King Asa of Judah was in a jam. With the armies of Israel bearing down on him from the north, Asa formed a hasty alliance with the godless Syrians. From a purely human standpoint it might have been his best move. From heaven’s vantage point it was an act of faithlessness.

Enter Hanani the prophet. He reminded Asa of the above truth and sternly added, “You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

This avoidable episode is a sober warning to all who face trouble. God is watching. He is looking for those who are “fully committed to him.” This Hebrew phrase suggests a mind that is made up, an inner resolve to trust, a steely will that is determined to do only what is pleasing to God. When the Lord finds this kind of fierce devotion he provides strength and assistance.

Don’t be a fickle believer who is committed to Christ only when life is easy and good. Discover God’s infinite strength by being a faithful follower of the Lord through thick and thin.

Livingstone Corporation, Len Woods, and Linda Taylor, Niv, Once-a-Day: Bible Promises Devotional, Ebook (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012).

The writer of Hebrews said, “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity.” Hebrews 6:1 Many small group Bible study groups struggle because they do not do this—they do not move on beyond the elementary teachings.

This week it is How To Be Saved. Next week it is How To Be Sure You Are Saved. The next is How To Tell Someone Else How To Be Saved. The next is How To Be Forgiven and so on.

We study David and Goliath and Daniel in the Lion’s Den and the Life of Joseph and so forth—all good stuff—but if you have been attending for a while, you will get to feeling like you have heard this before.

This is why I am excited about one of our newest Bible Studies—a Study of the Life of Good King Asa. Asa was one of the exceptional kings of Judah and lived during a time of exceptional ungodliness. The contrast of his life with his background of ungodliness provides a fresh opportunity to live in today’s ungodly world. This Series is called Godly Living in an Ungodly World.

Sessions include:

Godly Living
2 Chronicles 14.1 – 8

Godly Dependence
2 Chronicles 14.9 – 15

Godly Courage
2 Chronicles 15.1 – 9

Godly Worship
2 Chronicles 15.10 – 19   44

“The eyes of the Lord range throughout…”
2 Chronicles 16

Good King Jehoshaphat (Asa’s Son)
2 Chronicles 17.1 – 11; 2 Chronicles 20

These lessons are available on Amazon, as well as a part of my Good Questions Have Groups Talking Subscription Service. Like Netflix for Bible Lessons, one low subscription gives you access to all our lessons–thousands of them. For a medium-sized church, lessons are as little as $10 per teacher per year.

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