Pastor’s Bible Reading Schedule: 2 Chronicles 28-29
Devotional Thought:
Title: “The Danger of Compromise.”
“Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father: For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.” (28:1-2) How sad to have this be the commentary from God upon your life. Ahaz was the son of Jotham, who was a good king, and the father of Hezekiah, who was a very good king, but he himself was not a godly man or even a good man. Instead of discovering and doing the will of God, Ahaz imitated the wicked kings of Israel and even the pagan practices of Assyria. Instead of trusting in the Lord, Ahaz trusted in Assyria and found comfort and confidence from the world. How sad it is when a person has more trust in the world than in the person, precepts, and promises of God. Pekah, king of Israel, and Rezin, king of Syria, as well as the Edomites and Philistines were sent by God to punish Ahaz for the sins of idolatry “For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. (vs. 19) Instead of repenting and agreeing with God on the seriousness and the sinfulness of his actions, Ahaz turns to the world to get through the consequences. “And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz.” (vs. 22) In verse 23, we find the heart of Ahaz regarding his philosophy for life. He looked at the kings of Syria who were doing well in this world, and sacrificed to their god thinking that it would bring worldly success to him. We find homes and churches adopting the same philosophy today unfortunately. They look at the “successes” of the world and seek to model their lives after the world instead of following the clear principles of the word of God. They compromise truth to follow after a lie. Doing things God’s way will violate and frustrate a man’s flesh; so often he compromises and feeds his flesh by following the example and principles of the world. Ahaz used the gold from the temple to erect altars of ungodly worship in the temple. How sad to see churches sell things that once were used for God-centered worship in order to purchase things that will create a man-centered worship. May we commit to never compromise the truth of God’s word, and may we consistently follow in obedience the clear commands of God.
Personal Requests:
• Lord, please help me to listen closely to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the clear instruction from your word.
• Lord, thank you for giving illustrations in the Bible that help remind and illustrate for us the dangers of compromise. Please help me to mortify my flesh and never make provision for it.
• Lord, please help me to keep Faith Baptist Church pure from the world and its influences, philosophy, and deceit. Help us to follow faithfully in your design and desires for the church.