TODAY’S SCRIPTURE : 1 Kings 13-16 chapters DEVOTION
In 2 kings 16 we see Ahaz, the king of Judah, “did not do what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord his God.” Instead, he followed the ways of other kings, even to the point of sacrificing his own son, practices that God had clearly condemned.
In 2 Kings 16:10, Ahaz visited the king of Assyria and noticed an unusual altar. Instead of rejecting it, he admired it. He sent its design to Uriah the priest, who built a replica. Ahaz then removed the bronze altar from the Lord’s temple and replaced it with this pagan copy. This was not just a political move , it was a spiritual compromise. God had already given clear instructions about the altar. By replacing it, Ahaz wasn’t just changing a structure, he was changing the way God was to be worshipped. Ahaz chose to please people over pleasing God.
After reading about Ahaz, we try to condemn but we often do the same. We change and adjust His standards to match our convenience and preferences. We build “unusual altars” in our hearts like the things we prioritize, justify, or elevate above God.
True worship is not convenience or preference but surrender. we are called to align ourselves with Him not the other way round.
What “unusual altars” am I building in my heart?
Am I seeking to please God, or people?
Have I replaced truth with convenience?
PRAYER
Lord, examine my heart. Reveal anything in me that does not honor You. Give me the courage to remove every “unusual altar” and to worship You in truth. Today, I choose to please You no matter what comes my way. Amen.