December 26, 2024 1 Kings 13:1-10

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December 26, 2024 1 Kings 13:1-10

13 And behold, a man of God came out of Judah by the word of the Lord to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make offerings. 2 And the man cried against the altar by the word of the Lord and said, “O altar, altar, thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, a son shall be born to the house of David, Josiah by name, and he shall sacrifice on you the priests of the high places who make offerings on you, and human bones shall be burned on you.’” 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign that the Lord has spoken: ‘Behold, the altar shall be torn down, and the ashes that are on it shall be poured out.’” 4 And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” And his hand, which he stretched out against him, dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 The altar also was torn down, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. 6 And the king said to the man of God, “Entreat now the favor of the Lord your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God entreated the Lord, and the king's hand was restored to him and became as it was before. 7 And the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.” 8 And the man of God said to the king, “If you give me half your house, I will not go in with you. And I will not eat bread or drink water in this place, 9 for so was it commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water nor return by the way that you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

Wow!  What a powerful display of the strength of this man of God.  He was offered to go to the king’s house and rest and get a reward, but this man of God knew to be with this king who was so evil would not honor God.  How do you react when you are offered great things by the enemy?  What is interesting to me is that all the things that the enemy offers are things that don’t last, and what God offers us through Jesus are the things that last forever. 

It is so easy to be swayed by power and riches.  We want to be recognized and for others to praise us.  But the praise of those who don’t love Jesus are nothing we should desire.  Praise from anyone but Jesus, isn’t something we should strive for.  Take a few minutes today and ask God to give you strength to shut out those things that will distract you from Him, and peace knowing everything you need, He gives you.

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