Trying To Be Religious….

Our nature is designed to worship God. When we try to replace Him with something else, we become religious. Trying to be religious without God leads to idolatry. And we know where that leads. It’s in our nature to worship something if God is not there. We see a clear picture of this and it’s consequences here in 1 Kings chapter 12. One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn while here on earth is to learn from others’ mistakes, that way we don’t have to suffer from our own foolishness. Use it to re-establish your focus. Allow it to drive you closer to God, and away from everything the world wants you focus on. Being Religious is why Jesus died on the cross. He died to save us from ourselves.

25 Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David. 27 When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.”28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people, “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!”29 He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan–at either end of his kingdom. 30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.31 Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people–those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi. 32 And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made. 33 So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense. 1 Kings 12:25-33