KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Friday, June 23, 2017
Chapters: I Kings 12-14
Message: Conforming To Image Of Christ
Hello My Friend,
As Christians we like to think that we are strong enough to withstand the temptations of the world, but if we are not grounded in Christ we are going to fall smack dab right in the middle of it all. And this is how a nation goes from worshiping the one and only living God to worshiping every man made god you can think up. If they do not like the god one has made up they will just create another one that suits their needs. There is a song called, “Why Can’t All God’s Children Get Along?” The reason we cannot all get along is that not all who say they are God’s children are actually His. While we all have different desires and dreams in this Christian walk, Christ ought to be noticed in us, we cannot create God in our image, it is Christ who creates us in His image, that is if we follow Him as He is written in His own words. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2.
People want God in their lives, they know His power, His mercy, and grace, many just do not want to live by His Word, and therefore, other Bibles and religions are created to fit Him into their sinful lifestyles instead of them conforming to His image. Changing the Bible and creating a god does not change God, He is still the same and the same judgment applies to all. When Solomon died and his son Rehoboam reigned, under some ill advice given to him from his friends he made the unwise decision to oppress the people even more, and this resulted in a revolt. Since Jeroboam, an adversary of Solomon was head of the revolt they made him king over Israel, every tribe except Judah followed Jeroboam, but then Jeroboam did something unwise as well, fearing that the people would run back to Jerusalem to worship God he had two golden calves made and called them their gods.
“And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men’s counsel that they gave him; And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from the LORD, that he might perform his saying, which the LORD spake by Ahijah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David: If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah. Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” – I Kings 12:13-16,20,26-28.
“and made two calves of gold,” People think they can replace God with a version of their own and have the same results, but all that does is bring a slow and painful death upon them. We many not like the way our leaders lead the country, but that is no excuse to rebel and take things into our own hands. We must worship God on His terms. “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24.
Do you think that God enjoys seeing people making up their own image of Him and worshiping objects as if they were Him? How would you feel if people made you out to be someone you are not? Needless to say, God was not thrilled with what Jeroboam had done, He sends a prophet to meet with him and warn him of the judgment that was coming to him and his family because he caused Israel to worship other gods.
“And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the LORD thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the LORD, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before. And the king said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me by the word of the LORD, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest. So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.” – I Kings 13:4-10.
“So he went another way,” Once we are saved, we cannot go back into the world, it will only cause problems for us. This man ended up dying because he allowed a false prophet to deceive him into believing that God sent him. We must understand that there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ, any other way will be the death of anyone who tries to get to Him. I wish it were not so, I have aunts and uncles that died and are in hell because they were ignorant to this truth. I believe that everyone is given the opportunity to know Christ at one point in their lives, those who die unsaved either have hardened their heart to receive the truth or never accepted the entire Word of God as truth. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” – Hebrews 6:4-6.
Do not mistake a rebellious leader as someone who does not know the one true God, they will worship their god their way until something happens. Jeroboam was content to worship his false gods, that is until his son got very sick, and he knew only God could heal him, but was too proud to admit that and, instead of humbling himself to God he sent his wife into Judah disguised as someone else to get help from a prophet. It was then that the prophet told his wife that not only was her son going to die, but all the house of Jeroboam.
“Go, tell Jeroboam, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Forasmuch as I exalted thee from among the people, and made thee prince over my people Israel, And rent the kingdom away from the house of David, and gave it thee: and yet thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and who followed me with all his heart, to do that only which was right in mine eyes; But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone. Him that dieth of Jeroboam in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat: for the LORD hath spoken it. Arise thou therefore, get thee to thine own house: and when thy feet enter into the city, the child shall die. And all Israel shall mourn for him, and bury him: for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave, because in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God of Israel in the house of Jeroboam.” – I Kings 14:7-13.
“for he only of Jeroboam shall come to the grave,” Do you see what was going on here? God was sparing Abijah’s life because he was the only one to worship Him. You see, our bodies may go to sleep, but our souls can live eternally, and again, that is only through Jesus. God does not base our salvation on our families, what religion they follow, or what god they choose, it is based on our decision to accept the truth of Christ, that He is the only way to God and eternal life, and received Him as our Saviour. “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – I Thessalonians 4:13-17. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Magnified: Today, Jesus is revealed through, Abijah, which means My father is Jehovah. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, who delivers us from death. “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” – Matthew 11:27.
Today’s Prayer: God, I truly want to live in Your will, I do not always understand what Your will is, but as I learn and grow by reading Your Word and obeying Your commands I know I will get there. Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and patience to wait for me to learn and grow in Your will. Lead me and guide me in your will and ways. Let me be careful and mindful of false men of God seeking to cause me to go against Your Word and fall into sin. Open my heart to understand You will for my life, and the things that I may be doing that goes against Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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