Ditto Calves

 

We often disregard the fact that our sin can have long lasting consequences.  Even after we have repented and turned away from a sin, it can come back to haunt us.  That is why it is so important to really focus on following God with all our heart. 

In the book of 1 Kings we see a ghost of Aaron’s sin come back to haunt him.  Though Aaron is long deceased, his sin carried on into many generations.

1 Kings 12:28-31 tells us that King Jeroboam built 2 golden calves.  He then told the Israelites to worship these calves that “brought them out of Egypt!” And then he appointed priest from every clan ignoring that only Levites were to hold that position. 

This shocked me.  Then it amazed me further to know that the Israelites did it!  Hook, line and sinker. Had they wondered so far from God that they did not know this was majorly wrong.  It is amazing how stupid we can be with it right there in front of you!

What you focus your time, energy and money will reveal your God.  I just think that if the Israelites had kept there hearts steadfast on God, they would have instantly known the calves to be idolatry.  And even when the king used the phrase, “brought you out of Egypt”that should have sounded off a big alarm.  But no, they had wondered so far away from the One True God, they didn’t even know what He looked like.

This is sad.  I can imagine that Aaron would be distraught had he been alive to know that his sin caused once again for Israel to stray into wicked idolatry.

This is a clear lesson to remember that our actions do matter.  What we do affects those around us now and possible for years to come.  Was Aaron forgiven, YES!  But the consequences of his sin was far reaching.

Remember, your actions, show what you worship.  Perhaps, your most worshiped idol is yourself and having your way.  May God melt your golden calves so that He is clearly known!

"You shall have no other gods before me.
"You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
  You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,
but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 

Exodus 20:3-6

 

Doing RIGHT when it’s WRONG!

If anyone had reason to do wrong it would be David. We find in the story of King Saul and David a deep dedication to God. Read the story. For no reason, King Saul tries to kill David several times until David has to flee to spare his own life. We see that King Saul continues his demented pursuit of David.

Twice David is given the opportunity to easily kill King Saul. What would you do? I mean the king had tried to spear David to the wall, (while David was playing the harp for him!) Then he relentlessly pursues David to where David had to leave the King’s home, his wife and family, his best friend and for years, live as an outcast, a fugitive on the run. All of this takes place after David was actually anointed king!

In 1 Samuel 24 and 26 we see very clearly that God did hand King Saul over to David to make a decision. What would you do? You can see in these passages that David struggles with his flesh. He is tried of being on the run, he had not done anything wrong to the King to deserve this horrific treatment.

And now…..he has the chance to end all his fugitive running. Twice he has the perfect opportunity to kill King Saul. David had to think…..perhaps this was the way God had intended for him to become king!

But in the moment of indecision, fighting his flesh to take “rightful” revenge into his own hands…..he stops and remembers….He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the LORD." 1 Samuel 24:6

I find in my own life the hardest things to get through in my walk of Faith is when someone wrongs me. Especially for no apparent reason. It is hard to let it go and bless them back. BUT scripture talks about doing just that! But it is hard.

May we be reminded in the story of King Saul and David that God calls us to honor and obey Him in all situations.

Do what’s RIGHT even when you have been so WRONGed!

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak,

do not stop him from taking your tunic.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:27-31

Circumstance Christianity

 

Have you ever had those times of decision making that were confusing as to what God would have you do? Those situations can be difficult to see clearly what God’s direction is. Though I don’t claim to understand this fully, but wanted to share some insight from the book of 1 Samuel.

Let’s look at King Saul. Read with me 1 Samuel 13:7-12

Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to

Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter.

So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings."

And Saul offered up the burnt offering.

Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived,

and Saul went out to greet him.

"What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the

Philistines were assembling at Micmash,

I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."

"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.

But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."

Right here we see that King Saul takes it into his own hands to make an offering to the Lord….that was NOT his place. But he thought it was OK to do wrong……with a “spiritual purpose”. You can’t “spiritualize” wrong doing…..no matter the reason or the excuse. He knew better, and he suffered great consequences for this.

It is hard to see at times what to do, especially since our hearts are wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). Our hearts are a master “twister” of things. It knows how to make the most ungodly decisions and “spiritualize” them. So, be careful! We do know that your decision will not go against scripture. So first always check it against scripture and the whole context of scripture. And PRAY until He answers you.

It is never RIGHT to do WRONG for the RIGHT reasons!

Together We Cry ~ Together We Celebrate!

Have you ever been in a situation where “body language” said it all? Where no words were uttered yet you got full understanding. A place where love for God and love for others didn’t have to be explained, you just saw it. For a moment in time, The Holy Spirit was so evident……..it left your speechless!

As a writer that does not happen to me very often, the speechless part, but Sunday July 28, 2013 did just that. I journeyed over 3 hours to a small town that had so inspired my book, A Season of Rebuilding. I had never been to this town before, and knew no one.

They were having a dedication to a new church building, as well as a celebration service of all the GREAT things God had done. I slipped in the new pew unnoticed. I was an observer. I needed not to tell folks who I was. Nor did anyone know I had written a book in attempt to express my grief and sorrow over the devastation that happened to so many on April 27^th, 2011.

As I drove around the small town and through the community….the evidence of the EF5 tornado, were still very visible to me. I shuddered as I saw foundation after foundation, with empty driveways going nowhere. My heart cried as I saw steps that used to lead up to homes and lives of Smithville residents, blown away two years ago. The markings of a town with thriving businesses, now have tall weeds growing where their buildings once stood.

How can I write about these things? When I began to write a few months after the tornados had hit, it was with fear and trepidation. I wanted to honor the people who had lost so much. I wanted to help in some way. Writing was my way of sharing in their grief. I purposed to write a fiction work, so as to not be offensive, but I longed to listen and weep with real lives and real stories.

Interestingly I never got that opportunity. So when I found out about this celebration day, I went to celebrate with them, as a silent visitor. I sat there in the midst of celebrating people. Their warm welcome and love spoke words of great faith. Their faces told me of the most important part of the story. They told me in their countenance that God gets the glory in all things. This church’s strength was in God’s faithfulness. In no way could I imagine their grief that day or the days that followed, but it welded an unshakable faith that cannot be explained.

The closeness that the whole community had baffled my mind. I have never seen so much together in such a torn apart place! Only God can make that kind of together, and that kind of faith. I can see why they were celebrating!

A tornado can destroy lives, buildings and things……

….but it can never crush hearts that belong to God!

Thank you Smithville Baptist Church for showing me that truth!

I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your

faithfulness known through all generations.

Psalm 89:1