April 19, 2011 (2 Kings 16-17, 2 Chronicles 28)

I don't want to be like the people I'm reading about, but I know that is 'the tension' - to not fall back into the ways of sin. And as I read, I wonder how all this relates to today. We don't have the same customs - we don't sacrifice our own sons in the fire - or do we? Do we sacrifice our children by not modeling what walking with Christ really looks like? Do we sacrifice our children by teaching them to love the material things of this world, rather than teaching them to love others by the sacrifices they make? These next verses were very convicting to me this morning:

^{2 Kings 17:32} These new residents worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests to offer sacrifices at their places of worship. ³³ And though they worshiped the Lord, they continued to follow their own gods according to the religious customs of the nations from which they came. ³⁴ And this is still going on today. They continue to follow their former practices instead of truly worshiping the Lord and obeying the decrees, regulations, instructions, and commands he gave the descendants of Jacob, whose name he changed to Israel.

God changed Jacob's name to Israel. And He gives us a new name as well.

^{Revelation 3:11} I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. ¹² All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.
 ¹³ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches."

We are a new creation in Christ. All through scripture we are commanded to live in accordance with our new name and our new nature - Christ in us. Yet how often do we fall back into the ways from which we were saved?

And God continues to warn them:

 ^{2 Kings 17:38} Do not forget the covenant I made with you, and do not worship other gods. ³⁹ You must worship only the Lord your God. He is the one who will rescue you from all your enemies.”

And is their response any different than ours?

^{2 Kings 17:40} But the people would not listen and continued to follow their former practices. ⁴¹ So while these new residents worshiped the Lord, they also worshiped their idols. And to this day their descendants do the same.

Do I worship the Lord? Yes. But do I also 'worship idols'? As much as I would love to say I don't, sadly I do. Where I spend my time shows where my allegiance is.

God, forgive me. May I set a new example in my home, that I and my 'descendants' would only worship You.