Devotional - April 30, 2025

Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20   Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”  But the people said nothing.

Decisions.  We make them all the time, all day long.  It would seem that Elijah is calling the people to make one.  The reality is a little more subtle.  The people think they can both be the people of God and worship Baal at the same time.  Look at their leadership, Ahab is an Israelite.  His wife Jezebel was a Phoenician who worshipped Baal and led the people to do likewise.  Ahab abandoned his faith in his devotion to her, but still claimed his Israelite status.  At it's root, it is betrayal, claiming one while being of another.  Elijah, true to his name.  Do we remember what that is?  YHWH is God, needs no clarification and calls the people to account for themselves.  The people are honestly lost.  They literally sit silent when asked.  They have mingled and dabbled so long in the ways of Baal, they have lost sight of what it means to be an Israelite.  As far as they are concerned, they are Israelites.  What's the problem!?  Elijah shows the problem when he challenges the prophets of Baal on the mountain top (1 Kings 18: 22-46).  Not only is Baal a false god, the ways of Baal are against the ways of God.  Letting our likes lead us can be problematic, especially when it comes to our faith.  We may like certain activities or philosophies whether they align with God or not.  Some think this is only a problem for the young.  No, we never lose this propensity.  The people of Israel like Baal worship, regardless of all that God had done for them.  In reading this devotional one may feel a little uneasy about their own approach to being a Christian.  Have we lost sight of what is important?  

Pray with me...,  Holy God we confess we lose sight of Your vision for our life and that of the world.  Help us to see and be what You call us to be.  Hear us as we pray for our loved one's.  Bless them, we pray, according to their needs.  And bless our church, so we can be the people You call us to be, in Jesus' name, Amen.

God's peace,

Pastor Brian