Tag Archives: testimony

What stories do you tell? (John 8:49-58), February 28, 2018

Today’s Podcast

Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
What stories do you tell those you want to win to Christ? Are they believable? Sometimes Jesus’ stories weren’t very believable. So what should we do?
Scripture
1. John 8:49-58
2. Jesus: I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice. I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death.

Jews: We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets—are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are?

Jesus: If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,” but you are not in relationship with Him. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says. Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming.

Jews: You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham?

Jesus: I tell you the truth; I AM before Abraham was born.

Devotional
1. I grew up in the church. I’ve heard these scriptures all my life. I believe them. God’s spirit touches mine and I know they are true because of it. He has proven Himself to me over and over. But imagine hearing these words coming from Jesus for the first time.
  1. These men didn’t want to believe Him
    1. Uneducated carpenter’s son
    2. Doesn’t follow their rules
    3. Disrupts the religious order of the day
  2. He’s talking about something they cannot comprehend
  3. Everyone dies, so His words don’t make sense to them
  4. Compares Himself with God
2. Sometimes we forget most of the world today has not heard the story
  1. Less that 50% of Americans claim any religious affiliation
  2. Christianity pushed into the background and even considered hate speech in some circles
  3. Stories are still confusing and unbelievable as they were in Jesus’ day
    1. Miracles
    2. Resurrection
    3. Never die
3. Why do I mention this?
  1. Our mission is to go and make disciples
  2. Need to know the mindset of those to whom we speak
  3. They will sometimes be unaware of the language you speak
  4. They may have no concept of the things you take for granted as a believer
  5. They may think your stories about Jesus are fantasy and as real as Star Wars
  6. They need to hear about the change in your life and see the difference He makes every day for you
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

A simple message that changed the world (Luke 52-53), January 10, 2017

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Today’s Podcast

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
Does God have a mission for you that might just change the world? Sometimes He gives someone a simple message that does just that.
Scripture
1. Luke 22:52-53
2. Jesus: Do you think I’m some sort of violent criminal? Is that why you came with swords and clubs? I haven’t been hard to find—each day I’ve been in the temple in broad daylight, and you never tried to seize Me there. But this is your time—night—and this is your power—the power of darkness.
Devotional
1. In just a few days we will celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the United States. This year it is on January 16th if you don’t have a calendar handy. Through the years there has been some controversy about whether or not we should have a holiday celebrating his birth, but there is a lot of controversy today about celebrating Jesus birth, too. A lot of difference in the two, but there are a few similarities, too.
  1. Spiritual leader in the sixties
  2. Divided the nation about how we should understand humankind
  3. Promoted peace, not violence
  4. Understood there would never be an end to violence this side of eternity
  5. Life snuffed out because of his preaching
2. Martin Luther
  1. Named after great protestant reformer
  2. Baptist preacher
  3. Decried injustice between blacks and whites in the 50’s and 60’s
  4. Became the symbol for peaceful demonstration to demand equality
  5. Never wanted violence and consistently condemned those who did
  6. Was willing to die for the cause he supported
3. Jesus’ words today remind us He came in peace, too.
  1. Preached daily
    1. Kingdom of heaven is here
    2. Repent and be saved
    3. Believe in the Son of God
  2. Only act that approached violence was turning the tables over in the temple and driving out the money changers
  3. Career was one of healing, forgiveness, salvation
  4. Openly shared His mission, given to Him by the Father
  5. Was not afraid of death
4. Am I as committed to the mission God has given me?
  1. Sharing His
    1. Love
    2. Forgiveness
    3. Mercy
    4. Grace
  2. Testifying of what he has done for me
If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Speak up! (Revelation 12), September 7, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Revelation 12

Set – 2 Chronicles 36; Revelation 12

Go! – 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36; Jeremiah 40-41; Revelation 12

