Stand Firm/Love Well | What the World Needs to See | Can’t Have Both

“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him…”  1 Kings 18:21

Elijah had HAD it with the Israelites. They wanted the Lord, but their other gods too. They liked Yahweh with His promises and blessings, but those pagan gods were so cool! Those other gods let them do whatever they wanted and some of the required worship was downright pornographic. Who wouldn’t sign up for that? So they tried to have both. They invented a religion that let them have both, but the Lord would not stand for that. His prophet Elijah drew a line in the sand and issued the ultimatum.

The Lord still does not stand for that. He drew a line in the sand centuries ago when He said, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). Our modern version of Christianity lets us tweet our favorite Bible verses while ignoring the rest. We’ve decided it’s okay to chase the pornographic world 6 days a week as long as we show up at church occasionally and groove to our favorite worship songs. We pretend Jesus is okay with that. He’s not. He does not receive that kind of fake worship from a divided heart. His ultimatum has not changed. Bible teacher Kay Arthur writes: “If you do not plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don’t begin, for this is what Christianity is all about… If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not for you.”

Final Thought:  “And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” 1 John 2:3

Prayer: Lord God, have I been fooling myself? Am I trying to have you while keeping my old sins? Please forgive me. I want you, no matter what it costs me. I now forsake my old gods and choose to follow you in total obedience. In Jesus’ name, Amen.