Grace, Hope & Peace, Friend;
When I was working, I went to a class where they gave us a personality test to help us understand our personality types. One of the traits of my personality type is that they feel that the phrase, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” is a good enough reason to change! In other words, “Just because we’ve always done it that way, doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best way to do something.“
When king Ahab died, Ahaziah, his son, became king of Israel for two years. But “He did evil in the sight of the Lord.” He continued in the sins of Ahab and Jezebel and of Jeroboam who had led Israel into sin. (1 Kings 22:52)
When Ahaziah died childless, Jehoram – also a son of Ahab – became king, (2 Kings 3:1) and he too “did evil in the sight of the Lord” although he was not as bad as Ahab, because he removed the memorial stone of Baal which Ahab had set up. (Vs. 2) but the record continues,
Nevertheless, he clung to the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel; he did not abandon them.
2 Kings 3:3
As Jesus was praying for His followers – ALL of us (John 17:20) – He prayed;
Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.
John 17:17
The generic meaning of sanctification is “the state of proper functioning.” To sanctify someone or something is to set that person or thing apart for the use intended by its designer. (A pencil is ‘sanctified’ when it is used for writing.) In the Bible, sanctification is the state of being set apart for God’s use and purpose. What did God create us to be and do?
Since it is the Holy Spirit who “Guides us into all the truth,” (John 16:13) It is the Spirit who we must rely on to guide us to function as we were designed.
Since “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, and for training in righteousness;” (2 Timothy 3:16) How might the inditement of Jehoram speak to us today? Do we do things because “That’s the way we’ve always done them“, or because, “That’s the way God designed us to do them“?
Jehoram sinned because he “clung to the sins of Jeroboam.” Do we ‘sin’ by doing things out of habit or do we examine everything we do under the guidance of God’s Spirit? Paul wrote, “Whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)
The Pharisees did things because “that’s the way we do things around here.” Jesus rebuked them because they weren’t relying on God’s Spirit for direction. He IS Truth and could have given them so much guidance on how to serve God.
While my personality trait may be extreme, we are encouraged to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28) and James says,
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
HaShem my Madrikh – Lord my Guide – set me apart for Your purpose.
He will guide you into all the truth;
John 16:13b
Ask God to set you apart in truth,
Words of Encouragement 