Revelation 12
¹ As I looked, a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman came into view clothed in the radiance of the sun, standing with the moon under her feet, and she was crowned with a wreath of twelve stars on her head. ² She was painfully pregnant and was crying out in the agony of labor. ³ Then a second sign appeared in heaven, ominous, foreboding: a great red dragon, with seven crowned heads and ten horns. ⁴ The dragon’s tail brushed one-third of the stars from the sky and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon crouched in front of the laboring woman, waiting to devour her child the moment it was born.
⁵ She gave birth to a male child, who is destined to rule the nations with an iron scepter. Before the dragon could bite and devour her son, the child was whisked away and brought to God and His throne. ⁶ The woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place of refuge and safety where she could find sustenance for 1,260 days.
⁷ A battle broke out in heaven. Michael, along with his heavenly messengers, clashed against the dragon. The dragon and his messengers returned the fight, ⁸ but they did not prevail and were defeated. As a result, there was no place left for them in heaven. ⁹ So the great dragon, that ancient serpent who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world, was cast down to the earth along with his messengers. ¹⁰ Then I heard a great voice in heaven.
A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
¹¹ By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.
¹² Therefore, rejoice, all you heavens;
celebrate, all you who live in them.
But disaster will befall the earth and the sea,
for the devil has come down to your spheres,
And he is incredibly angry
because he knows his time is nearly over.
¹³ When the dragon realized he had been cast down to the earth, he pursued the mother of the male infant. ¹⁴ In order to escape the serpent, she was given the two wings of the great eagle to fly deeper into the wilderness to her own special place where she would find sustenance for a time, and times, and half a time. ¹⁵ Then from his mouth the serpent spewed water like a raging river that chased after the woman, trying to sweep her away in the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth came to her rescue. It opened its gaping mouth and swallowed the river that spewed from the dragon’s mouth. ¹⁷ As a result, the dragon was enraged at the woman and went away to make war on the rest of her children—those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the testimony of Jesus.
¹⁸ And the dragon stood waiting on the sand of the seashore.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Satan is already defeated. He doesn’t want to admit it, but it is true nonetheless. John saw his ultimate defeat in the vision I gave him of the end times as Satan tried to devour the newborn child, then Michael and his cohorts defeated Satan and his forces. The defeated Satan and his forces fell to earth in a last attempt to devour My children.

An important point I want you to hear from Satan’s defeat attests to the method used for this victory over him. Listen again. “A Voice: Now the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Anointed One have come.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who relentlessly accuses them day and night before our God,
has been cast down and silenced.
By the blood of the Lamb
and the word of their witnesses,
they have become victorious over him,
For they did not hold on to their lives, even under threat of death.”

You see, it was the blood of the Lamb and the word of their witnesses that defeated him. Speaking about what I have done on your behalf. Proclaiming My salvation to you and My Spirit living in you defeats the evil one and keeps him at bay. With Me in your life, he cannot overcome you because I have already defeated him.

This is the secret to abundant living now. Don’t hold onto your life, give it to Me. Trust Me with all of you, even your life. Trust in the saving power of My blood, shed for you on the cross. Then boldly share your faith with others. As I prompt you to speak with someone, just do it. I will give you the words. Just take the first step. Don’t be silent. Your witness defeats Satan and his forces. Your salvation and that of others is at stake. When I prompt you, speak up. You won’t be sorry.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Talk about your faith (Mark 8:27-38), Mar 1, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Mark 8:27-38
Set – Numbers 28; Mark 8
Go! – Numbers 28-29; Mark 8

Mark 8:27-38
²⁷ As He traveled with His disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi, He posed an important question to them.

Jesus: Who do the people say that I am?

²⁸ They told Him about the great speculation concerning His identity.

Disciples: Some of them say You are John the Baptist,[a] others say Elijah, while others say one of the prophets of old.

Jesus (pressing the question): ²⁹ And who do you say that I am?

Peter: You are God’s Anointed, the Liberating King.

Jesus: ³⁰ Don’t tell anyone. It is not yet time.

³¹ And He went on to teach them many things about Himself: how the Son of Man would suffer; how He would be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes; how He would be killed; and how, after three days, God would raise Him from the dead.

³² He said all these things in front of them all, but Peter took Jesus aside to rebuke Him.

Jesus (seeing His disciples surrounding them): ³³ Get behind Me, you tempter! You’re thinking only of human things, not of the things God has planned.

³⁴ He gathered the crowd and His disciples alike.

Jesus: If any one of you wants to follow Me, you will have to give yourself up to God’s plan, take up your cross, and do as I do. 35 For any one of you who wants to be rescued will lose your life, but any one of you who loses your life for My sake and for the sake of this good news will be liberated. ³⁶ Really, what profit is there for you to gain the whole world and lose yourself in the process? ³⁷ What can you give in exchange for your life? ³⁸ If you are ashamed of Me and of what I came to teach to this adulterous and sinful generation, then the Son of Man will be ashamed of you when He comes in the glory of His Father along with the holy messengers at the final judgment.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

There are no closet Christians. Jesus put it in the right words. If you are ashamed of carrying the message He came to share to a lost and dying world, He will be ashamed of you when He comes to take His bride away at the final judgment. You do not want to find yourself in that predicament at the judgment. You want to know you are the right side of the dividing line when you stand before Him.

