Why do you consult this people’s gods, which could not save their own people from your hand? 2 Chronicles 25:15
Every day we make hundreds of decisions, from the moment we wake up to the time we lay down to rest. These decisions range from simple choices of what to eat or wear to more complex ethical decisions of life and death as medical professionals. How do we choose what is right and wrong? We base these decisions often on who, why or what we want to serve. Do we want to serve God or the idols of our heart?
Imagine becoming a king at only 25 years of age. This is the situation Amaziah found himself in when his father, Joash, king of Judah, died, the victim of a murderous plot.
Initially, he acted in accordance with the Law of God, bringing justice against those officials who killed his father, but not against their sons (2Chr25:4). He also followed the prophet’s instructions about not going into battle with soldiers from Israel. He believed that God had the power to help or overthrow (2Chr25:8).
God rewarded his obedience with victory over the Edomites. But Amaziah did not follow the Lord wholeheartedly. He was more concerned with losing the money he paid to mercenaries to help him(2Chr25:9). Then he began to worship and consult the gods of the defeated Edomites (2Chr25:14). Amaziah soon found himself, suffering under the hand of defeat with the walls of Jerusalem destroyed and the treasury of his kingdom empty.
Do we not sometimes find ourselves in this same position? We ask what is politically correct or will I suffer monetarily or in prestige. Do we do what is right based upon God’s word or do we listen to advice based upon hollow and deceptive philosophy? If we listen to the wrong advice, we might find ourselves spiritually and physically bankrupt.
May God give us the strength and wisdom to follow Him in regards to the many moral and ethical choices we make each day, consulting Him instead of bowing to the idols which have no power to save either physically or spiritually. Both we and our patients face problems every day. We have no control over that, but we do have control over our response to these situations.
We have a choice.
Read 2 Chronicles 25, Colossians 2:8.
