by Wisdom Hunter, 9/28/2017
“How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” (1Kings 18:21, NIV)
The LORD calls His people to a singular devotion, loyalty, and love. He desires that we love Him above all else, that we look to Him for our identity, hope, and joy. Yet our hearts are so often divided, frequently pulled in different directions. It isn’t that we outright reject the LORD or His plan for our lives, it’s usually far more subtle. We instead try and place Him alongside other interests and pursuits, and herein lies the problem.
In 1Kings, Elijah calls Israel back to an undivided love and devotion to God. In essence, He says “stop playing games.” If Baal is as great as you say and think he is, then follow him! On the other hand, if the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is truly the LORD God, then follow Him! But stop thinking that this middle way is going to lead you into a place of peace and flourishing.
The hard word of the Bible to us today is that wavering in our devotion to Christ is, in the words of Elijah, the same as “abandoning the LORD’s commands” (1Kings 18:18). True discipleship is never one option amongst many. Our lives are not a collection of interests and pursuits, with “religion” being a box that we check off on the list from time to time. We cannot waver between multiple options. If the LORD is God, follow Him.
“Those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples” (Luke 14:33).
God has made you in His image and wants you to enter into His very life. He invites you to know what it means to be perfectly loved and accepted, to be healed and restored in every possible way. Yet when we place Him alongside our careers, our relationships, or our leisurely pursuits, we reject this invitation and in effect say “I’m not sure you’re worthy of my entire life, so I’ll keep you as an option, but one amongst many.” May we see afresh the LORD’s goodness and mercy to us and follow Him as LORD all of our days.