It's Not Too Late
Scripture: 1 Kings 21:25-28
25 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord's sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done...27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. 28 Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: 29 "Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty."
Observations:
King Ahab was one of Israel's most wicked leaders of all time. He worshiped idols and broke God's Laws left and right. He even tried to kill God's prophet for trying to turn him from his evil ways. But despite all his sins, when the Arameans invaded, God delivered Israel and fought against their enemies even though they didn't deserve it. But again even that didn't cause Ahab to repent. In fact, he kept right on sinning. But when God's patience had finally run out, He sent Elijah to predict his ultimate destruction. Then, surprisingly, Ahab finally decided to humble himself before the Lord- and God took notice. Even though Ahab's repentence did not totally avert the full consequences of his actions, He was spared from experiencing God's judgment in his lifetime.
Application:
Doubtfully any of us have a rap sheet comparable to Ahab's laundry list of dirty deeds, but even if you did, God is much less concerned about our past as He is the condition of our hearts in the present. Sometimes we can be just as stubborn with our own refusal to submit areas of our lives completely to God and persist in doing things that we know are wrong for us. But all along the way, God is begging us to repent. He's pleading for us to stop, turn around, and start moving in the right direction. He'd rather us not have to suffer the consequences and pay the penalty of disobedience, but He loves us too much to let sin go unaddressed. So He waits and waits and waits until He has to intervene. But even at the end of His patience when His divine discipline is the only way to get our attention, His goal is not judgment but repentence. At the end of the day, through all our messes, "God's goodness is leading us to repent" (Romans 2:4). It's never too late to turn around. The final judgment has not been given- yet. We each will determine how our stories will end. Just remember as you consider your options, God is way more concerned with the condition of Your heart in the present than He is about your past.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your kindness and Your grace that continually call us back to relationship with You. We surrender our ways to You once again. Lead our lives in the way that You say is best. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
25 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord's sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done...27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. 28 Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: 29 "Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty."
Observations:
King Ahab was one of Israel's most wicked leaders of all time. He worshiped idols and broke God's Laws left and right. He even tried to kill God's prophet for trying to turn him from his evil ways. But despite all his sins, when the Arameans invaded, God delivered Israel and fought against their enemies even though they didn't deserve it. But again even that didn't cause Ahab to repent. In fact, he kept right on sinning. But when God's patience had finally run out, He sent Elijah to predict his ultimate destruction. Then, surprisingly, Ahab finally decided to humble himself before the Lord- and God took notice. Even though Ahab's repentence did not totally avert the full consequences of his actions, He was spared from experiencing God's judgment in his lifetime.
Application:
Doubtfully any of us have a rap sheet comparable to Ahab's laundry list of dirty deeds, but even if you did, God is much less concerned about our past as He is the condition of our hearts in the present. Sometimes we can be just as stubborn with our own refusal to submit areas of our lives completely to God and persist in doing things that we know are wrong for us. But all along the way, God is begging us to repent. He's pleading for us to stop, turn around, and start moving in the right direction. He'd rather us not have to suffer the consequences and pay the penalty of disobedience, but He loves us too much to let sin go unaddressed. So He waits and waits and waits until He has to intervene. But even at the end of His patience when His divine discipline is the only way to get our attention, His goal is not judgment but repentence. At the end of the day, through all our messes, "God's goodness is leading us to repent" (Romans 2:4). It's never too late to turn around. The final judgment has not been given- yet. We each will determine how our stories will end. Just remember as you consider your options, God is way more concerned with the condition of Your heart in the present than He is about your past.
Prayer:
Father, thank You for Your kindness and Your grace that continually call us back to relationship with You. We surrender our ways to You once again. Lead our lives in the way that You say is best. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading Plan
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