Competition for the Heart

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 1 Kings 16:30

Read: 1 Kings 16:29–33

TODAY’S MESSAGE

King Ahab comes onto Israel’s political scene during a time of spiritual drift. David and Solomon’s kingdom has tragically split. Fearing happy family reunions around the religious center in the south, the northern ruler cunningly sets up his own place to worship. This is a bit of drift. The kings that follow allow worship of other gods to seep into the cultural fabric. Still more drift. King With his politically expedient marriage to Jezebel, Ahab brings worship of other gods from the shadows and into prominence. What starts as spiritual drift turns into outright collapse over approximately 140 years.

It isn’t much different for us today. People rarely jump off the deep end spiritually. It begins with drifting. We compromise our morals to get something we want. We tell ourselves it isn’t a big deal to sleep with someone before marriage. We think finalizing the business transaction is worth fudging the numbers a bit. Or that telling that lie will be worth it when those people finally ask us to hang out with them. Drift occurs as we start rationalizing “small things” we know to be wrong.

IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY

Pray a prayer of confession to God for drifting, even if you can’t recognize where it is right now. We all drift in some way, whether we realize it or not. Through the course of the week, ask the Holy Spirit to show you where you are drifting. Thank him for loving you and pursuing you even through the drift.

Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.