1 Kings 22:8 (KJV) The Prophet Everyone Hated

1 Kings 22:8 (KJV)

And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

The way things turned out, I would much rather have listened to Micaiah than to all the other prophets. Ahab may have hated him, but Micaiah did not hate Ahab. Micaiah’s message from the Lord was always intended to help both the king and the people of God.

A message that is negative—a warning, a call to repentance, and, if there is no repentance, judgment—is not hate speech. It is honest, compassionate, and godly.

The hate always comes from the other side of the fence. I imagine Ahab believed that Micaiah hated him because Ahab himself hated Micaiah. I am convinced the same is true in our day. Those of the world—those who claim they do not believe in God and those who live in rebellion against what the Word of God says—only imagine that the Christian message is hate speech because they harbor such hatred toward those who preach it.

I am thankful for the Micaiahs in our world. They are few in number, mistreated by the world, disrespected by the religious elite, and hated by those they love the most. Yet they remain true to the Lord and hold back the tide of evil for the good of those who will prayerfully turn to Christ.

#TruthOverPopularity #FaithfulProphet #WarningIsLove #StandOnGodsWord #MicaiahsStillSpeak

The Prophet Everyone Hated: Why Truth Still Offends Today

Have you ever been convicted by a message you didn’t want to hear?

Drop a comment below and tell me—was it rejection or repentance that followed? Let’s have an honest conversation about truth, conviction, and courage in our day.

If this study from 1 Kings 22 helped you think more clearly about biblical warning and faithful preaching, I invite you to explore more Bible teaching, books, and resources at marvinmckenzie.org.

Truth still speaks. The question is—are we listening?

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Kings 22:8 (KJV) The Prophet Everyone Hated

1 Kings 21:2 (KJV) A Divided Kingdom Then…

1 Kings 21:2 (KJV)

And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

The northern kingdom had rebelled against the royal family God had called. They had rejected the worship of God in His Temple and through His priests. They had raised up a system of kings that was fickle and wicked. It is no wonder, then, that Ahab had no reverence for family heritage or respect for those who remained committed to the principles God had given in the Mosaic Law.

Ahab’s concern was convenience. He was willing to buy the vineyard or give Naboth a better one. But he wanted to turn it into a vegetable garden—a seasonal property. Naboth’s vineyard represented generations of his family’s sweat and labor. It was more than property, more than income; it was his life. Ahab saw nothing more than dirt.

In our culture today, many would be more inclined to agree with Ahab than with Naboth. We put little value on heritage, family, or property. People buy and sell houses as if they were disposable. I believe this mindset has contributed to shallow wealth, the breakdown of the family, the decline of morality, and economic instability. Worse still, it has led to little thought about God’s will.

We live in a divided kingdom much like Israel and Judah in that day. The majority reject God. Even among believers, there is often only a shallow affirmation of His will. Those who long to live close to God are labeled hateful and, like Naboth, expendable.

In the end, it will be the Ahabs and Jezebels who are judged. I believe they know it. And I believe that is why they are so determined to attack the righteous.

#BiblicalHeritage #NabothsVineyard #ConvenienceVsConviction #GodsLawMatters #WhenKingsForgetGod

A Divided Kingdom Then… A Divided Culture Now

What do you think—was Naboth stubborn, or was he standing where God placed him?

Drop a comment below and tell me: Are we thinking more like Ahab or more like Naboth in our culture today? I’d genuinely like to hear your perspective.

If this message stirred you, strengthened you, or challenged you, visit marvinmckenzie.org for more Bible teaching, books, and resources designed to help you think clearly, stand firmly, and live faithfully in a divided world.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Kings 21:2 (KJV) A Divided Kingdom Then… 

2 Corinthians 11:5 (KJV) Quiet Authority

2 Corinthians 11:5 (KJV)

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

While the passage is modestly expressed, it carries a great deal of weight. There is something to be said for the ability to speak in restrained terms and still advance a powerful idea. George Washington seemed to possess that kind of reputation. He did not need to brag in order to exert influence.

I know of another leader who, though doing a commendable job as President, would likely serve his purpose better if he learned to express himself with greater modesty.

The word suppose is especially significant. The Greek carries the idea of an account or a reckoning. While the statement is not brash in tone, it rests on the weight of the record. This is an evidence-based assertion. Paul is not the slightest behind the “very chiefest” apostles.

At first glance, a casual reader might assume Paul is placing himself alongside apostles such as Peter, James, and John. A careful student of Scripture will recognize that this is not the issue at hand. While it is true Paul stands on equal apostolic ground with those men, they are not the subject of this passage.

Though no names are mentioned, the men Paul refers to are false apostles—men who made much of themselves. The term very chiefest describes something the true apostles had learned from the Lord Himself not to seek. These men were not followers of Christ; they were seekers of glory. They were self-promoters.

And they were nowhere in the league of Peter, James, John—or Paul.

Greatness in the eyes of the Lord neither needs nor seeks promotion.

