2 Chronicles 30:18-19

For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary."

In 2 Chronicles 30, there was an account of a delayed Passover in the first year reign of Hezekiah. The Temple was cleaned for sixteen days from the first to the sixteenth day of the first month. Passover fell on the fourteenth day of the same month. As the people were not ready to observe the Passover, a delay of one month was recommended.

Messengers were sent throughout the land to invite the people of God to come to Jerusalem to observe the Passover. Many refused; some even scorned those runners who carried the invitation message. That year the Passover was on the 14th day of the second month. Even after the delay, many were still not ready to observe the Passover.

Many of the people arriving from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun were ceremonially impure. Because they had not undergone the purification rites, the Levites killed their Passover lambs for them, to sanctify them. Then King Hezekiah prayed for them, and they were permitted to eat the Passover anyway, even though this was contrary to God's rules.

Hezekiah prayed, "May the good LORD pardon everyone who determines to follow the LORD God of his fathers, even though he is not properly sanctified for the ceremony." And the LORD listened to Hezekiah's prayer and did not destroy them. So the people of Israel celebrated the Passover at Jerusalem for seven days with great joy. The enthusiasm continued. So it was unanimously decided to continue the celebration for another seven days.

The sons of Issachar were God seekers. They seek His kingdom and His righteousness. Like the Psalmist, the one thing that they had desired of the LORD, that they would seek, was that they might dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of their lives, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple (Psalm 27:4).

Today we have a new term called 24/7. It denotes 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, continuously non-stop mode. Now we have:

• 24/7 TV & Cable TV programmes
• 24/7 News & MTV
• 24/7 Internet Access & Connectivity
• 24/7 Shopping Malls
• 24/7 Coffee Shops & Restaurants

One thing the Lord truly desires us to have is a 24/7 relationship with Him. To be with Him always in His presence every second of our life. To be always connected to Him so that He can have free access to us without fail. God has built within each one of us the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians. 6:19). Our body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit! Everywhere we go, He is! It is a spiritual place not built with lifeless stones but living stones.

What are we to do in His Temple? Simply live the life that He has designed us to live. There is a season and a time for every thing and every purpose under the sun:

• A time to be born and a time to die
• A time to plant and a time to pluck what is planted
• A time to kill and a time to heal
• A time to break down and a time to build up
• A time to weep and a time to laugh
• A time to mourn and a time to dance
• A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones
• A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing
• A time to gain and a time to lose
• A time to keep and a time to throw away
• A time to tear and a time to sew
• A time to keep silence and a time to speak
• A time to love and a time to hate
• A time of war and a time of peace.
• A time to pray and a time to preach
• A time to praise and a time to worship
• A time to fast and a time to feast
• A time to eat and a time to drink
• A time to rejoice and a time to be still
• A time to work and a time to rest
• A time to sit and a time to stand
• A time to prostrate and a time to relax
• A time to walk and a time to talk
• A time to sleep and a time to stay awake
• A time to study and a time to teach
• A time to evangelize and a time to be angelic
• A time to pastor and a time to prophesy
• A time to pioneer and a time to proclaim
• A time to share and a time to care
• A time to sow and a time to reap
• A time to plan and a time to play
• A time to live and a time to believe
• A time to commune with man and a time to commune with God.

God desires us to be a whole integral person – complete in Him. He has made each of us beautiful. And He continues to perfect us to become more like Him. He has placed eternity in our hearts so that without Him, we are undone. This work that God does from the beginning to the end is eternal and nobody can comprehend it. Whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it so that we should fear before Him.

It is therefore good to rejoice and do good in our lives, and to eat and drink and enjoy the fruit of all our labor. Even this is a gift of God. God keeps a faithful account of our lives.

In His Temple, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable and pleasing to Him. This is our spiritual act of worship. We do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Then we will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will.

We should receive the grace of God and be gracious towards others. Let us not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but rather esteem others better than ourselves. Just as our body has many members with different functions; likewise in the Body of Christ, we, the various members, have different roles and functions. But we belong to each other and we need each other. Without each other, we are incomplete.

We have given different gifts, according to the grace that is given to us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve. If it is teaching, let him teach. If it is encouraging, let him encourage. If it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously. If it is leadership, let him govern diligently. If it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above ourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep our spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute us; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge for it is His to avenge. On the contrary, feed our enemies if they are hungry, and give them something to drink if they are thirsty. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Living sacrifices have a 24/7 relationship with Christ, and also with one another. A 24/7 relationship is a covenant relationship. God is our God forever! The LORD is our Lord forever! A husband is a husband forever. A wife is a wife forever. A brother is a brother forever! A sister is a sister forever! A friend is a friend forever!

As His living sacrifices, we live for God and for one another! Living sacrifices live simply so that others can simply live. Living sacrifices are willing vessels ready for their Master’s use. Living sacrifices die daily so that the fragrances of their lives become a sweet aroma that ascends to His throne continually. When our lives become prayers, we have become the living epistles. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. God is more concerned about the lives of the ones praying than their prayers. He looks at the 24/7 relationship.

Jesus declares that He will be with us always till the end of age (Matthew 28:20). Can we pledge our love to Him that we will be with Him always all the days of our life? Can we affirm in every breath that we take, He is the Lord of our lives and the Lover of our souls?

As sons of Issachar, we need to be seekers of God's heart. In Him we live and move and have our being! 24/7 forever!

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