It’s interesting to see how few of those who call themselves Christian today fail to talk about Me to their friends or family. My name comes up and they get embarrassed to speak My name. They talk about everything under the sun…except Me. People will talk about sports or cars, fashion or flings, but when something about church or the Bible comes up, Christians mouths suddenly close and nothing comes out. Not a word is uttered about Me to those who need Me most.

Some talk about Me within the confines of their small group at church, but most are hesitant to share what I’m doing in their life even then. What is it about telling others the hope that you have because of Me that causes such angst? Why can you talk about other aspects of your life but you can’t talk about the most important part? After all, it’s your spiritual life that determines your eternity. If you’re ready to face eternity because you’ve accepted the gift of forgiveness through faith in Jesus; if you’ve followed His teaching and not been ashamed of Him; if you love Me with your whole self and love others like you love yourself; then, why wouldn’t you tell someone and bring them along with you?

Read the stories of the New Testament. No one kept their new found faith secret. Why do “Christians” today seem to do so? Maybe the answer is they wear the name but don’t have the experience. Maybe they haven’t really come to the place of real repentance. Maybe it’s just a moniker for them and they haven’t counted the cost of taking up the cross and really living for Christ. Maybe their silence means they really aren’t My children after all. I know the difference between those wearing a name and those adopted into My family. Don’t think I’m fooled.

Can you keep quiet about your faith? Maybe it’s time to take a good look at who you believe. If you believe in Me, you can’t keep quiet. I forgive. I give hope. I give peace. I provide. I sustain. I comfort. I AM. When you put your faith in Me, you have to tell others. You have to share what I do for you. I provide a joy that can’t be contained. It spills out to those around you and others know you are different by the love you share. That’s what it means to wear the name Christian.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

Have a testimony ready (Acts 26), Feb 19, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 26
Set – Psalms 22; Acts 26
Go! – Numbers 5-6; Psalms 22; Acts 26

Acts 26
Agrippa (to Paul): ¹Go ahead. You may speak for yourself.

Paul (extending his hand): ² I am indeed fortunate to be standing before you, King Agrippa, to humbly defend myself against accusations from my Jewish opponents. ³ You are extraordinarily familiar with Jewish customs and controversies, so I beg your patience as I begin. ⁴ My way of life is well known to the whole Jewish community, how I have lived in the Jewish community abroad and in Jerusalem. ⁵ If they are willing to speak, they themselves will tell you something they have long known—that I was a member of the strictest sect of our religion and lived for many years as a Pharisee. ⁶ But now I am on trial here for this simple reason: I have hope. I have hope rooted in a promise God made to our ancestors. ⁷ All our twelve tribes have hope in this promise—they express their hope as they worship day and night. How strange it is, then, Your Excellency, that I am accused by the Jews of having hope! ⁸ Why would any of you think it is absurd to have hope that God raises the dead? ⁹ As you know, we’re talking specifically about Jesus of Nazareth. For a long time, I was convinced that I should work against that name. ¹⁰ I opposed it in Jerusalem. I received authorization from the chief priests to lock many of His followers in prison. When they were threatened with execution, I voted against them. ¹¹ I would find them in synagogues across Jerusalem and try to force them to blaspheme. My fury drove me to pursue them to foreign cities as well.

¹² On one occasion, I was traveling to Damascus, authorized and commissioned by the chief priests to find and imprison more of His followers. ¹³ It was about midday, Your Excellency, when I saw a light from heaven—brighter than the noonday sun—shining around my companions and me. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground in fear, and I then heard a voice. The words were in Aramaic: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? When you kick against the cattle prods, you’re only hurting yourself.” ¹⁵ I asked, “Lord, who are You?” and the Lord answered, “I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting. ¹⁶ Get up now, and stand upright on your feet. I have appeared to you for a reason. I am appointing you to serve Me. You are to tell My story and how you have now seen Me, and you are to continue to tell the story in the future. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your Jewish opponents and from the outsiders—for it is to the outsiders I am sending you. ¹⁸ It will be your mission to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. This is so that they may receive forgiveness of all their sins and have a place among those who are set apart for a holy purpose through having faith in Me.”

