2nd Chronicles chapter 25.
Although King Amaziah of Judah turned away from the Lord later in his reign, prior to that, he did something I was proud of. He was confronted for purchasing 100,000 Israelites for a battle and told not to involve them because God was not with Israel. His answer was, but I already spent a lot of money for the hundred thousand to join us. He hated to give that up, but he did give it up.
Some people get so deep in sin that they feel they can't get out, or God won't accept me now, or they hate to lose all they gained and invested in their life without God. Many won't or aren't willing to forfeit all the things of the world so they can have the God and creator of the world.
But I was proud that Amaziah gave it up and did what was right. Unfortunately, later, he turns around and follows the gods of his defeated enemies.
Don't ever feel you're in too deep. May we always be willing to give up anyone or anything that hinders our walk with God.
May we not be like Amaziah in choosing to follow the fake gods of his defeated enemies, but may we only serve the one true God and give Him the glory for the victory that He gives us.
Check out 1 Corinthians 15:56-58.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
In the beginning of his reign, Amaziah also chose not follow the common practice of the day to kill off the entire families of the people that were responsible for assassinating his father (verses 3, 4). He spared the children. God told the Israelites that fathers and children should not die for each others’ sins but each man should die for his own sin (see also Ezekiel 18:2-4).
In our culture today, it is pretty common to hear someone blaming their parents or someone else for their current problems. God’s Word doesn’t support blaming others for our problems. We have to accept responsibility and consequences for our own choices.