Deuteronomy 12:29-13:18
THEN ISRAEL came into the land they were to be very careful not to have anything to do with the false gods of the nations that God would destroy before them. They must not even ask about them for their ways and practices were most hateful to God.
If any one came and asked them to go after another god, they were not to listen to him, but all the people were to put him to death. Even if it was their nearest relation, or their dearest friend, they were not to pity him, or try to hide him. In fact they were to be the very first to cast a stone at him, because he had tried to draw them away from the one true God, who had brought them out of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
In this they would show they loved God more than their dearest friend. It was a sin to even listen to the temptation. We know that it was by listening to the serpent that Adam and Eve got away from God in the beginning. And any one who tempts God's people to dishonor Him is doing Satan's work. Even if it is our nearest relation, or our dearest friend, we must take God's part against him.
This might be a great sorrow, but if we loved God with all our heart and with all our soul, it would be a greater sorrow to hear Him dishonored.
There are many false prophets and deceivers within the church today, just as there were in Israel. We are not to follow them, but rather to reject them and their
teachings. In dealing with them we are to use "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Eph. 6:17). Even if the one who holds false doctrine, or seeks to lead others away from the Lord, be a close friend or relative, perhaps a member of the family, we are called to be faithful with him. Alas, how often family ties hinder loyalty to Christ! Oftentimes the Lord has been dishonored and a testimony has been weakened by lack of faithfulness in these things.
Israel were not to copy the nations around them. Even Christian boys and girls, and we who are older as well, are in danger of wanting to do things or to go places just like people of the world; but like Israel we are to be a people separated unto the Lord. We are not to be "conformed to this world" for the Lord Jesus "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Gal. 1:4. May we seek grace to be "imitators of God as dear children" (Eph. 5:1) instead of being imitators of a world which rejected Christ.
A stranger to Jesus? what! do you not know
He is washing poor sinners much whiter than snow?
Have you lived in a land where the Bible's unknown
That you don't know the Man who is now on the throne?
Ah, did you but know of His beauty and power,
You would not be a stranger another half hour.
Memory Verse
"FOR WHEN WE WERE YET WITHOUT STRENGTH, IN DUE TIME CHRIST DIED FOR THE UNGODLY." Romans 5:6
Messages of the Love of God 4/6/1975