¹⁹ King Agrippa, I did not disobey this vision from heaven. ²⁰ I began in Damascus, then continued in Jerusalem, then throughout the Judean countryside, then among the outsiders—telling everyone they must turn from their past and toward God and align their deeds and way of life with this new direction. ²¹ So then, this is my crime. This is why my Jewish opponents seized me that day in the temple and tried to kill me. ²² God has helped me right up to this very moment, so I can stand here telling my story to both the humble and the powerful alike. I only say what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Anointed One must suffer, and then, by being the first to rise from the dead, He would proclaim light to both Jews and outsiders.

Festus (interrupting): 24 You’ve gone crazy, Paul! You’ve read one book too many and have gone insane!

Paul: ²⁵ No, most excellent Festus, I am not insane. I am telling the sane and sober truth. ²⁶ The king understands what I’m talking about, which is why I could speak so freely to him. None of these things have been covered up and hidden away in a corner, so I’m sure none of these things have escaped his notice. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you must believe.

Agrippa: ²⁸ Paul, have you so quickly moved on from defending yourself to trying to persuade me to become a Christian?

Paul: 29 Whether I have done so quickly or not, I pray to God that not only you but also everyone who is listening to me today might become what I am—minus these chains.

³⁰ The king stood to leave at this point, along with Festus, Bernice, and all those who had been seated; ³¹ and as they left, everyone was saying the same thing: “This man isn’t doing anything deserving death—he shouldn’t even be in prison.”

Agrippa (to Festus): ³² This man could have been released completely if he had not appealed to the emperor.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

When Paul met Me on the road to Damascus he thought his life would end. In those few moments of brilliant light, the voice from heaven, and he and his entourage fallen on their faces before Me, he knew My wrath was about to fall. But I had other plans for him. He would never have dreamed he would stand before proconsuls, governors, and kings. Yet here he is standing before King Agrippa giving his testimony of faith in Me, his risen Lord.

Many who follow Me find themselves in peculiar circumstances which they didn’t expect. I often prepare the way for encounters to happen so that My message can go out at just the right time to just the right people in just the right place. You see, I know who best can share the message of faith to those who seem hardened by sins effects. I know the best time to sow the seed that it might germinate in mens’ hearts and reap a harvest of believers. The question is, will you have the courage to speak for Me when the time comes as Paul did.

Paul stood before King Agrippa knowing the consequences. Agrippa could send him to Jerusalem to his death at the hands of the Jewish leaders who wanted him exterminated. He could hold him in Caesarea until a formal trial determined his fate and disregard his request to go to Rome. Or Agrippa could send him to Rome to the emperor’s court as Paul requested making this new religious order quite visible to the emperor’s throne.

What I want you to learn from Paul today is what Peter wrote in his first letter to the churches:

Don’t be intimidated, but exalt Him [Jesus] as Lord in your heart. Always be ready to offer a defense, humbly and respectfully, when someone asks why you live in hope. Keep your conscience clear so that those who ridicule your good conduct in the Anointed and say bad things about you will be put to shame.

You never know who I might want you to speak to and the influence you will have because of your testimony. So be ready. Don’t be intimidated. You are My child. The child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Speak boldly in My name about the hope you carry in you because of your faith in Me. I will always be with you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

We always have a choice (Acts 7:20-43), Jan 31, 2015

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Today’s Podcast

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Today’s Devotional

Today’s background scripture comes from Acts 7. And God says:

Stephen began to lay out the story of My people well before the Jewish leaders the day of his trial. He pointed out several key issues with every story he relayed to the leaders as he recited their history. In every story I brought to his mind, the key feature was the choice made. In this one, the Israelites made a poor one.

Despite their witness of the plagues on the unbelieving Egyptians, they failed to follow the instructions I gave Moses. Despite the miracle of the Passover and the sacrifice in every Egyptian household while they escaped the death angel’s march, they chose other gods. Despite their crossing of the Red Sea on dry land and the destruction of Pharaoh’s army in their sight, they did not believe Me. Despite the miracles they saw at My hand freeing them from the oppressive slavery in Egypt, they failed to follow Me.

Stephen comes to the climax of his testimony soon. The Israelites chose trinkets they could see instead of the Eternal God of Creation they could not see. They failed to trust Me even though they saw all the miracles I performed for them across those several months to free them and make them into the nation I promised Abraham.

Moses believed and I used him to lead My people. He never lost sight of the promise I had given his ancestors and the promise I made him that day at the bush that burned but was not consumed. Stephen believed and I used him to witness to all who heard his testimony then and in the centuries to come who would hear and read his words. I gave him a special blessing by opening the windows of heaven and letting him view My Son at My side on My throne before he died.

