Today was 2nd Kings chapter 16. Fill my emptiness.
Ahaz, King of Judah, did evil in the eyes of the Lord and even sacrificed his own son in the fire. He fought a war against the king of Aram and king of Israel with the help of the king of Assyria. He was able to get victory and wanted to duplicate the god worship of king of Assyria. Perhaps he felt that because the king of Assyria was powerful that he should mimic his style of worship.
We all have an emptiness in our soul that Jesus wants to fill with himself. We look for fulfillment whenever and wherever we can. Ahaz, the king of Judah, sacrificed his own son in attempts of finding favor with a false god. He wanted to be victorious and powerful. He wanted to be great and recognized by those around him. He was looking for fulfillment and unfortunately a fulfillment that would exalt himself.
People continue to look for fulfillment in so many areas when the God who created us is waiting for us to surrender all of our lives, our emptiness, our sorrows, our pain, our plans for the future, everything, so he can fill our emptiness with Himself and give us value and purpose and use us with his plans and not ours, so that he is recognized through us and gets the glory. He wants to be lifted up and not ourselves.
I find I have to daily surrender my life to the Lord. I am so inclined to want to take control of my own life which ends up hurting my relationship with God. God can't do all he desires when I'm in the way. God, again, I surrender all to you. Use me however and wherever you want. Amen!
There is much sin and attempts to cover sin in our world, but Jesus is the only one who can properly fill the emptiness in someone’s life and save them. I’m reminded today of John 10:9-11.
“I (Jesus) am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
We condemn Ahaz for altering God’s specific design for the temple. And yet, isn’t this what we see done in many churches today? So many ministries are being altered to appease and attract the world. Some churches don’t preach about the penalty for sin and God’s ultimate judgment … only goodness and prosperity. It’s one thing to be relevant to each new generation, it’s another thing to change our ministry to please the world.