Settling for Something Less

OT: 2 Chronicles 24-25
NT: Hebrews 8

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2 Chronicles 25:14-16 — Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Amaziah was the son of Joash, the good king of Judah. A young king, he seemed to have everything going in his favor, save for one thing — his heart. Amaziah "did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart" according to chapter 25, verse 1. His heart was not fully seeking the Lord, so he did foolish things. One such thing was to take the idolatrous gods of Edom, which he had defeated in battle, and set them up in Jerusalem to be worshipped. Why would Amaziah do this? Beats me. But God certainly wasn't pleased. The words of a prophet echo through time and eternity: why did you accept something that failed to save at the expense of the One who saved you? Why settle for less than the best?

The author of Hebrews would ask his readers the same thing repeatedly in his book: why settle for an Old Covenant that was incomplete and could not save at the expense of a New Covenant that gives life? Too often we settle for what cannot help us in our spiritual life — things dead or dying, things that confuse or distract. We often settle for a prayer life that is small and weak. Too often we run after pleasures that are poor and fleeting. Amaziah knew that the God of Israel was powerful and Almighty. Yet he was willing to bow before Edom's gods -- the nation he had just humiliated in battle. Don't settle for less. Follow the new and living way.

Be God's.