Good morning and thank you for taking the time to read the Fire-starter
each and every morning. Please share this with family and friends. Our
Fire-starter comes from 2 Chronicles 10. Our Fire-starter thought is:
the counsel has been given you must choose which counsel you will take.

We have all seen the cartoons with the little red Devil on one side of
the shoulder and an angel on the other side. We all know this doesn’t
really happen but yet it does! What do you mean bro Justin? Although the
devil and angel doesn’t appear on our shoulders we still deal with
counsel in everything we do. What does the word counsel mean? Counsel
means Advice; opinion, or instruction, given upon request or otherwise,
for directing the judgment or conduct of another; opinion given upon
deliberation or consultation.

When we got saved and born again we did not lose the flesh. Paul said in
Romans 7 that in the flesh dwelleth no good thing. Think about it this
way the young men in Rehoboam’s day could represent the flesh and the
old men could represent the Spirit. Rehoboam had a choice to choose from
and so do you. We all must realize that we must go for right counsel.

If Rehoboam had taken counsel from the old men he would have gotten
counsel from somebody that had been through life a little yet he took
counsel from someone that was going through life in the time frame as him.

You have a choice to make this morning, whose counsel will you listen
to? I would much rather take advice from a farmer that is cutting an
apple on a tree stump than try to take advice from someone I graduated with.

If any advice comes from people that are my age I hope it is an
encouragement to seek the counsel of the old men.
Hope you have a great day!!!!

2 Chronicles 10:1-19 KJV
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to
make him king. [2] And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat,
who was in Egypt, whither he had fled from the presence of Solomon the
king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt. [3] And they sent
and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam,
saying, [4] Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou
somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that
he put upon us, and we will serve thee. [5] And he said unto them, Come
again unto me after three days. And the people departed. [6] And king
Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his
father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return
answer to this people? [7] And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be
kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they
will be thy servants for ever. [8] But he forsook the counsel which the
old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought
up with him, that stood before him. [9] And he said unto them, What
advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have
spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put
upon us? [10] And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto
him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee,
saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat
lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be
thicker than my father’s loins. [11] For whereas my father put a heavy
yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [12] So Jeroboam and
all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade,
saying, Come again to me on the third day. [13] And the king answered
them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men, [14]
And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father
made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you
with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. [15] So the king
hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the Lord
might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the
Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat. [16] And when all Israel saw
that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king,
saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in
the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see
to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents. [17] But as for
the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam
reigned over them. [18] Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over
the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he
died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee
to Jerusalem. [19] And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto
this day.