2 Chronicles 2
Observation-What does it say? The book of 2 Chronicles was written covering the same time period of 1 & 2 Kings. While the books paralleled each other, they differ in focus of the message. Where Kings focuses on the failings of men and morality, 2 Chronicles is more concerned with God’s faithfulness and redemption. Near the end of chapter two, we see that the aliens in the land of Israel were summoned to assist in building the temple. This further displays the redemptive heart of God, bringing all people, no matter their heritage, into His household and under His name. The theme of redemption is carried into the new testament. “As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5) Everyone who comes to Jesus is being fitted together as one unit, working as a small piece of God’s bigger will and story.Understanding-What does it mean? Being involved in sports was a big deal in my household. My dad had been a star football player, and there was an unspoken expectation that my brother and I would continue the legacy. While I definitely enjoyed playing different sports growing up, I never really felt as though I belonged. I was athletic as a kid, but didn’t quite fit the mold of the “athletes.” I was a little goofy and had a hard time paying attention. I never really felt accepted. As I entered high school, I knew I wanted to be a part of a team, but not associated to the kids that had made me feel isolated elsewhere. When I showed up to the first day of summer cross country training, I found a group of misfits that all accepted me for who I was. If nothing else, I would have stuck with the team because I liked the way they treated me. God accepts us in an even more elaborate way. His love covers all of our sin, not just the little ones. He has called us out of our sin and redeemed us as sons. “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”(Galatians 4:4-7) With Jesus, it doesn’t matter where we came from, who our parents are, or even that we like acid wash jeans. He still loves us and wants us to be apart of His family.