prctugs

Today's Scripture reading: 2 Kings 13-14; 2 Chronicles 25; 2 Timothy 3 

S: Scripture: Choose one thing that stood out.
O: Observation: What does it say (context, audience, meaning, etc.)?
A: Application: What principles apply to me? How should my life be different moving forward?
P: Prayer: Speak to God about what He showed you.

S:

2 Chronicles 25:14-15 (NLT) When King Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought with him idols taken from the people of Seir. He set them up as his own gods, bowed down in front of them, and presented sacrifices to them! This made the LORD very angry, and he sent a prophet to ask, “why have you worshiped gods who could not even save their own people from you?”

O:

King Amaziah defeated the Edomites (because God gave him victory for listening to him regarding the hired Israeli army (vv.6-10). As part of the spoils of war, he takes statues (idols) from the losers, brings them home, and starts worshiping those statues as his own gods! A prophet of the LORD points out to him that these idols are worthless – they couldn’t even protect the Edomites from Amaziah, so why worship them? Amaziah foolishly ignores the prophet and reaps destruction because of it (vv. 16-24)

A:

What are the idols I “worship,” even though I’ve seen the powerlessness and destruction they’ve brought to others. Lust/sex – even though I’ve watched it destroy marriages and ministries; Religion – even though it misrepresents God & often drives people away from Jesus instead of drawing others towards him (think of the Pharisees); Money – even though we see rich & famous people who are depressed, sick, suicidal, and alone (Michael Jackson, Kirk Cobain, etc.). I need to lay down every “god” in my life except the One who can save me, complete me, and make me into the man I am supposed to be. Choosing a powerless god is like betting on the losing team when you already know it’s going to lose.

P: