A Singular Focus. 2 Kings 12:2-3

If this past week has shown anything, it is that the United States of America really seems to be in fact divided over many issues. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the divisions that we experience can exist inter-personally. Have you ever felt that way? Torn over a decision? Favoring two different but opposite things? Riding the fence on a decision? There is a lot of this going on in the Old Testament between God, His people, and false gods. The extreme ebb and flow that the Israelites experienced with their faith in God is quite perplexing but can seem somewhat familiar unfortunately. They always seemed to be transitioning between great faith (and deeds) to no faith and fruitlessness (no deeds). The reason why is because; even during those times when they were "following" God they were not truly, 100%, committed to Him. We see passages like this: "Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there." (2 Kings 12:2-3). Just to be clear, these high places were places set up for the worship of idol/ pagan gods, not Yahweh (God). So, even while the Israelites were worshiping God, there was a smidgen of idolatry amongst them.

2 Kings 12:2-3 is a passage that holds a priceless principle fro all of us. It was these "high places", held back from God that seems to always lead God's people out of the great times of faith and back into those periods of faithlessness and fruitlessness. Are you in a place like this? Do you find yourself in this same ebb and flow? Well, here is a question: What are you keeping from God? What high places are you holding onto in your life that were once part of your past life when you served something besides God? Is there something that you are holding onto in the deep, dark, far reaches (high places) of your heart that should belong to God but currently belongs to something or someone else?

I want to encourage you to tear down these high places in your life. Smash them. Wreck them. Burn them. Cover them with rocks so that they can longer exist. Give God everything. It is then and only then that we can be truly God's. Isn't He worthy of every single nook and cranny of our lives? YES. HE. IS.

Be only God's!