FROM PRISONER TO FOLLOWER

Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God! —II Chronicles 33:13

Manasseh was a king of Judah that “did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had broken down. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them. He built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, ‘My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.’ He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger” (II Chronicles 33:1-6).

The Lord caused Manasseh to became a P.O.W. to Assyria and it was through that time that the Lord got his attention— “But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and sincerely humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request. So the Lord brought Manasseh back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh finally realized that the Lord alone is God!” (II Chronicles 33:12-13). Some people really have to go through very difficult times before they come to the realization “that the Lord alone is God.” Who would have thought that Manasseh would repent of his sin and then live for the Lord? But he did!

We do not know who is going to repent and trust the Lord and that is why we should be sharing the gospel with anyone who would listen. May we be doing so today and every day. Today will you be able to share the story of who you were before you trusted Jesus, how you trusted Jesus and how He has impacted you life? Are you ready to do so? Will you have the opportunity to share the gospel message with someone verbally today? At the least, can you hand the gospel in written form to someone— a gospel pamphlet, a Gospel of John or a Bible? We may be planting or watering, but it will be God that causes the seed of His Word to grow in a person’s life. God touched King Manasseh’s life and he turned from evil living to living for the Lord God Almighty. Let us not doubt who could come to the Lord!

Dear Father, thank You for what You did in Manasseh’s life. May You be pleased to do the same thing in people around me as I share the gospel with them. Father, I know that I cannot change anyone, but you can and do. I will trust You for that in the authority of Jesus and by the Holy Spirit’s power.