Sunday, 23rd April 2023
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: BE GOD'S REMNANT
THEME SCRIPTURE: “Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” – 1 Kings 19:18
PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:
- What is a remnant?
- How can I become part of God’s remnant?
In a conversation three days ago, a dear friend and I got into a discussion about how inauthentic some Christians are today. In our part of the world, a staggering majority of people identify as Christian. Unfortunately, our Christian claim has had little impact on our society. Today, there appears to be very little Christian influence in government, business, marriage, and the workplace.
In today's scripture context, the entire nation of Israel had devolved into idol worship during the reign of King Ahab and his powerful wife Jezebel. At the height of Israel's idolatry, they began to persecute those who refused to join the wagon to worship Baal. Israel defiantly violated the First and Second commandments, which forbade having any other gods before God and making idols. There were 450 prophets of Baal and another 400 prophets of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19).
Jezebel made idol worship appealing by providing for all 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah at her table.
Following Mt. Carmel's conquest, the prophet Elijah fled from Jezebel's evil threats to kill him. In his fear, he accused Israel before God of killing all the godly prophets except him. How he stood firm against their blatant idolatry. It was here that God revealed to Elijah that he had preserved seven thousand people who had refrained from bowing to and kissing Baal.
God, by His grace, kept a remnant for Himself who maintained a godly status at the height of an entire nation's indulgence in idolatry.
By definition, the remnant of God is a small minority of people who remain faithful to God and refuse to submit to the 'idolatry' of the day. The remnant is genuine and authentic in their faith profession. They do not join the masses in their sin against God. Ours is a generation that considers bad to be good and good to be bad; many things have been turned upside down. Bribery and corruption have become the norm; we inflate and falsify figures with impunity. It is now common to have a wife and have extramarital affairs. Premarital sex is celebrated. It's become normal to watch porn in broad daylight. We lie without remorse. We deceive ourselves and take advantage of one another at every opportunity.
We have made wealth and material possessions idols—we must be wealthy at any cost and by any means.
The list is endless, Beloved in Christ, and we are well aware of the areas where we have conformed to the sinful status quo rather than standing against it. As much as Christianity is not a walk in the park, God has made available enough grace and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit for Christians to stand tall against the barrage of immorality against holiness.
Resolve today in prayer to take advantage of the available grace and be a part of God's remnant that refuses to submit to any modern-day idolatry. Amen. God bless you in your efforts.
FURTHER READING – Romans 11:1-5
Call to Salvation: If you have not received salvation yet by turning over your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. Click here to do so.
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Are you part of the remnant of God at this time in this unrighteous world?
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, I receive grace through the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to be a remnant for you no matter how difficult it is to remain so, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Deuteronomy 6; Deuteronomy 7; Ecclesiastes 2; John 19
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