Passage Read: 2 Chronicles 26-29
Meditation Verse: 28:19
Thought
God humbled Judah because Ahaz had brought about a lack of restraint and was very unfaithful to the Lord. That seems like an understatement. There was certainly a lack of restraint in terms of worshiping other gods. But there was likely also a lack of restraint in many other areas, in moral areas. The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control, so the spirit of the antichrist would be the opposite. God is a God of order, but Satan says, "Do whatever feels good!" and "Follow your heart!" These days were likely days where every man did what was right in his own eyes. God values restraint and self-control, treating others with respect and honor, not preferring yourself but the other. A lack of restraint would lead people to do whatever they wanted, whatever they felt was good and right in their own eyes. It would be moral chaos, not love for one another.
Application
So today, God calls for moral restraint, for submission to His Spirit and His definition of godliness, for respect and honor of others, especially those in authority. When we as Christians cast off restraint, we become a laughingstock like the people of Israel when Aaron made the golden calf. I'm not free to define holiness and righteousness to suit my fleshly lusts. I must accept the restraining instructions of the Word and the Spirit. I die to myself and the love of the world, and I live a holy life, in the likeness of Him who called me out of darkness and into His marvelous light. God requires me to restrain my fleshly lusts, not give way to the passions of my flesh. I need to guard against indulging my flesh, and invest my time and energy in practicing godliness and serving others according to God's righteous decrees.