Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

A Daily Devotional by Kenton Cheek

3 July 2024

Reading From II Kings 9-11

“As soon as Jehu had finished sacrificing the burnt offering, he commanded his guards and officers, “Go in and kill all of them. Don’t let a single one escape!” So they killed them all with their swords, and the guards and officers dragged their bodies outside. Then Jehu’s men went into the innermost fortress of the temple of Baal. They dragged out the sacred pillar used in the worship of Baal and burned it. They smashed the sacred pillar and wrecked the temple of Baal, converting it into a public toilet, as it remains to this day.”

–II Kings 10:25-27

     When I read this passage, the image of Jehu turning the temple of Baal into a public toilet was very satisfying to me.  After generations of blending the worship of Yahweh with the worship of Baal and Asherah and other Canaanite gods and goddesses, it seemed as though Jehu was truly putting a stop to the wicked cycle.  Unfortunately, we eventually learned the Jehu’s reforms did not go far enough as he did not do the same to the golden calves.  What is with Israel’s obsession with worshipping golden calves?

       We should follow the examples of Joseph and Jehu when it comes to sin and specifically idolatry.  When temptation presents itself, turn away and run.  When the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to the idolatry in your life, destroy them and remove them.  We must be careful in this process, however, because there are elements of our lives that God Himself blesses us with that He does not want us to destroy or remove, but rather destroy and remove the ungodly perspective and worship we keep of them.  Books, movies, television shows, sports, hobbies, etc can be removed, but what about idolatrous relationships?

     For instance, if a husband puts his wife before God, he of course should not destroy and remove her.  That would be a greater sin.  What is needed is proper perspective in the relationship.  God blessed him with a wife and although this bond is to be honored and cherished above all others on earth, it should not be held in higher esteem that his relationship with God.  This eternal perspective places the importance back on God, then wife, then everything else.  The same goes for parents whose whole world is their children.  If we place all importance on humans, what happens when those people move away or die?  It is better to trust in the Lord who never fails.

“God, I pray that my heart would be focused on You.  May You order my priorities rightly.  I pray against idolatrous distractions.  Give me wisdom to know when I need to remove things from my life.  Bring proper perspective to relationships.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

–Hebrews 12:1-3