READING: 1 Kings 13:1-14:24, 2 Chronicles 12:13-14, 2 Chronicles 11:18-23, 2 Chronicles 12:1-12, 1 Kings 14:25-28, 2 Chronicles 12:15-16, 1 Kings 14:29-15:5, 2 Chronicles 13:1-22, 1 Kings 15:6-8, 2 Chronicles 14:1-8, 1 Kings 15:9-15, 1 Kings 14:19-20, 1 Kings 15:25-34, 2 Chronicles 14:9-15:19
My doctoral students will tell you that I’m not a fan of passive voice usage in the English language. In fact, I seldom approve it in their writing. Passive voice means the subject is acted upon (e.g., “The ball was hit by the boy”), but active voice means the subject is doing the action (e.g., “The boy hit the ball”). Passive voice in English is always wordier than active voice, and it’s never as clear as active voice.
On the other hand, there are times when a passive construction says much. Second Chronicles 15:2 is one of those cases. Azariah had a message for King Asa, and that message included these words: “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will abandon you” (italics added). The people of God were to turn to the Lord and seek Him, but Azariah understood that it was God’s call as to whether they would find Him: “he will be found by you.” Some English versions even read, “He will let you find Him.” We encounter God truly only because He allows that to happen; we “find” Him only because He graciously permits Himself to be found.
At all times, we are dependent on Him and His grace. At all times, we are to be responsive to the one who actively came to “seek and save the lost” first (Luke 19:10).
PERSONAL REFLECTION: Have you thanked God today for allowing you to find Him?
DAILY PRAYER: “God, I do thank You. You are so gracious to me!”
TOMORROW’S READING: 1 Kings 15:16-22, 2 Chronicles 16:1-10, 1 Kings 16:1-34, 1 Kings 15:23-24, 2 Chronicles 16:11-17:19, 1 Kings 17:1-7
