I know it’s normally music on Monday, but when I was reading my Bible this morning, I got zapped by a verse I never really paid much attention to before, and I’m willing to bet you haven’t either. See, I’m studying healing, and I’m going down verse by verse out of my topical index. Today I came to this, and even though it’s not a Word Wednesday, I missed last week because I actually didn’t realize Wednesday was Wednesday (Yes, really), so we’ll have a bonus this week.
II Chronicles 16:12 (NAS)–In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa became diseased in his feet. His disease was severe, yet even in his disease he did not seek the Lord, but the physicians.
Now, first a disclaimer. I believe God gave us doctors. This isn’t going to be one of those off the wall, Tom Cruise jumping on a couch sort of posts. (God help him.)
At first, when I read that verse, I thought, “Ah, this doesn’t apply to me. Moving on…” But then I read it again, and I backed up few verses and read a little more about Asa. See, he was a godly king. He pretty much did everything right and had the nation following right after God. And then something happened. He started to trust men more than God. He trusted other kings and human might. Maybe he got arrogant. Maybe he got scared. Maybe his faith was shaken. I don’t know. At any rate, he did it. And when they came to tell him the truth, he got angry. He got oppressive. Then, when he got sick, he didn’t go to God at all. Ultimately, he died.
That’s pretty harsh, to go from godly to dead, don’t you think? At first glance, I thought, “Yeah, I’d never do that.” Then God said to me, “But you have.” See, I have friends. (Believe it or not! It’s true!) How often has something happened and the very first thing I did was not run to God but go to them and ask them to pray for me? Asked for their godly advice? Then later, when all other avenues were exhausted, I ran to God?
Folks, that’s idolatry. And that’s what Asa did. Men aren’t God. Does He give us friends to pray for us and support us? Yes. Should they take his place? No.
Ouch.
My toes.
Though not in the same way as Asa’s toes.
God comes first. Period. In all things. Good and bad. Then come our family and friends.
Lord, forgive me.
-JB
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