#BiblicalHumility #TrueApostolicAuthority #NoSelfPromotion #MeasuredStrength #GreatnessBeforeGod

Quiet Authority: False Apostles vs. Apostle Paul

If this passage challenged the way you think about leadership, authority, or humility, join the conversation—leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Thoughtful discussion helps sharpen understanding and encourages others who are studying the Word seriously.

For more Bible teaching, verse-by-verse studies, and resources rooted in Scripture, visit marvinmckenzie.org and explore what’s available. There’s more truth worth reckoning—and you’re invited to be part of it.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 11:5 (KJV) Quiet Authority

2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV) God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice

2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV)

For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

There is every possibility that the charge in this text is inaccurate, and that those who despised Paul did so more for his message than for his manner of delivery. He was educated and had been elevated within the ranks of the Pharisees, which indicates a level of competence in religious instruction.

But let us, for the moment, assume that there is some merit to their accusation. It is really not that terrible a problem.

So what if he was a better writer than speaker? Are not both effective means of communication? Are not both equally essential in the dissemination of truth and understanding?

One serves to instruct an immediate audience. This is essential for imparting knowledge and truth, as well as shaping character and morality. The other serves to preserve that instruction into the future. The ability to communicate beyond the immediate moment is at least one of the differences between man and animal. We not only have the ability to learn from our own experiences, and from those of our parents and teachers, but also from theirs—and even from generations before them.

It takes little thought to see that even if Paul was not the most gifted of public speakers, God did use him in that capacity. But more than that, God continues to use him—because Paul could write.

One is not better than the other.

But I am thankful today that Paul was a writer.
And I am thankful that I am able to benefit from that writing right now.

#WeightyTruth #PowerOfTheWrittenWord #GodUsesWeakness #TruthOverPresentation #ScriptureThatEndures

God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice: Paul, Criticism, and Lasting Scripture

What do you think?
Do you believe Paul’s critics misunderstood the power of his message—or do you see a lesson here about how God uses truth beyond personality and presentation? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

If you appreciate thoughtful, Scripture-centered reflections like this, visit marvinmckenzie.org for more Bible teaching, articles, and resources designed to strengthen faith and sharpen understanding.

Your voice matters—add it to the discussion.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

2 Corinthians 10:10 (KJV) God Used Paul’s Pen As Much As His Voice

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True?

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV)

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.

Elijah shows up on the biblical scene unexpectedly—and with surprising authority. Once his pronouncement of judgment is made, God sends him away, both for protection and for provision. God cares for His servants, sometimes in unexpected ways.

But the brook dries up, and the ravens stop feeding him. God then sends Elijah to a widow woman—a most unlikely source of provision. Yet by having her care for the preacher, God also cares for her and her son. The Bible does not give us an exact number of days. It simply says that they ate many days, and that God promised the barrel would not fail until the LORD sent rain again. I believe Him.

In the midst of all this, the widow’s son grows sick—so sick that he stops breathing. The Bible never explicitly says he died, but if he did not, he was certainly on the verge. Both the mother and Elijah said the boy had been slain. Scripture then says that his soul returned to him—language that plainly describes one who had died and lived again.

Elijah took the boy from her bosom, brought him to his chamber, and began to pray, stretching himself upon the child before the LORD. After a while, the boy’s soul returned, and Elijah brought him back alive to his mother.

Now we come to the point of this Daily Visit with God. It is at this moment that the widow declares, “By this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.”

The miracle of the food did not convince her. It was the resurrection of her son.

I see here a parallel—crude, perhaps, but real—to New Testament truth. Jesus performed many miracles during His earthly ministry, and so did His apostles. But miracles themselves are not the saving or convincing power of the gospel. The saving message is the resurrection of the Son of God.

We err when we focus on the miracles—the feedings, the healings, the casting out of devils. The one thing that proves the message of the Bible is the resurrection.

Jesus is alive.
Too many witnesses saw Him to deny it.

Believe Him. He is the only Saviour of the souls of men.

#ManOfGod #WordOfTheLord #GodsTruth #PowerOfResurrection #BelieveHim

What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True? The Answer Lies in Resurrection

Did this lesson help you see why the resurrection is the proof of God’s truth?
Share your thoughts in the comments below—what does “By this I know…” mean to you today?

For more Bible-centered teaching, daily devotionals, and resources grounded in the truth of God’s Word, visit marvinmckenzie.org and join me for a daily visit with God.

To my readers:

Thank you! It is a great joy to me to know you read the thoughts and lessons God has given me in His word. I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave comments.

For this and, more than 7000 earlier Daily Visits with God, visit https://mckenzie-visit-with-god.blogspot.com. There you will find daily visits going back to 2005.

If you have been blessed by this blog, please subscribe to my feed and share it with others.

My books, and other resources, are available at:
https://marvinmckenzie.org

Join me at Daily Visits with God Podcast
https://marvinmckenzie.substack.com/

Merch at my Teespring store https://macz.creator-spring.com/
Be a witness with hats, mugs, t-shirts, sweat shirts, and more

Let’s have coffee?
The link to Ko-fi  is an opportunity to support this effort to reach a world of souls with the Word of God. I would appreciate any gift you can give. 

1 Kings 17:24 (KJV) What Truly Proves God’s Word Is True?