After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.
1 Kings 12:28-30 NIV
Here is an example of one step King Jeroboam took in the process of leading Israel into idolatry. The above step was taken in view of Jeroboam's thoughts, concerns, or fears of the kingdom reverting to the house of David. Jeroboam sought advice in view of his concern and as a result of that advice, two golden calves were built.
God gave instruction to Israel on the one proper way to worship, to fear, or to show awesome respect to God. God has given us instruction through Jesus on the one proper way to Him; acceptance of His Son's work, the work of Jesus on the cross to make us clean and presentable to Him.
We need to be on guard for practices and doctrine that is not in concert with Biblical teaching. We need to be on guard for feeling that we have "to do" something other than accept Jesus' work on the cross for us to become acceptable to God the father; for those "to do's" are in a sense idols and they take away from the perfect, complete, sufficient work of Christ.
Our feelings that we have "to do" something should stem from our joyous, humble, and thankful response for what has been done for us by Jesus.
Where and why do you seek advice?
What do you fear?
On what is your salvation, eternal life, based?
Are your "to do's" done in a joyful, humble and thankful response for what was done for you?
Do you feel you have "to do" something to earn salvation?
(If you do please talk to a pastor or other leader)
Pray for the spirit to open your heart and mind to full assurance that we are saved by grace through faith apart from works.
In Christ,
David P
No comments:
Post a Comment