Today's devotional was written by Bro. Matt Rodgers
For our “Family Worship Week” devotionals this year, we are going to be examining principles drawn from 1 Kings 17-18. Many of you are familiar with this fascinating HIStory of the one true God of creation defying, disgracing and destroying the false god named Baal and his prophets on Mount Carmel.
For our “Family Worship Week” devotionals this year, we are going to be examining principles drawn from 1 Kings 17-18. Many of you are familiar with this fascinating HIStory of the one true God of creation defying, disgracing and destroying the false god named Baal and his prophets on Mount Carmel.
There is glad news and sad news attached to this story. I’m going
to give you the sad news and by the end of this devotional series you will
receive the glad news.
The sad news associated with the story is SIN and its
effects.
The nation of Israel had forsaken their God and in blatant
disobedience turned their affections to the Canaanite god named Baal who was a
god of fertility and therefore was worshiped with obscenities and immorality by
Israel. The people of God had sinned and because of His holiness God could not,
would not and did not tolerate their sin. Our God is immutable and because of
His immutability and holiness He cannot and will not tolerate our sin either.
Sin has consequences and the consequence that Israel would
receive was a period of drought and famine for 3 1/2 years. During these three
years the people of Israel suffered greatly. You and I cannot sin and have it
go unnoticed and uncorrected. When we sin there will be some form of
consequence.
According to Galatians 6:7-8, Paul writes “Do not be deceived:
God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his
sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction.”
It has been said that
“Sin always takes you farther than you want to go, keeps you longer than you
want to stay, and costs you more than you are willing to pay.” The ultimate
consequence of sin is death. This not only refers to physical death, but to
eternal separation from God in hell.
You and I don’t have to experience the ultimate consequence of
sin if we will believe by faith on Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin and
receive the promise of eternal life from God.
The truth is the Lord’s discipline is an often-ignored fact of
life for believers. Yet the discipline from the hand of God is a response of
His love for us and His desire for each of us to be holy. The famine occurred
to give Ahab, his family and the Nation of Israel an opportunity to repent.
Those who live their lives outside of Christ, yet who's hearts have
been convicted by the gospel of Christ, should follow the example of the first
converts of the early church: “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of
the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what
shall we do?' Then Peter said to them, 'Repent,
and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.'” (Acts
2:37-38)
As HIStory continues here in 1 Kings as well as throughout all
Scripture we will see our only hope and help is Jesus.
According to Hebrews 12:3-11, what is the goal of God’s
corrective hand?
What should be our response when we are found in sin?