Paul believed and I let him glimpse heavenly wonders few have experienced this side of eternity so he would not waiver in his testimony to the world despite the arrests, beatings, stoning, and other intense persecutions he would face as My messenger. He wrote much of the scriptures and put in place the teachings that would spread around the globe of the love I want others to know because of the relationship I have always wanted with you.

But all of these had a choice, as do you. Each person has a choice as to whether or not you will follow Me. You can choose to believe in Me or to follow your own way. I will warn you of this, though. I made it plain when I walked with man on the earth in human flesh and said, “I am the way, no man comes to the Father except by Me.” You choose. Your way or My way?

Today’s Scripture

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Acts 7:20-43
Set – Exodus 29; Acts 7
Go! – Exodus 28-29; Acts 7

Acts 7:20-43
²⁰ Into this horrible situation our ancestor Moses was born, and he was a beautiful child in God’s eyes. He was raised for three months in his father’s home, ²¹ and then he was abandoned as the brutal regime required. However, Pharaoh’s daughter found, adopted, and raised him as her own son. ²² So Moses learned the culture and wisdom of the Egyptians and became a powerful man—both as an intellectual and as a leader. ²³ When he reached the age of 40, his heart drew him to visit his kinfolk, our ancestors, the Israelites. ²⁴ During his visit, he saw one of our people being wronged, and he took sides with our people by killing an Egyptian. ²⁵ He thought his kinfolk would recognize him as their God-given liberator, but they didn’t realize who he was and what he represented.

²⁶ The next day Moses was walking among the Israelites again when he observed a fight—but this time, it was between two Israelites. He intervened and tried to reconcile the men. “You two are brothers,” he said. “Why do you attack each other?” ²⁷ But the aggressor pushed Moses away and responded with contempt: “Who made you our prince and judge? ²⁸ Are you going to slay me and hide my body as you did with the Egyptian yesterday?” ²⁹ Realizing this murder had not gone unnoticed, he quickly escaped Egypt and lived as a refugee in the land of Midian. He married there and had two sons.

³⁰ Forty more years passed. One day while Moses was in the desert near Mount Sinai, a heavenly messenger appeared to him in the flames of a burning bush. ³¹ The phenomenon intrigued Moses; and as he approached for a closer look, he heard a voice—the voice of the Lord: ³² “I am the God of your own fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” This terrified Moses—he began to tremble and looked away in fear. ³³ The voice continued: “Take off your sandals and stand barefoot on the ground in My presence, for this ground is holy ground. ³⁴ I have avidly watched how My people are being mistreated by the Egyptians. I have heard their groaning at the treatment of their oppressors. I am descending personally to rescue them. So get up. I’m sending you to Egypt.”

³⁵ Now remember: this was the same Moses who had been rejected by his kinfolk when they said, “Who made you our prince and judge?” This man, rejected by his own people, was the one God had truly sent and commissioned by the heavenly messenger who appeared in the bush, to be their leader and deliverer.

³⁶ Moses indeed led our ancestors to freedom, and he performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt, at the Red Sea, and in the wilderness over a period of 40 years. ³⁷ This Moses promised our ancestors, “The Eternal One your God will raise up from among your people a Prophet who will be like me.” ³⁸ This is the same one who led the people to Mount Sinai, where a heavenly messenger spoke to him and our ancestors, and who received the living message of God to give to us.

³⁹ But our ancestors still resisted. They again pushed Moses away and refused to follow him. In their hearts, they were ready to return to their former slavery in Egypt. ⁴⁰ While Moses was on the mountain communing with God, they begged Aaron to make idols to lead them. “We have no idea what happened to this fellow, Moses, who brought us from Egypt,” they said. ⁴¹ So they made a calf as their new god, and they even sacrificed to it and celebrated an object they had fabricated as if it was their God.

⁴² And you remember what God did next: He let them go. He turned from them and let them follow their idolatrous path—worshiping sun, moon, and stars just as their unenlightened neighbors did. The prophet Amos spoke for God about this horrible betrayal:

Did you offer Me sacrifices or give Me offerings
during your 40-year wilderness journey, you Israelites?
⁴³ No, but you have taken along your sacred tent for the worship of Moloch,
and you honored the star of Rompha, your false god.
So, if you want to worship your man-made images,
you may do so—beyond Babylon.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.