As has become my custom over the last few weeks, I would like to share some thoughts from the reading this past weekend and I will take a look at today’s reading in the blog tomorrow.
Many times we can understand the application of a particular text by understanding the conflict between the characters. Most times the conflict takes place between God and His people so the verbs related to their actions towards one another (God and His people) are a key to understanding what is to be taken away. Sometimes it is good for us through, to also look at the adjectives given to the characters of the story. In the reading this weekend one verb and one adjective jumped out at me and reminded me of important Biblical implicational truth for my life.
Prostitute
The people of Judah were prostituting themselves to idol worship. This verb is very relevant for us today. Just this past weekend in the news a story surfaced about a gentlemen running a prostitution ring out of his business. Prostitution is a real thing that is very wrong, very real, very gross, very sinful, very focused on the experience of pleasure, and very contrary towards God and His character. As a good Christian man I would never partake of prostitution for many reasons starting with the fact I love my wife more than life itself. But the text this weekend reminded me I partake of prostitution every day. Anytime I worship an idol or god other than God almighty, I am committing an act of prostitution. Any time I find more pleasure in something other than God, I prostituted myself out. Any time I find more satisfaction in something or someone, than in God my Savior, I have been a part of prostitution. This weekend I was reminded that I am not any better than the gentlemen that was caught running real physical prostitution. Oh but for the grace of God, I.
Not wholeheartedly
This adjective jumped out to me yesterday in the reading of another King of Judah. David was a man after the heart of God, which means David’s heart was set, focused, and bent to worship God only. This other King of Judah, and ancestor of David, had his heart compromised. Yes, King Amaziah did worship God as God but he also had other junk in his heart sitting on a throne next to God. Do you know why Amaziah had his heart compromised? He was compromised because it was comfortable for him. And this is the same for us today in this life. Who else is sharing your heart with God; America, a sports team, a friend or spouse, a child, a food, some money, a job, comfort? The list can go on. We, especially in America have comprised hearts for God because it keeps us happy and comfortable. Remember, worship of God alone is challenging, work, risky, comes with suffering, and is a daily demand. How many of us compromise our hearts and are not whole hearted in our worship and joy of God because we do not want to work at our relationship with Him?
Many times we can understand the application of a particular text by understanding the conflict between the characters. Most times the conflict takes place between God and His people so the verbs related to their actions towards one another (God and His people) are a key to understanding what is to be taken away. Sometimes it is good for us through, to also look at the adjectives given to the characters of the story. In the reading this weekend one verb and one adjective jumped out at me and reminded me of important Biblical implicational truth for my life.
Prostitute
The people of Judah were prostituting themselves to idol worship. This verb is very relevant for us today. Just this past weekend in the news a story surfaced about a gentlemen running a prostitution ring out of his business. Prostitution is a real thing that is very wrong, very real, very gross, very sinful, very focused on the experience of pleasure, and very contrary towards God and His character. As a good Christian man I would never partake of prostitution for many reasons starting with the fact I love my wife more than life itself. But the text this weekend reminded me I partake of prostitution every day. Anytime I worship an idol or god other than God almighty, I am committing an act of prostitution. Any time I find more pleasure in something other than God, I prostituted myself out. Any time I find more satisfaction in something or someone, than in God my Savior, I have been a part of prostitution. This weekend I was reminded that I am not any better than the gentlemen that was caught running real physical prostitution. Oh but for the grace of God, I.
Not wholeheartedly
This adjective jumped out to me yesterday in the reading of another King of Judah. David was a man after the heart of God, which means David’s heart was set, focused, and bent to worship God only. This other King of Judah, and ancestor of David, had his heart compromised. Yes, King Amaziah did worship God as God but he also had other junk in his heart sitting on a throne next to God. Do you know why Amaziah had his heart compromised? He was compromised because it was comfortable for him. And this is the same for us today in this life. Who else is sharing your heart with God; America, a sports team, a friend or spouse, a child, a food, some money, a job, comfort? The list can go on. We, especially in America have comprised hearts for God because it keeps us happy and comfortable. Remember, worship of God alone is challenging, work, risky, comes with suffering, and is a daily demand. How many of us compromise our hearts and are not whole hearted in our worship and joy of God because we do not want to work at our relationship with Him?
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