March 4, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional Message || ODB for Saturday
March 4, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional Message || ODB for SaturdayRead March 4, 2023 – Our Daily Bread Devotional || ODB for Saturday Message
READ SATURDAY ODB DEVOTIONAL, OUR DAILY BREAD 4TH MARCH 2023 WRITTEN BY JAMES BANK (OUR DAILY BREAD MINISTRIES)
TOPIC: Listening to God
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Numbers 31–33; Mark 9:1–29
KEY VERSE: Josiah, however, would not turn away from him, but disguised himself to engage him in battle. He would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo. 2 Chronicles 35:22
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
2 Chronicles 35:20–27
INSIGHT FOR TODAY
The arrangement of the Old Testament books in our modern-day Bibles differs from the Hebrew Scriptures of the first century ad; the content, however, is the same. The book divisions in our Bibles are based on the type of literature (history, poetry, and prophecy). The Hebrew Scriptures in Jesus’ day were a compilation of twenty-four books (scrolls) that were divided into three major sections: the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Writings. The arrangement was essentially chronological. Second Chronicles was in the “Writings” section. It was the last book of the Hebrew Bible.
Our Daily Bread Devotional 4th March 2023 MESSAGE
Back when I was driving to college and back home again, the road to our house in the desert seemed painfully dull. Because it was long and straight, I found myself driving faster than I should have more than once. First, I was given a warning from the highway patrol. Then I received a ticket. Then I was cited a second time in the very same place.
Refusing to listen can have unfortunate consequences. One tragic example of this is from the life of Josiah, a good and faithful king. When Necho, the king of Egypt, marched through Judah’s territory to help Assyria in battle against Babylon, Josiah went out to counter him. Necho sent messengers telling Josiah, “God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me” (2 Chronicles 35:21). God really did send Necho, but Josiah “would not listen to what Necho had said at God’s command but went to fight him on the plain of Megiddo” (v. 22). Josiah was fatally injured in the battle, “and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for him” (v. 24).
Josiah, who loved God, discovered that insisting on his own way without taking the time to listen to Him or His wisdom through others never ends well. May God give us the humility we need to always check ourselves and take His wisdom to heart.
REFLECT: What do you need God’s wisdom for in your life? What will you do to listen to Him today?
PRAYER: Ever wise and loving God, help me to be humble and to listen for Your wisdom today. Thank You that when I ask for wisdom, You give “generously . . . without finding fault” (James 1:5).
Our Daily Bread Devotional 4 March 2023 || ODB for Saturday Message . Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet.