March 28, 2016 - “For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof” (Hos. 8:14).
These words almost seem to be an impossibility. How can Israel and Judah, Gods' own people forget their Maker? Their forgetfulness began when they began to depart from the Word of the Lord and ended up by building their “own churches” if we may put it that way. For they had begun to build temples for themselves, they wanted places of religion that would suit them and not God.
How true these words are today as well. People and even the Lords' people seem to have forgotten their Maker. “Religious” people seem to have forgotten that the Lord is the one who is calling the shots, not our selfish religious desires.
Jesus said that He had all authority (Matt. 28:19). And Paul writes, “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Col. 1:17-18).
I suppose most folks would rather see Jesus as a baby in a barn or a sacrifice on the cross. With this mind set Jesus is not telling them what do which in turns gives them the liberty to do what they want.
Jesus said, “Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up” (Matt. 15:12-13). Sound familiar to Hosea 8:14? What did God do to Judah and Israel when they built themselves temples for their religion? He sent fire and devoured them, sounds a whole lot like plant rooting in Matt. 15:13 doesn't it?
So many seem to have forgotten that the Church was built by Jesus (Matt. 16:18), purchased by Jesus (Ac. 20:28), has Jesus as the head (Col. 1:18), Jesus is over the house (Heb. 3:12; 1 Tim. 3:15) and it was the Father that put Him there (Eph. 1:22-23).
Not much has changed has it? So many have forgotten their Maker when it comes to acceptable service to God. It has been, it is and always will be Lords' way and not ours.
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