Zedikiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God; he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. All the leading priests and the people also were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations; and they polluted the house of the LORD that he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The LORD, the God of their ancestors, sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place; but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words, and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against his people became so great that there was no remedy.

Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their youths with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion on young man or young woman, the aged or the feeble; he gave them all into his hand.

2 Chronicles 36:11-17

Most of our problems don’t just happen. They are the result of a long series of bad decisions. This scripture reading illustrates this and reminds us that God will not allow His children to continue in sin. Even though He is long suffering, His patience does have a limit. If we don’t correct the problem ourselves, we can be sure that He will discipline us.

Isn’t it time to clean up the trash in your own life?

The most deadly sins do not leap upon us, they creep up on us.

Our Daily Bread – June 29, 2004