They Choose to Go Their Own Ways

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They Choose to Go Their Own Ways

We get to make a lot of choices  in our life time.      Sometimes,  to our horror,  we discovered  that we made a really bad choice.      The results can be bad for us  and those around us.      Hopefully,  there will be a way  that we can change  and make amends.      But, sometimes  we stubbornly choose  to go down a wrong path  —  just because we feel like it.

That’s how it was with Israel  during Isaiah’s days.      They were repeatedly told  by the Lord  that they were doing evil  in their worship services,  and would have to pay the consequences,  but they didn’t care.      “They choose  to go their own ways.”      God promises to help  all who humbly depend on Him  for guidance,  and God also promises  to severely punish  all those who choose  to do what is evil.      In Isaiah 66:2-4, God says to the people,

I will pay attention to him  who is humble  and contrite in spirit,
who trembles  when I speak.
But  they not only butcher bulls  but also kill men.
They  not only sacrifice sheep  but break dogs’ necks.
They  not only offer food  but also offer the blood of hogs.
They burn incense  so the LORD will remember them,  but also  bless idols.
Yes,  they choose  to go their own ways
and delight  in their abominations.

So I also  choose  to mistreat them
and bring on them  what terrifies them,
because  I called  and nobody answered;
I spoke  and nobody listened.
But  they did what I judge  to be evil,
and chose  what I don’t like.

We can compare  all of these actions  to what is happening today.      People can go to church  and take part in the worship services  —  and at the same time  take part in heathen worship practices.      People defiantly  mix  Christian worship practices  with heathen worship practices.      They  “like”  it that way,  claiming it feels  more spiritual.      Even though God’s word specifically tells us  to not copy  heathen traditions,  many are insisting  that it is okay  and more spiritually enlightening  than regular Christian worship services.

Paul has warned us  in 2 Timothy 4:3-4,

For the time will come  when they will not endure  sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled,  they will accumulate for themselves  teachers in accordance  to their own desires;  and will turn away  their ears  from the truth, and will turn aside  to myths.

The word  “myth”  that Paul uses  means more than a fairy story.      It includes any sort of man-made invention  that is a falsehood.      Paul is saying  that people will be bored  with the solid,  sound,  and time-tested teachings  in God’s word.      They will want to add to it  to make it more exciting  and fun.      So,  they will invent  new ways  of meditating,  worshiping,  praying,  and praising.

Instead of being satisfied  with the teachings  in God’s word,  they will be wanting  all sorts of new teachers,  who will show them  new ways of worship.      When the Israelites  mixed heathen practices  with their worship,  God became very angry with them.      Because they refused to listen  to God’s word,  He had to bring terrifying judgments  upon them.      We need to learn  from the lesson in Isaiah.      God will eternally judge  all those  who refuse to listen  to His word.

We can be so thankful  that God will gladly listen  to all of those  who humbly turn to Him.      As we abide in God,  we are safe.      Then  we will happily obey  when God tells us  in Deuteronomy 18:9,

When you enter the land  which the LORD your God  gives you,  you shall not learn  to imitate  the detestable things  of those nations.

Remembering God’s love  in Jesus Christ,  we will,  in reverence,  stay away from everything  that does not agree with God’s word.      Then,  in the freedom  of God’s light,  we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  Your ways  are all clean,  and good,  and right.      In You alone,  we have true salvation.”

Love,
Margaret

 

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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