Today you should read: 2 Kings 17:24-41
What did you think when you read today’s reading? The king of Assyria sent new people to come and live in towns of Samaria replacing the people of Israel. These foreign settlers did not worship the Lord – so God sent lions to come and kill them. When the king realized this – he ordered one of the Jewish priests to go back and live among them and teach them to worship God. One of the first missionaries… He did, and the people began to worship God – what an INCREDIBLE thing! The problem was they also continued to worship all of their pagan gods too. They worshiped both God and idols. Hard to imagine isn’t it?
But wait – isn’t that what we do too? Don’t we come to Jesus and “give Him our lives”. Don’t we declare through baptism that we’re on His team and He’s the Lord and Master of our lives? But don’t we continue to live for ourselves – doing what we want – continuing to make some of the very same choices we made before we met Him? Don’t we worship “idols” called:
The Idol of Sports
The Idol of My Job
The Idol of My Possessions
The Idol of My Pet Sin
How does God feel about idols?
You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:3 (one of the 10 Commandments)
You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 26:1
Little children, guard yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21
What are the idols that rival for God’s place in your heart and life? What can you do today to put them to death?
By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor
JumpstartCPC.com 
…..and to this day their descendants do the same (v 41). This impresses upon me the importance of living this for our children and grandchildren…..our legacy and gift to them that by worshipping and living for God alone life is so much less complicated…..so much more peaceful and joyful! Thanks Tim and all CPC staff for continuing to remind us and encourage us in our daily walk with Jesus!
It’s so easy to get my eyes set on things that can’t save me. To put other things besides God in the forefront and save Him for later, whenever that is. But what about the joy of sanctification? Do I truly understand what I’ve been saved from? Just what is my need for an all-sufficient Savior? ‘In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” But I don’t want to try to walk with Him out of a religious duty. I want to have a heart knit with His, enjoying His presence. I want to know Him more.
Give me a heart Lord that serves you because You have poured out your love on me and all I want to do is be close to You!