Friday, August 03, 2012 - God's Word

Friday, August 03, 2012
God's Word

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the
Word was God." (John 1:1)

Think about that – before we were even created, God's Word existed.
The wisdom of the Bible, which is God-breathed, has always been. When
God first brought us into being (via Adam and Eve), we naturally
walked in this wisdom. We were in perfect fellowship with God and His
Word. Subsequently, through an act of disobedience, we separated
ourselves from God and His Holiness. Since then, every human has spent
their earthly days moving towards and away from God.

In yesterday's reading, we witnessed a revival (a recovery of
fellowship with God) that began with the reading of the Book of the
Law. Through hearing God's Word, King Josiah (of Judah) was convicted
of his sin and the sin of the nation. Immediately, Josiah destroyed
every pagan altar and idol in the land that the Israelites had put
above God. The people then repented and recommitted themselves to the
Lord, choosing to follow His Word with all their heart, soul, and
strength.

Unfortunately, in today's reading, the Israelites turned away again
when Josiah's sons (first Jehoahaz, then Eliakim) chose to live for
themselves and follow false gods. The prophet Jeremiah spoke at length
about Jehoahaz's sin:

Jeremiah 22:13-17
13 "Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,
his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
not paying them for their labor.
14 He says, 'I will build myself a great palace
with spacious upper rooms.'
So he makes large windows in it,
panels it with cedar
and decorates it in red.

15 "Does it make you a king
to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
He did what was right and just,
so all went well with him.
16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know me?"
declares the LORD.
17 "But your eyes and your heart
are set only on dishonest gain,
on shedding innocent blood
and on oppression and extortion."

I encourage you all to continue to stay in God's Word and follow it.
Otherwise, we might fall into worshipping the idols around us and live
selfishly. Ultimately, we're all worshipping someone or something.
Perhaps, it's a significant other, who we're expecting to make us
happy. Perhaps, it's our job, house, or bank account. These are all
temporary power sources. They will all fail at fulfilling our needs.
There's only one eternal power source. Only one that can fulfill. He's
the Great "I Am." Let's plug into Him today by filling our stomachs
with His Word.

God Bless,
Anthony