1st Kings Chapter 16. Have you built a false god?
This chapter speaks of the many Kings who served the Lord God and ended up serving many false gods. It’s easy to condemn others when they build false idols to worship. And when people did it, that was evil and God did not bless their kingship.
To be involved in ministry is to be on a faith walk journey. To run a ministry or be in a ministry, (and our everyday walk is a ministry and the people we meet and see every day is our ministry), it requires a faith walk. And though I will never build an altar so as to worship a false god, I wonder how many altars I have built in my heart for the things of this world? Whether it be relationships or things of this world, I commit to be faithful to God so his name is lifted up and his name only. Lord help me stay faithful! Help me not to get turned away!
Here are a couple of Bible verses that I would like to share for today.
Proverbs 14:22
“Do they not go astray who devise evil? Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness.”
Romans 12:21
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Every book of the Bible teaches us something about God’s character. Here, we learn once again of the faithfulness of His Word in the fulfilment of Joshua’s curse in Joshua 6:26 when two sons of a man named, Hiel, die in the refortification of Jericho.
Joshua laid an oath on them at that time, saying, “Cursed before the Lord be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. “At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates.” (Joshua 6:26 ESV)
It’s important to learn from our own mistakes and those of others – unlike each subsequent king of Israel (northern kingdom). Don’t repeat mistakes. God has recorded this history to remind us of that. Sure, I probably will not build a physical altar or temple to a god but it’s easy to let other things come before God. Look carefully at where you spend most of your time. Is it spent with God and/or doing work for His kingdom? Lord, search my heart and show me where I disappoint You.
Working in ministry is a responsibility before God. It comes with your actions in how we treat one another. Spending time with God in Bible reading and devos as well as prayer. It says in Romans to not be conformed to the world any longer but be transformed in the renewing of your mind.