And he(King Jehoram) wrought evil in the sight of the LORD; but not like his father, and like his mother: for he put away the image of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom (2 Kings 3:2–3 KJV)

When Jehoram became king in Israel, he removed the altars of the idol Baal which his father Ahab had made because of Jezebel. However, there was an idol that king Jeroboam had also made for idolatrous worship in Israel. King Jehoram did not take this idol away. He took away one and left the other. What possibly made king Jehoram leave the idol of King Jeroboam?

Jeroboam had made this idol in Bethel and instituted worship that was similar to what was in Jerusalem. He told the Israelites Jerusalem was too far away for them, so rather than walk there, they could offer the same sacrifices to the LORD in the altar he had built. He instituted idolatrous worship and made the people worship as though they worshipped the Lord. In many ways, this idol was more deadly in Israel than the worship of the foreign god Baal. It looked like  worship to the Lord, except it was an idol Jeroboam had created for his own selfish purposes. It was so difficult for the Israelites to break away from its worship. 

If you understand this devotional, then you know Satan’s most deadly strategies against your life and the Church. The worst enemy of the Church and God’s purposes is not other religions. It is false brethren, false prophets, false teachers, false teachings, man-made traditions that appear as though they are coming from God. Watch, pray and be sober.

MEDITATE

What do you think are the possible reasons we are very susceptible to deception by someone who comes to us with false teaching or prophecy than someone who openly serves as a Satanist with occult teachings?

APPLY THE WORD

Deception in many forms will be the order of the end-times. Satan’s target is to deceive me and you, those who are Children of God. And that deception will come from within. The only way for you to be established and unshakable is to know your Father, become established in the Truth of the Word and fellowship of the Spirit. Be watchful and careful.

PRAY

Ask the Lord to protect your heart from things that look like Him but are not from Him. 

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