“Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin; he did not depart from them.” (2 Kings 3:3)

The Bible doesn’t use the word ‘addiction’ – that is a modern term.  Instead, it talks about being enslaved to sin, entangled in sin, or (as in the verse above) those who cling to sin.

When you know that a behavior is wrong and yet you cling to it anyways – you’ve become its slave.  Sin doesn’t want what is best for you, and it doesn’t love you back.

Let it go.  Just let the sin go and move on.  There are better things which await those who turn to God to be set free.

“Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone [as] slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1-6; Psalm 39; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“ ‘As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ So the two of them went on.” (2 Kings 2:6)

         From time to time, the Bible gives us examples of radical loyalty.  Ruth clinging to Naomi, Jacob wrestling all night and refusing to let go, and here in 2 Kings, we see Elisha’s steadfast devotion to remain with Elijah.

         In all these instances, the individual has opportunities to depart without consequence.  Sometimes, they are even begged to leave – but their tenacity keeps them there.

         God rewards tenacious loyalty.  He is pleased with those who cling to Him through the hardest of times and walk the dark paths beside Him.  It must be refreshing to God when He finds a soul willing to tread the valley of the shadow of death beside Him when so many of the rest of us head for the hills in those moments.

         May we all cultivate Elisha loyalty so that when others depart, it is said of us and the Lord, “the two of them went on.”

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1-6; Psalm 39; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty.” (2 Kings 1:10)

The first chapter of 2^nd Kings is dedicated to the prophet of fire – Elijah.  Elijah calls for fire from heaven to consume his enemies, and it does.  Hundreds of years later, two men, James and John, would turn to Jesus and ask, “Lord do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them as Elijah did?” (Luke 9:54)

Jesus would rebuke them because they didn’t understand; now was not a time for the spirit of Elijah, but for the spirit of Christ.  James and John wanted to wield the power of justice, but Jesus sent His apostles to wield the power of the gospel of forgiveness and mercy.

Elijah is a reminder that God can be an all-consuming fire… but for those in Christ, He chooses mercy instead.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1-6; Psalm 39; Proverbs 8 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” (1 Kings 22:8)

         One of the greatest dangers to your spiritual growth is to despise the verses which don’t prop up your preconceived notions.  A mind that seeks only the Scripture comfortable to dwell on will never be pushed to think or act differently.  God’s Word should speak evil of you at times, and you should hear it.  Don’t hate the text for its honesty.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 22; 2 Kings 1-6; Psalm 39; Proverbs 8

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“They oppose me because I follow what is good.” (Psalm 38:20)

Everyone has enemies, and you don’t get to pick who they will be.  However, you can pick why they oppose you.  Live a life where the only reason people can despise you is because you are “a goody-goody” or “a boy scout” or “crazy religious”.

If the reason they hate you is because of things like that – then let your light shine and hold your head up high.  Haters gonna hate.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-21; Psalm 38; Proverbs 7 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Ahab said to Elijah, ‘Have you found me, O my enemy?’ And he answered, ‘I have found you because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.’ ” (1 Kings 21:20)

Elijah may get the award for being the most sarcastic prophet.  This is a great example of his witty mockery.  Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard and finally got him to “sell” it to him by having him murdered.  Instead of purchasing land, his covetousness had sold his own soul.

No amount of money or shiny trinkets is worth your soul.  Don’t let your desire for things which aren’t yours rob you of what God made you to be.  The covetous man never has peace; his heart is constantly sullen and vexed, and he misses all the blessings God is actually giving him because he wishes he had another man’s life.

Don’t sell yourself short by trying to be someone else.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-21; Psalm 38; Proverbs 7

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The LORD is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’ ” (1 Kings 20:28)

We need not fear those who believe they can relegate God to some corner of the world or notate Him in the history books as an antiquated god with limited influence.  Men have been attempting to remove His glory since time began, and God continues to show Himself strong on behalf of those who recognize Him for who He is – the one true and living God.

History is rife with the casualties of those who have attempted to suppress the glory of God.  And yet, the God of the Bible is still openly worshipped and venerated around the world. Dead gods need propping up, but Jehovah can handle Himself just fine. 

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-21; Psalm 38; Proverbs 7

This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers.” (1 Kings 19:4)

Elijah had had enough.  Enough of being chased around the countryside, enough of the fickle whims of the people, enough of the hatred and idolatry of Jezebel, enough of the cultural depravity and uphill battle against sin.  He wanted to die and be done.  He didn’t think he had the strength to go another day or another mile.

And God didn’t argue with him.  Jehovah let him sleep, and then He fed him; He gave him something cool to drink.  He told him the journey ahead was too great for Elijah right then and that he needed forty days to just recuperate.

Recovery is not the same as giving up.

… and for those of us thinking we don’t have time for recovery – are we better than our fathers?

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-21; Psalm 38; Proverbs 7 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly; for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)” (1 Kings 18:3-4)

Ahab was one of the wickedest kings that Israel ever had, and yet, within his inner circle was one of the bravest God-fearing men you could ever hope to meet.  Obadiah saved the lives of Jews from extermination long before movies were made about people with that kind of courage.

In the darkest of eras, don’t underestimate the goodness of God’s people or the preserving salt of their influence.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 15-21; Psalm 38; Proverbs 7 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision

“The king answered the people harshly, for he forsook the advice of the elders which they had given him, and he spoke to them according to the advice of the young men…” (1 Kings 12:13-14)

         Advice from people who think exactly like you is of no benefit.  They simply tell you what you already agree with.  Advice from those who are older, more experienced, and successful where you have not yet trodden is invaluable – they can give you a wisdom that your own experience has not had time to attain.

         The cost of such wisdom is disappointment.  Like King Rehoboam in the verses above, taking the advice of those more experienced than us would necessitate making different choices than what we desire.  Good advice is hard to get but oftentimes even harder to accept.

Matthew 4:4 #Biblebites

This Week’s Reading: 1 Kings 9-14; Psalm 37; Proverbs 6 This year, #Biblebites are looking at lessons from the history of the Old Testament.  Each week reads a section of history with a Psalm to meditate on and a dash of Proverbs to dwell upon.  If you would like a copy of the reading schedule, you can view it here: https://eastlandchristians.org/news-events/2024-vision