We Can’t Have Life Both Ways

Hosea 7: 8 NIV

“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over. Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice. Israel’s arrogance testifies against him…”

This passage came up in my personal devotions this morning. As I read this passage, I understood that we get this way sometimes. Ephraim was captivated by other nations and their customs, rituals and sins and failed to realize what it was doing to them as a nation. They were in hot pursuit to defile themselves with the other nations practices, but cold towards God. They in essence were like a flat loaf or cake not turned over. They were crusty (calloused) on one side, while the other side toward God was doughy and uncooked (not fully developed as a nation).

Sometimes we get conditioned by the world’s thoughts, the world’s standards, the world’s perception of things and we fail to realize those ideals are starting to affect us and change our way of thinking. That leaves the side toward God soft, undeveloped, unrefined in the ways of God, or who He wants us to be.

We as Christians should be apprized of current events in the world, but not watching commentaries all day and allow the world’s perception to become our perception. We should be knowledgeable about things, but pass everything through the filter of God’s words. What matters is, what God thinks, and what He desires for us.

Prayer:

Lord, refine us, give us wisdom and knowledge without becoming part of the world’s system of thought. Help us to listen to You and Your words, gain Your perspective, follow your ideals. Help us to filter all information, through Your words. In Your name Lord Jesus, Amen!