Reflecting On My Idols

Reflecting On My Idols

This morning my reading plan brought me to Leviticus 26; and Mark 2. 
The passage in Leviticus led me to realize that I had to 1) check my heart for idols, anything that I have placed before God, anything, any person that I´ve come to value, prioritize more than God. 2) it also described the rewards of obedience to God in this; 3) lastly, it also illustrates the penalties of disobedience.

"You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God..." - Leviticus 26:1

The dictionary defines idols as:
- An image or representation of a god used as an object of worship.
- A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered:

As I reflected on this, I had to start asking myself, if there is anything or anyone getting in the way of, or taking my heart away from focusing on my God. Am I loving God with all my heart and soul and might or have I set aside tiny nooks of my heart and reserved them for myself and my idols thinking that it would be ok since most of my heart and soul and might are for God anyway? Then I remembered...:

"You shall love the Lord your God with "ALL" your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." - Deuteronomy 6:5

My QT plan for the past month involved reading one Psalm each day. Interestingly today I was at Psalm 49. This Psalm talks about the folly/futility of pursuing and trusting riches and taking pride in one´s own accomplishments.

"...Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich,
When the glory of his house is increased;
For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
His glory will not descend after him.
Though while he lives he congratulates himself—
And though men praise you when you do well for yourself—
He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
They will never see the light.
Man in his pomp, yet without understanding,
Is like the beasts that perish." - Psalm 49:16-20

Has the pursuit of riches, recognition, and reward taken up some small space in my heart-a heart that was meant to be for God alone? Have I foolishly been thinking, "I can take a little credit, deserve some reward or recognition, relish some praise for myself, save some riches for my own use, etc.?"

This brought me back full-circle to the passage in Leviticus 26, where it says:

"...If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit...I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword;...So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you...Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people..."- Leviticus 26: 6-12

There is nothing inherently wrong with riches, rewards or recognition. God Himself promises to generously give His people all of these (Matt. 6:33) on the condition that we love, obey and seek Him "FIRST" and not the other way around. Thinking that we will seek success, fame, riches and reward and glorify God with them is flawed thinking.

God is glorified when we love, obey and seek Him first and we are rewarded by Him with success and everything else that comes along with it because then people will see God and not the "idol" which is our own effort of pursuing success.

Reflections on 2 Kings 6:24-32; 7:1-10 The King and The Four Lepers

As I was chewing through these passages, two things started to stand out for me. God reminded me of two things:

1. STOP LOOKING AT YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES, LOOK TO ME INSTEAD! I really don't know why but all throughout my reading of this book, this lesson just keeps popping out and hitting me.

a. The Kings Response ( v.18-23)

God had just performed a mighty miracle by striking the Aramean army blind through Elisha. Yet, it seems the king had forgotten this. As they were being besieged again by the king of Aram, he saw the desperate plight of his people and his inability to save them. I would think that given the fact that he had just experienced God’s deliverance, he should not have been in despair. Unfortunately, he focused on the circumstances surrounding him and then looked at himself. Is there anything wrong at looking at or assessing the situations or the circumstances around us? Of course not; however, it’s the response after the assessment where faith is truly tested. The king was driven to despair. His heart was hardened as shown when he says through his messenger in verse 33: “This disaster is from the Lord. WHY SHOULD I WAIT FOR THE LORD ANY LONGER?” His response was to have Elisha put to death.

b. The Lepers Response (Chapter 7:8)

I am again amazed at the contrast God uses to make a point in this passage. From a high and mighty king housed in a palace and dressed in fine robes to four lepers, homeless, helpless, cast-out, most likely dressed in tattered sackcloth. The great thing here is that God reveals to us that the contrast between these two people is just on the outside. For in chapter 6:30 as the king tore his robes in despair we find him dressed in sackcloth as well under his robes. There was no difference between the heart condition of the king and the lepers.

The king had one response—that is to blame God and vent his anger on Elisha. The lepers had a more complicated response. In their desperation they just decided to “give it all up” chapter 7:4 gives us a picture of just how desperate their situation was. I find it hard to relate to the king. I was never born rich or privileged in this life and as such cannot fathom the king’s despair. But God bless the lepers! I am humbled and reminded of how God delivered me from my own situation not too long ago (and maybe to a certain extent—even now).

2. REMEMBER THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN.

a. The king , in his desperation, was driven to pride and lashed out in anger at God by intending to have Elisha killed. Why pride? I think it was because he felt “entitled”. He felt that he didn’t deserve to be besieged. Again, I am reminded of the times when I react almost like him, asking God “Why? Why are you allowing this to happen to me? Have I not accepted Jesus as my savior? Am I not one of your sons?” Then I remember what Jesus went through and I am all at once sobered and humbled. God shows His sovereignty by having Elisha boldly tell the king of what He is about to do and He does it in Chapter 7:16. He did not deserve this for his intentions were evil, yet God delivered him and the Israelites from the siege. Grace.

b. The lepers, in the midst of their own desperation were shown God’s power and grace. They found the Aramean camp empty and were able to eat and drink and get clothes and silver, etc. I would think that given this blessing they would have responded in thanks to God. But instead, they intended evil as shown in Chapter 7:8 (“Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.”) But even here, God shows His sovereignty by changing their hearts and causing them to report this to the palace.

In both these instances, God shows grace, sovereignty and power. He reminds me that He can use even the darkest and most dire of situations, the evil in the heart of both kings and men, even these He can use TO BRING ABOUT THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS PLANS. I’m reminded of Proverbs 21:1 “The heart of a king is like channels of water in the hands of the Lord. He turns it wherever He wishes.”

Brother/Sister in Christ as I am encouraged by this passage, I encourage you as well. If you are facing a difficult situation right now, if there are people who are intent on doing you harm, remember that the God you serve is a SOVEREIGN GOD! Call out to Him. He will answer you. He is your help, your protector, your watcher, your deliverer… (Psalm 121). Call out to Him. Do not make the same mistake I often make, looking at my own capabilities, looking to my own strength. Call out to Him and witness His sovereignty and power displayed and experience His GRACE.