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Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

1 Kings 18-19
John 7:25-44

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

1 Kings 18:21 (CSB): “Then Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.’ But the people didn’t answer him a word.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

In John Bunyan’s classic allegory, “The Pilgrim’s Progress,” we are introduced to a man who is convicted over his sin as he read’s God’s Word. He is led by a man named Evangelist who ultimately points to the hill with a cross and a tomb in the side of it.

When I consider the state of so many “Christians” and churches across our country, one place in that book comes to mind: Vanity Fair.

Vanity Fair was a place that had all sorts of temptations and distractions. When people should have been drawn to the Lord Jesus to meet their deepest needs, they were drawn to things that superficially met those needs and kept them from Him.

It seems to me that so many people in our churches who claim to be followers of Jesus are living in Vanity Fair. When they should be pursuing and enjoying Jesus, they superficially meet their needs for joy and purpose (and other such things) by binge-watching television, frequenting the refrigerator, engaging in their pet sin, or (fill in the blank).

Vanity Fair seemed so wonderful and fun. But, in fact, it was utterly evil because it kept people from pursuing Jesus.

When we hear Jesus saying that loving the Lord our God with everything we’ve got is the first and greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-38), we realize that the greatest sin would be to break that commandment. So, while we can enjoy secondary pleasures, our first love should be our Lord. And no matter what we say about our love for God, if our actions demonstrate that we truly love something else more, we are in sin. Living in Vanity Fair, while it may be fun for a while, is utterly sinful since it pulls us away from Jesus.

This problem has a stranglehold on so many Christians and churches today, and it is one of the reasons we aren’t seeing God do many wonderful things among us.

So, I want to present to you the words that Elijah spoke to the prophets of Baal. What would be your answer if you were told to choose between the Lord and whatever is currently satisfying your heart and pulling you away from Jesus?

1 Kings 18:21 (CSB): “Then Elijah approached all the people and said, ‘How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.’ But the people didn’t answer him a word.”

I will also put before you the words that Joshua spoke to the people of Israel. What is your answer?

Joshua 24:15 (CSB): “But if it doesn’t please you to worship the LORD, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the LORD.”

So, who’s it going to be, my friend? Who/what is your first love? And if you say your love and allegiance to the Lord is greater than anything else in your life, do your actions back up that claim?

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you see, acknowledge, and repudiate anything in your life that is taking Jesus’ rightful place on the throne of your heart.
  • Ask God to help you love the Lord your God with everything you’ve got, and act accordingly.

Going Deeper

I mentioned the book, “Pilgrim’s Progress,” in this article. If you want to see what it’s all about, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“What is The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)