2 Kings 15:3-4

And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; save that the high places were not removed:  the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

What high places do you still hold onto in your life?  Are there areas that you haven’t given over to God because you don’t want to see it as a big deal?

I was a part of a Ladies Bible study at my church years ago in Michigan and one of the ladies there had a great walk with God and loved the Lord but she liked to swear on occasion I think more for the “shock affect” and she also felt it was part of her “freedom in Christ”  Ok, first of all you are probably thinking “how could her walk be close to God if she was using bad language” because somehow ladies we tend to even categorize “little sins”; swearing is worse than gossip or a bold lie is worse than a white lie (if there is anything really white about a lie) being rude isn’t quite as bad as someone who can’t control their anger and the list goes on!  I am all about the freedom we have in Christ but we serve a HOLY GOD an ALMIGHTY GOD who hates sin and I mean all sin!  There is nothing small about the idea that His son gave His life for a lie or a proud spirit or gossip and because of all of that He deserves our best all the time!

So, back to the question:  is there something you know you are saying or doing that you know you shouldn’t OR is there something you know God has told you that you need to do and you aren’t doing it? (James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.)  What “high places” haven’t you removed from your life?  In this kings case God gave him leprosy.  I am sure the king didn’t attribute his leprosy to the fact that he didn’t remove the high places but I don’t think it is a coincidence that verse 5 of this chapter says “and the Lord smote the king so that he was a leper unto the day of his death”.  We all have areas in our lives that we could grow to be more like Christ in.

Ask God today if there is anything you are holding onto or not doing that He would like to show you and then take care of it.  Maybe you aren’t setting a standard in your family because it may upset your children.  Don’t hang onto a “high place” in your life and miss out on the blessing of God like this king did all because he was willing to follow God but only to a certain point and then it would get uncomfortable.  Serve Him with your whole heart, mind and soul, don’t hold anything back.  Love Him like you have never loved before and show Him that love by holding nothing back from Him in your life.

Quote:  “Success on any major scale requires you to accept responsibility.  In the final analysis, the one quality that all successful people have is the ability to take on responsibility.”  Michael Korda