"Here are your gods"

“I have made You too small in my eyes,” is a line from a worship song. (full text at end) Have you ever done that? Recently while praying in preparation for Sunday services, the Spirit spoke into my heart.  “Stop, Jerry! Put yourself in my service instead of asking me to empower and bless your work.”  In obedience my prayers changed from “Lord, bless this … do that … come here,”  to “Here I am, Father, at the ready to do whatever You desire.”  Waiting on God, listening for His direction, requires more of me than rushing off to do something even as I ask for Him to go with me and to bless what I am doing.  When I slip into that pattern, I take His place!  I become the primary actor, He is made a supporting cast member. Yes, that is wrong!  Most of the time when I get into that frame of mind, it is because I am trying to do well, to be expedient.

Jeroboam became the king of the newly formed nation of Israel, after the revolution provoked by young King Rehoboam’s arrogant demands on the people. The northern half of the kingdom split away, leaving Solomon’s son ruling over Judah and the city of Jerusalem.  Jerusalem was home to the Temple. The holy site drew Jews from the whole region to an annual pilgrimage.  Jeroboam was fearful that if the people of his kingdom traveled to the Temple they would return their allegiance to Rehoboam, so he choose a course of expedience that ignored the commands of the Lord. "So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!” He placed these calf idols at the southern and northern ends of Israel—in Bethel and in Dan." (1 Kings 12:27-29, NLT)  From that moment, the northern kingdom was set on a course of idolatry that led to her eventual destruction.

Christian, take care that you do not make Him too small, choosing expedience over obedience.  Proverbs warns "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." (Proverbs 14:12, NIV)  God’s way can be difficult. Jesus called it the way of the ‘narrow gate.’  It may require sacrifice, hard choices, and abandoning our own plans.  Those who live a truly godly life must be focused on goals that stretch beyond tomorrow.  And, in that responsiveness, the Spirit can do amazing things for us and with us. I love this promise: "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble." (Proverbs 4:18-19, NIV)

Listen. Learn. Choose to obey, walking to the Light!

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Be Magnified

I have made You too small in my eyes,

O Lord, forgive me.

And I have believed in a lie

That You were unable to help me.

But now, O Lord, I see my wrong.

Heal my heart and show Yourself strong

And in my eyes and with my song

O Lord, be magnified.

O Lord, be magnified.

Be magnified, O Lord,

You are highly exalted!

And there is nothing You can't do,

O Lord, my eyes are on You.

Be magnified, O Lord.

Be magnified.

I have leaned on the wisdom of men,

O Lord, forgive me.

And I have responded to them

Instead of Your light and Your mercy.

But now, O Lord, I see my wrong,

Heal my heart and show Yourself strong

And in my eyes, and with my song,

O Lord, be magnified.

O Lord be magnified.

Lynn DeShazo

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