Cut It Out

Cut out anything that is not from Christ and you will have more, not less, of what matters most.

“When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin…to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam…the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’ ” So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back…The priests…sided with him. They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam…Rehoboam married…he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts…He gave them abundant provisions” 2 Chronicles 11:1-23

Rehoboam was ready for war. He was going to get back his kingdom and attack the Israelites, but God stopped him in his tracks. He told him to turn back and do what was right, as what had happened was God’s will. This must have been a humbling moment. Imagine being a king who had armed all of his forces, 180,000 men, only to tell them to turn back. There would have been pressure to keep going even if it was against God.

Have you ever seen the Southwest Airlines commercials where the question is asked, Do you want to get away? Can you imagine what it would have been like to admit you were wrong in front of so many people after so much work had been done? Rehoboam surely would have wanted to escape the embarrassment of doing all that work for nothing, but the text said that he acted wisely. He listened to God and stopped. He was correctable. What does that tell you about his heart? His humility? Would you have done the same thing? Standing in a crowd, would you be willing to suffer the embarrassment of admitting you were wrong because you trusted that God’s word is right?

Look at what happened after Rehoboam turned from the path of vengeance toward the path of righteousness. His life blossomed. His family increased. He prospered. While one could argue the issue of polygamy in this passage, the point of the text is what happens when we listen to God and pursue the righteous path, which is a life aligned with God. How has your life been going? Are you experiencing God’s presence and prosperity?

“My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth…we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done…teach their children, so the next generation would know…Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal…They forgot what he had done…He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand up like a wall. He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the wilderness against the Most High. They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. Human beings ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat. In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe. Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them. He remembered that they were but flesh…he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the wilderness.” Psalms 78:1-58

Much like Chronicles, the author of this song invites us to consider two divergent paths. In Chronicles, King Rehoboam listened to God, but King Jeroboam did not. Here Asaph gives clear directions for how to arrive at the right destination. He said to listen to His voice, remember His deeds, teach the next generation, trust with your heart, and let God lead you as His flock.

Conversely, he said there are those who forget, worship foreign idols, are stubborn and rebellious, and keep sinning in spite of His faithfulness. God gives us careful instruction that we might turn to Him and travel on the road He set before us. The road to life. It is always good to examine the road we are on. How has your journey been lately? Do you feel close to God? Or distant? Have you been remembering how Jesus is faithful, or have you forgotten the grace in which you stand? The direction we travel will determine our destination. Not all roads lead to eternal life.

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich. Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD.” Proverbs 21:2-30

It is no coincidence that Solomon describes two paths. There is a recurring theme. One path, the path of prudence and righteousness, leads to life, prosperity, and honor. Note well that this path is marked by carrying one’s own cross. The wise do not follow their own ways or give sacrifices out of ill-gotten gains. The wise do what God wants. They do what is right and just. They care for the poor and actively pursue pleasing God. The wise have to constantly say no to their ideas of what should happen so they can prudently decide what most honors God. Rehoboam had to turn back. So do we. Our natural instinct in any situation might be the exact opposite of what God wants if it is influenced by our flesh, fears, or the false.

Solomon warns about haughty eyes and prideful hearts. He warns of those who pursue pleasure and leave their hearts unplowed. There is a daily churning of the fields of our hearts that reveals whether what is taking root is righteous or sinful. We do well to remove the weeds that we have let grow. Think of these warnings for a moment. Daily, we are tempted by pride, pleasure, and what pleases the flesh. What do you need to cut out of your life? Are there any practices or people that are leading you away from God?

““Now, son of man…lie on your left side and put the sin of the people of Israel upon yourself. You are to bear their sin for the number of days you lie on your side…Son of man, I am about to cut off the food supply in Jerusalem. The people will eat rationed food in anxiety and drink rationed water in despair, for food and water will be scarce. They will be appalled at the sight of each other and will waste away because of their sin.” Ezekiel 4:1-17

Cutting can be painful because it involves removing something that is attached. In our lives, we can have many things attach themselves to us that do not belong with us. Fear, anxiety, worry, sin, and so much more can become part of our everyday lives. It is hard to stop something we are used to doing even if it is not good for us. Is there anything in your life you need to cut out? Anything you need to stop?

God tells Ezekiel to take the sin of the people upon himself. Ezekiel experiences the punishment the people deserve. God wants the people to see that the consequence of sin causes another to suffer so they turn back to Him. This is a preview of what Jesus did on the cross for us.

God says you can cut out evil or I will cut off your resources. Many stories in the Bible show that God does what it takes to wake people up so they will walk on the right path. It may seem harsh, but God will do what it takes to make you holy. The greatest difficulty you are going through may be a gift from God to help you get back on the track of truth. This is not to say that God is the source of all suffering, but that all the time He is willing to do what it takes to turn our hearts.

“You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?…because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself…To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. For God does not show favoritism. Circumcision has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised. A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.”

Romans 2:1-29

Paul tells us to circumcise our hearts. God always brings our study back to the condition of our hearts. God does not give us a checklist of dos and don’ts. He wants your heart. He wants you to know who you are. His kindness leads us to repentance, and His Spirit cuts away anything that is not Christlike. Rehoboam had to turn back. Israel had to remember. Solomon gave us the same reminder that what God desires is righteousness rather than routine sacrifice. Ezekiel wanted the people to count the cost and cut away the apathy of their evil ways.

The connections are clear. God may be asking you to consider what to cut out today. Maybe pride, an unhealthy practice, an unholy pleasure, or pursuing the path that leads to death. Is there a habit or relationship that is pulling at your heart that you need to turn from? Cutting something away can feel like losing something, but when Jesus removes what does not belong, that is when healing comes. Do not keep traveling the same old road if it leads in the wrong direction. Turn around. Listen. Repent at His rebuke. Let the Spirit redirect your steps and reshape your heart.

Remember the power of Jesus Christ and all He has done. Teach and tell others about Him. This is preventative medicine. It is unlikely that you will sin and share the gospel at the same time. Let Jesus prune you. He said He is the vine and wants to cut back the branches that do not produce good fruit in your life. Pruning is part of having a personal relationship with Him. The direction you travel will determine your destination. Follow the road that leads to life and let Jesus fill you with His love as you pursue intimacy with Him.