June 15th
Today’s Reading: 1 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 15–16, Colossians 1
“I lifted you out of the dust to make you ruler of my people Israel, but you have followed the evil example of Jeroboam. You have provoked my anger by causing my people Israel to sin.”
— 1 Kings 16:2 NLT
“The message from the Lord against Baasha and his family came through the prophet Jehu son of Hanani. It was delivered because Baasha had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight (just as the family of Jeroboam had done), and also because Baasha had destroyed the family of Jeroboam. The Lord’s anger was provoked by Baasha’s sins.”
— 1 Kings 16:7 NLT
“For he, too, had done what was evil in the Lord’s sight. He followed the example of Jeroboam in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit.”
— 1 Kings 16:19 NLT
“The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with him! Whenever you seek him, you will find him. But if you abandon him, he will abandon you. For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the Lord... they found him.”
— 2 Chronicles 15:2–4 NLT
Devotional Thought:
As we continue reading through the accounts of Israel’s and Judah’s kings, it becomes painfully clear how far the people drifted from God after Solomon’s reign. God had delivered them out of slavery in Egypt and shaped them into a chosen nation—His own people. But when Solomon’s son Rehoboam came to power, his pride and harsh leadership led to a tragic split: ten tribes formed the northern kingdom of Israel, and two remained as the southern kingdom of Judah.
The northern kingdom quickly spiraled into idolatry and rebellion. Out of nineteen kings, not a single one walked in obedience to God. Instead, they followed in the footsteps of Jeroboam—who led Israel into sin with his golden calves and false worship. Again and again, we see the phrase: “He did evil in the Lord’s sight.” It’s heartbreaking.
But God never gave up calling His people back. Through prophets, He warned, corrected, and pleaded. Yet the northern kings ignored Him, bringing judgment upon themselves and their people.
In contrast, Judah had some godly kings. One of them was Asa. Though not perfect, Asa honored the Lord, tore down idols, and sought God's ways. And what was the result? Peace. Restoration. God’s presence and blessing.
The prophet Azariah reminded Asa and all of Judah of a powerful truth: “The Lord will stay with you as long as you stay with Him... Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him.” What a promise! It’s a timeless truth for us today, too.
Connection to Colossians 1:
Colossians 1 reminds us of the supremacy of Jesus—the true King.
“He rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
— Colossians 1:13–14 NLT
He is not like the kings of Israel. He is holy, faithful, and full of mercy. In Him, we see what true leadership and love look like.
When we stay close to Christ, we live under His rule of peace and grace. He empowers us to walk in a way that pleases God—not repeating the patterns of rebellion but living as His treasured people, made new.
Lesson for Me:
God does not overlook sin simply because someone holds a position of influence or calls themselves His own. The kings of Israel were held accountable for how they led others, especially when they caused the people to sin. That reminds me that my influence—whether over children, family, or others around me—matters deeply to God.
But there's hope: like Asa, I can choose to tear down idols in my life, seek the Lord with all my heart, and lead in a way that brings peace and blessing. When I remain with the Lord and seek Him, He will remain with me. He is always ready to be found.
Application Questions:
- Is there any area in my life where I’m following a harmful example—like Jeroboam did—instead of seeking God’s way?
- What “idols” or distractions might God be asking me to tear down in order to walk in greater peace and obedience?
- Am I using my influence to draw others closer to the Lord—or leading them in another direction, even unintentionally?
- What can I learn from Asa’s example of choosing to seek God even when others around him were not?
- How does Colossians 1:13–14 give me confidence that Jesus is enough to rescue me from old patterns and lead me into a better way of living?
Lord, thank You for the truth of Your Word. It grieves me to read how often Your people turned away from You, but it also reminds me how patient and merciful You are. Thank You for warning me through their example and for giving me the opportunity to walk a different path.
Help me to be like Asa—to seek You wholeheartedly, to tear down anything in my life that pulls me away from You, and to stand firm in righteousness. I don’t want to be swayed by culture, popularity, or ease. I want to walk in obedience.
Thank You, Jesus, for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness. I belong to You now. Keep me close. Teach me to live in a way that pleases You. And when I stray, draw me back by Your Spirit. I want to finish my life faithful.
In Your name, Amen.
Memory Verses from Colossians 1:
“For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.”
— Colossians 1:4–5 NLT
“This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.”
— Colossians 1:6 NLT
Title: Rooted in Truth, Abounding in Prayer
Focus Passage: Colossians 1:3–14, 1:15–23
Part 1 – How to Pray for Someone (Colossians 1:3–14):
Paul models a powerful, Spirit-led way to pray for others. His prayers go far beyond comfort or provision—he prays for spiritual depth, wisdom, endurance, and fruitfulness:
“We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God... We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.” (vv. 3, 9 NLT)
Lessons in Prayer:
- Pray consistently and with thanksgiving (v. 3).
- Pray for knowledge of God’s will and spiritual understanding (v. 9).
- Ask God to help others live lives that honor Him and bear fruit (v. 10).
- Pray for endurance, patience, and joyful hearts (v. 11).
- Remember to thank God for rescuing us from darkness and placing us into Christ’s Kingdom (vv. 12–14).
Reflection Question:
Do my prayers reflect what Paul prioritized—spiritual growth, endurance, and fruitfulness—or am I mostly praying for temporary relief?
Part 2 – The Supremacy of Christ (Colossians 1:15–23):
This section is one of the richest Christological passages in all of Scripture. Paul lifts our eyes to see the majesty and preeminence of Jesus:
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God... He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.” (v. 15 NLT)
“God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.” (vv. 19–20 NLT)
Lessons in Doctrine:
- Jesus is the exact representation of God—seeing Him is seeing the Father.
- He is Creator and Sustainer of all things (v. 16–17).
- He is the Head of the Church and first in resurrection power (v. 18).
- He is the only way we are reconciled to God—through His blood, not works (v. 20).
- Our hope is secure if we continue in faith and are not moved away from the gospel (v. 23).
Do I truly live as though Jesus is supreme over my life—my thoughts, my decisions, my relationships, my priorities?
Lesson for Me:
Colossians 1 reminds me how to pray intentionally for others and keep Jesus at the center of everything. When I understand who He is and what He’s done, my faith becomes anchored, my worship becomes deeper, and my prayers become aligned with God’s heart.