TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017
UNPROFITABLE JOURNEY
-2 KINGS 16:10-16
KEY VERSE:
"And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof" (2 Kings 16:1
Ursula K. Le Gum, in her book entitled, ‘The Left Hand of Darkness’, told the story of a man who sought to bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture that he encountered. She said: "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." The above aptly captures the essence of our text, which centres on Ahaz, the king of Judah, who went to Damascus, saw and copied. He ordered his chief priest to replicate what he saw in Jerusalem. He imported Syria’s religion to Jerusalem. He felt Syria’s gods were more powerful than God, since the Syrian army defeated the Israelites during the war. He never found out from God about the cause of the defeat. Regrettably, many so-called Christians, today, toe the line of Ahaz. With a little setback, they go to questionable places without seeking God’s face. What they see or hear there, they impart into their worship and devotional life. They erect strange altars and burn strange incense. Why not be like Job who stood for righteousness in spite of tribulations or setbacks? Later, God honoured his patience and perseverance. The onus is on everyone to examine his/her standpoint in life. Are you a lily-livered so-called saint who capitulates rather mindlessly to compromises, or an iron-cast believer who stoutly withstands the fiery furnace or the lion’s den?
Thought for the day: Decisions made in life influence destinies eventually.
Bible Reading in one Year: PSALM 80-84
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