Devotional: All that the Father has Given Christ, will Come.

2 Chronicles 30:10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them.

2 Chronicles 30:12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.

These verses come after one we looked at last time:

2 Chronicles 30:8 "Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you.

Apparently, runners were sent through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh to Zebulun to carry this message to the people. But the people laughed at them and mocked them.

How often has the message of God been laughed and mocked at today in our own nation? How often have God's ministers in pulpits today been laughed and mocked for the message they bring? How often have God's people been the object of scorn when they have stood up for what is right? 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Christmas time and Easter are good times to share the Gospel with people. Many are more receptive at this time than any other. These two seasons, although messed up with Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, are good times to talk to people about the real reason for the season.

Notice what it says in 2 Chronicles 30:12: ... the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey... We see here that it was God's hand on Judah that gave them a heart to obey. When we share the Good News with our friends, family and other acquaintances, we need to remember that it is God who works in people's hearts to bring them to the place of accepting Christ into their lives. This frees us from the need to pressure people to accept the Gospel message when we realize this. Our responsibility is to share the Gospel with others. If God is pleased to make the seed grow that we have planted, He will. We can be assured of it. John 6:37-38 says, " All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me."

As I share God's Word with people, I can be assured that God will accomplish His plan and will with it. I am to scatter the seed and pray. His job is to make the seeds grow and bring people to Himself. All that the Father has given Christ, will come.