 11, Matthew 22: 23-46

What God said to me – My word is deep and complex and has many levels that are only understood by spending much time and study.  The scribes and Pharisees knew the surface facts and truths and most of them prided themselves with that and went no further – they had no desire to actually know Me and learn about Me and what I revealed about Myself through My word.  When I asked them a simple question, they were able to respond with a surface fact, but when I probed further into the truth, they were at a loss and quit asking questions.  Don’t be like them.  Always strive to go deeper, asking questions, studying and meditating and wrestling until you begin to have an understanding.  Diving into My word in study and meditation and struggling to gain true understanding is how you come to know Me in a deeper, more meaningful, and real way.  Don’t stop or pass over a scripture because you don’t get it – dig in and let Me teach you.

2 Chronicles 34, Ecclesiastes 10, Matthew 22:1-22

What God said to me – The Northern Kingdom of Israel went into captivity to Assyria as judgment for turning away from Me to serve idols rather than Me.  The Southern Kingdom of Judah was headed in the same direction of captivity and judgment as they turned from Me to idol worship.  However, I in My mercy sent prophets to warn them of what was coming, and I gave them one last godly king – King Josiah – as an example of godly living and what it was to walk wholeheartedly with Me.  You are living in a similar time.  Judgment is coming.  Time is running out.  So how are you to live?  What are you to do?  Like the prophets of old, you are to warn people of the coming judgment and call them to repent and to turn to Me while there is still time.  Like King Josiah, you are to be a godly example of what it means to walk with Me and to serve Me wholeheartedly.  Let your commitment and devotion to Me be known and call others to do the same.