FN-033 - You Can Choose Freedom

 

You can choose freedom

II Kings 17:34 - This "fear not" is different, because it is embedded in the statement "they fear not God."  It is a statement of character rather than a directive, and not a good one at that.

The leaders and people of Israel and Judah continued their on-again off-again dependence upon God. This time, they were overrun by the Assyrians who played mix-and-match with their captives from various countries, placing them throughout the land of Samaria. The Assyrians noted that disaster was afoot because the people did not "follow the manner of the God of the land," so they brought in a captive priest to teach the people, Israelites included, about God and how to properly honor Him.  In verse 33, it says they feared the Lord and served their own gods.

"And" - it's a word that inevitably becomes "or" when discussing what our lives will be devoted to. We are finite creatures, we don't have what it takes to satisfy two sets of priorities, and so we will necessarily neglect one to satisfy the other.  Joshua said "Choose this day who you will serve" in Joshua 24:15; and Jesus tells us in Matt 6:24 "You cannot serve God and mammon,"  because one will be served and the other will be resented.  Jesus invites us to seek first God's kingdom and find all our needs met; and to come to Him for rest, a light burden, and an easy yoke because He shares it with us.   (Matt 6:33, 11:28-30)

Like the people of II Kings 17, we have a choice.  We can serve "God-And" and be overburdened, failing to serve God at all; or we can serve "God-Alone" and be uncluttered and well cared for. #FearNot, you can choose freedom from competing priorities.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BW 01.22 - Genesis 22: Surrender Isaac

 Isaac was born in chapter 21, when Abraham was 100 years old. Hagar and Ishmael, the Egyptian servant and her son by Abraham (at Sarah's prompting) were sent away.   Years went by, and God came to Abraham and asked him to give up, as a burnt offering, this miracle son through whom He had promised to bless the world. Early the next morning, the party set out for Moriah - Abraham, beloved Isaac, two servants, and supplies for a burnt offering.  On the third day, Isaac and his father are walking up the mountain, the servants have been left behind.  Isaac, carrying wood, asks: "Where is the lamb?".  Abraham answered, "God will provide".  They reach the place, assemble the altar, then Abraham does a very unusual thing - he binds his own son, puts him on the altar, and raises the knife to strike. Remember - Isaac is a young man, or a grown boy - he is strong enough to carry enough wood to burn a lamb.  His father is 100 plus years old.  ...
Read more

BW 01.17 - Genesis 17-21: Covenants

 At 99 years of age, Abram (meaning 'exalted father') was renamed Abraham (meaning 'father of nations') , and his wife Sarai was renamed Sarah - both of these changes made by God.  God repeated His promise, clarifying that the covenant people would be born of Sarah (Isaac), and laid out the terms of Abraham's obedience (and that of his descendants forever). This began the practice of circumcising males at 8 days of age, a symbol of surrendering to God the very essence of self & generations to follow.  (The Apostle Paul later writes of the importance of circumcising the heart - a metaphor for surrendering self-will to participate in the promise of God). Three men visit Abraham & Sarah, receive hospitality, and make sure Sarah hears the announcement that she'll be giving birth within the year, causing her to laugh (pregnant? an old barren woman?) .  Is anything too hard for the Lord? (no) The three begin to leave, and Abraham walks with them tow...
Read more

FN-041 - God Doesn't Simply Write Us Off

Isaiah 43:1,5 - In chapter 42, a new plan is declared, a perfect/complete answer (take note, Galactic Hitchhikers) .  The people God created and redeemed as His have turned aside to worship idols. By ignoring or rejecting their only salvation, they have chosen a destruction that they should know to avoid. And we tend to do the same. Yet, as chapter 43 opens, God reminds them that He doesn't simply write off His investments: "Fear not, I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine."  In verse 5, He says "Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west." Those He has scattered, He will bring back, because they are precious to Him. They are precious because He created and chose them, no matter their worth by other standards. If God has called your name and redeemed you, you are precious to Him, no matter your perceived worth by other standards. #FearNot, He will not write you off until ...
Read more