KA program. That’s what is needed here. I’ve been reading through 1 Kings and it often becomes very repetitive. This dude became king and did right in the eyes of the Lord, but didn’t tear down the high places. This guy became king and did evil in the eyes of the Lord. And so on and so on. KA stands for Kings Anonymous. “Hi, my name is king.” But instead of a twelve step program, they needed to revisit the Ten Step program, The Ten Commandments.
Here’s a review for us all:
1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
3. Remember thou keep the Sabbath Day.
4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
Come to think of it, we might need to have a SA, Sinners Anonymous. That would include us all. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” I’ll start… “Hi, my name is Stephanie and I’m a sinner.” Now let’s follow the Ten Step Program. If we will keep God first in our life, like the first commandments tells us to do, then we probably wouldn’t have all the problems we have now. (I’m not talking about religion and various denominations. I’m talking about doing what God instructs us to do.)
When I read verse 41 in 1 Kings 17, it said, “Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols.” This so reminded me of many of us today…One foot in the world and one foot with God. Yikes! God is clear on this. In Matthew 6:24 we read, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Galatians 1:10 says, “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
See how this all comes together? When we keep the first commandment we are only serving Him and not the world. Check out Matthew 22:36-40, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
As we celebrate the Fourth of July in America, let us honor The One who gave us ultimate freedom. Let’s do it! Let’s love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
Happy July 4th!
God Bless America!
| July 4 |