June 15, 2017: SOAP #2751: 1Kings 16; 2Chronicles 15,16; Colossians 1

Scripture: 1Kings (NIV) 16:13 …so that they provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger by their worthless idols.

Observation: The level of anger is usually connected with the level of love. A mother may be angry when she hears of someone preying on children, but she really becomes ANGRY when it is her child!

So, it is very understandable when God gets angry at how people deal with Israel, His chosen people. He loves them. And when the people He has loved, and led, and fed—the people He has given a promised land, and fought for them, and to whom He sent His Son—when those people reject Him, He gets angry.

Application: The United States has many historical parallels to God’s dealing with Israel. God has blest us, watched over us, and used us. Clearly, we have experienced His favor. And at times we have experienced His judgment. Now, as a nation, in many ways we have rejected God. Unless we truly repent, we will experience His anger.

There is One that God the Father loves above all others—His Son Jesus the Christ. After all that Jesus has done for us, how would we expect the Father to react when we disrespect and reject Jesus! God’s judgment will be extremely rational. John 5:23 …that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, teach me to honor the Son as I honor the Father. Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!