04/03/2023
This morning I am contemplating the things of faith to which we are tempted to become blinded. I recall the words of Jesus regarding Jerusalem and ask myself if this could happen to the Church, and to me specifically. Could my religion become my hindrance and remove God’s pleasure from my life?
“And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.”
Luke 19:41-42 KJV
In the day of Jesus there was Judaism; there was one temple, one faith, and yet the truth of Christ was hidden from it. Today in Christianity there are many churches, and many religions practiced among them; one Jesus, but many beliefs as to how we should best serve Him. So I ask myself... would Jesus weep today?
Our faith is not the responsibility of a church or someone else, it is our own personal duty to seek out God and worship Him, and it is left to us to study and discern the best way of approaching Jesus. It is up to us to obey God’s Word and the gospel of Jesus precisely.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
Philippians 2:12-13 KJV
Let me ask you a question as you think about this passage of scripture... are you worshipping as the Bible instructs, or are you making up rules to help you in the quest for piety that have nothing to do with God? As we go about seeking God and how to worship and follow Jesus, it is tempting to try and help Him with rules and regulations, and to do things which in our eyes will help us in that regard, but beware lest we usurp His sovereignty and place ourselves at odds with Him.
King Saul sought to modify the Word of God that was given him for instruction and it cost him his anointing, his crown, and eventually his life. So what did Saul do? Let's listen to what God told him to do...
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
1 Samuel 15:2-3 KJV
And indeed Saul went and conquered Amalek, which was as God had commanded, but then he modified what he had been told to do... he spared Agag, and allowed the people to take spoils, even of the animals.. and God was displeased...
“Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord? And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:19-22 KJV
When we take it upon ourselves to modify the Word that the Lord has given us, then we too have taken on the cloak of King Saul. In that day the Lord our God stands against us for this transgression, and although we go through the motions of worship; God is not in it.
“And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.”
1 Samuel 15:26-28, 35 KJV
Do we cause the Lord to regret the anointing He has bestowed upon us? Do we add or detract from what He instructs us to do? Do we decide that we know more than God and seek to rule before Him? Do we take the teaching of Jesus that was meant to serve Him, and turn it into something that serves us instead? All of these things should be considered as we seek out our salvation, and build the churches and religions that serve God.
Fear and trembling would have saved Saul, and they can save us today. Following God's Word and adding no stumbling blocks, or removing any perceived obstacles from it, will insure our anointing... and the pleasure of God. His Word is perfect, and not subject to our modification. Sometimes we consider it hard, and sometimes we think that we can bring more souls into the church by making it conform to the modern world and its way of thinking, but woe be unto us if we do this. So let’s ask ourselves to take a closer look at our religion and liturgy, to make certain it conforms precisely to the Word and gospel we have been given.
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your Holy Word, and I pray that there never comes a time when I depart from it. Help me Father to adhere to your commandments, and to keep them just as you have given them. Lord, let me not place a stumbling block before myself or others of those who seek you. Dear Lord, let your Word be my way, and all the joys and tribulations that you have set before me as I travel this path of faith be for my benefit and instruction. Never let me lose sight of your sovereignty and always yield to you. In my moments of piety, let them be of you, not of my own design and making, for those made of man are false... even as those of you are true and wonderful. I Tremble this day, and fear for my salvation, guide me Father in your Word, and let me hear the voice of your Son Jesus as he forgives me by your authority and instructs me to go and sin no more.
Rich Forbes