Read 1 Kings 14
Highlights:
Jeroboam pays dearly for his sins (1 Kin. 13:33-34) by the death of his son (14:1-16). One king after another leaves a legacy of evil in the sight of the Lord (15:26,34).
For the LORD shall smite Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, and he shall root up Israel out of this good land, which he gave to their fathers, and shall scatter them beyond the river, because they have made their groves, provoking the LORD to anger (1 Kings 14:15).
There is always a cost for being disobedient to God. Sin definitely has it's price. It separates us from God. It's final results, unless one repents, end in death and hell. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 6:23).
Israel had fallen prey to the same sin many times. It seemed they had lack of trust in the One True God which they could not see. Consequently, they found it easy to turn their backs on God and turn to false gods for which they could construct idols in which to visibly worship.
The worship of false gods is strictly forbidden throughout the Word of God. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel had heard this from God through Moses. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: (Ex. 20:3-4). In the New Testament, Paul lists the worship of idols with works of the flesh that separate anyone from God. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21).
Therefore, Israel knew that what they were doing was sin, but they continued on in their ways. The price they were to pay would be a high one. It would destroy them as a nation.
The consequences of their sin would be the downfall of these people as a country. They would be separated and scattered all over the world. This separation would last for nearly 1900 years. It began after Christ and His apostles died and lasted until 1948. That is the year Israel was established again as a nation.
There is a cost to any sin. There is a spiritual cost which can include eternal punishment if one does not seek forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ. However, there are often also earthly ramifications from sin. These could include effects on your health, finances or family life.
Life is best lived if we don't have to worry about these consequences. The way to do that is to follow Christ and avoid sin. He can always be counted on to lead us in the right way.
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more (John 8:11).
Thought for Today:
Don't envy the wicked, rather enjoy walking in the light of God's Word.
Christ Revealed:
: In Asa's ridding the land of idols and sodomites (1 Kin. 15:11-14). Christ cleansed the Temple (Matt. 21:12-13; John 2:13-17). As Christians, we are the Temples of God, bought with His own blood (1 Cor. 6:19-20; 2 Cor. 6:16-17) and are cleansed of all unrighteousness when (1 John 1:9).
Word Studies:
14:3 cracknels, cakes or fig bars; 14:5 feign herself, pretend; 14:6 heavy tidings, very sad news; 14:15 groves, pagan idol shrines; 15:12 took away the sodomites, banished homosexual male prostitutes; 15:17 suffer, allow or permit.
Prayer Suggestion: Pray for unity of spirit with other believers (1 Pet. 3:8).
Optional Reading: Acts 28
Memory Verse for the Week: John 13:34