Thursday 4 Apr 2013

Thursday Reading: Habakkuk 2:12-14

Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:12
12  Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!

Devotion:
When we look back in man’s history we find some terrible deeds that the church has done; or rather the people did in the name of the church. God’s plan was never to oppress others and beat them into submission so that they would follow His rules. That is the way that man has changed the rules and has abused authority to get his own way. Man is prideful, greedy and full of lust; these traits lead him to do some pretty disgusting things that go against God’s Word. He then has the gall to turn round and say that it came from God so that he can have some sort of justification for doing what he did.

Just because we say something comes from God does not automatically mean that it has. God is a Just God and will not abuse His authority like man will. The early church of Rome has a lot to answer for because they built up their church through oppression and bloody wars. Much blood was shed in order for the church people to get their own way, to be able to stay in a position of power and tyranny.

That may sound horrible to us now but we continue to hear of things going on in religious establishments that clearly is not of God; but people are hiding in places where they think the world will not touch them. Satan has his hands in so many places that we think should be safe from him – but the truth is that he can get in anywhere where people let God down. If we do not stand firm in the Word of God then we are opening the door for the evil one to come in and ply his trade.

Even though these words were written so many years ago we can see them echo again and again throughout history. Each time that man takes on the task of trying to clean things up by himself he falls flat on his face and breaks things once again. The temptation is too great for man to come in and clean things up because once he gets a taste of power he abuses that position given to him and heads toward tyranny instead of a stable state. So many countries have fallen due to the leadership trying to take over the world instead of building up the state. God wants us to help to build up His church and not to try and take it over – He is Just. He will not allow it!

Points to Ponder:
What bad things do you see others do?

Do you blame God for some things?