“He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings” (2 Chronicles 21:20).

The person being spoken of in our verse of the day is King Jehoram of Judah. You can read about him in 2 Chronicles 21. He did some terrible things. But, so did a whole bunch of kings of Israel and Judah. But no one else gets something like that written about them!

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he ruled for eight years. In that time:

• He murdered all of his brothers along with some of the officials of Israel
• He lost the territories of Edom and Libnah
• He built up the high places of Judah and caused his people to worship idols
• Philistines and Arabs attacked Judah and carried off all the goods found in the king’s palace, along with his wives and sons

Ok. This is bad. But, unfortunately, it’s on par with a bunch of other kings that you can read about in 1 & 2 Kings, and 1 & 2 Chronicles.

I am not sure what Jehoram did that made him so hated by his people. Golly. This is written about Jehoram in the Bible! That’s like forever.

Jehoram died to no one’s regret.

You know, I’ve had to do some memorials like that. Not a lot. Just a few, thank God.

It’s rough when no one can say a kind word about someone. It’s rough when the people closest to the deceased are glad that they are deceased.

Friends, you get one chance at this thing called life.

• Be kind to the people around you.
• Be a blessing wherever you are.
• Make the place better because you showed up with the love and the presence of Jesus Christ.
• Everywhere you are, Christ shows up because Christ lives in you. And, because Christ shows up, everywhere you are ought to be better.

God bless you as you seek to be a blessing to those around you!

“He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Who knew that when I started writing these Verse of the Day entries that I would be at it for a couple of years! Starting on Monday of next week, Pastor Brad and I will take turns writing the Verse of the Day every other week.

We are committed to doing our part to keep you connected with God and his word. Thank you for your faithfulness in spending a few moments with God with us every day.

Now for the Verse of the Day.

Whatever you are facing today, whatever you’re going through in your life, know this: God did not bring you this far only to bring you this far.

God is at work in you. God is not done with you. Whatever is happening today is not how your story ends. God is still writing your life story through your obedience. God is not done working through you.

The ending of your story, the lives you will touch, the impact you will make for the kingdom of God is still yet to be determined. God is at work in and through you. Trust God and keep obeying God to see where he is taking you.

God did not bring you this far to only bring you this far. The God who began a good work in you, he will bring to completion what he has started.