An obscure reference marks the end of a passage describing King Ahaz’s destructive changes to the temple in Jerusalem. We’re told that Ahaz modified the entrance to the temple (likely an awning over the entrance) because of the king of Assyria.

The chronicler described Ahaz as one who did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord his God. In fact, Ahaz gave the Lord the middle finger. He even burned his son alive as an offering to demonic gods, living according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel.

Why Ahaz turned so hard from the Lord we do not know. Why does anyone reject God? One clue emerges—Ahaz desperately felt the need to please the king of Assyria. In homage to the most powerful ruler in the region, Ahaz shuttered the temple and chopped up its furniture. Worship was held at new pagan alters. Ahaz fawned before the Assyrian king.

Despite a long lineage from the house of David, Ahaz chose to live at the pleasure of his pagan overlord. Ahaz proved a criminal of a human being and a failure as king. Active rebellion best describes his actions toward God.

To be honest, I’m tempted in the same way. How much easier to shunt aside the ways of the Lord and embrace empty philosophies? It’s challenging to read the Scriptures and pray and spend time with fellow believers. It takes discipline and attentiveness, time and energy. Following Jesus remains a counter-cultural lifestyle, but my life and yours flourish when we make decisions because of The King.

2 Kings 16:18

Photo by Christopher Stites

When I was a kid my parents took me and my brother to watch the filming of a TV episode at Silver Dollar City, a local theme park. This rare occurrence created a stir, and my brother and I enjoyed the excitement. I remember standing behind ropes quietly watching the proceedings, and then shaking the hands of some of the actors. A brush with royalty, and the Beverly Hillbillies remains an all-time favorite of mine.

As a child I stood dumbstruck when I met an actor. I wonder what it felt like for children to meet Jesus? Parents often brought their young ones to a well-known rabbi for a blessing. Jesus drew large crowds, parents with children included. At one point these gaggles of kids overwhelmed Jesus’s disciples:

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away.

I get the feeling that in the midst of ceaseless crowds, with ongoing teaching, questions and healings, the disciples felt enough was enough. But not Jesus—not when the kids ran up.

The King James Version of his response reads: Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. The word suffer in Early Modern English means to allow something or tolerate an action. Jesus tells his disciples to tolerate this intrusion, because the kingdom of heaven swells in childlike hearts.

Suffer little children to come unto me sounds stronger than let the little children come. The phrase leans toward get the children in front of me, or make pains to get these kids at my knee. Why? Because the kingdom of heaven sits like a spark in their midst, and Jesus fans the flames.

A riotous group of of kids doesn’t appeal to everyone. Bless those who teach Sunday morning classes at church, run Vacation Bible School, or lead the middle school youth group. As followers of Jesus, we should bless these efforts, as well as do all we can to get our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and their friends at his side. In doing so we open their lives, and ours, to the glorious kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:13-15

Photo by Nae Unani

I got a stove top griddle for Christmas last year. It covers two burners, and as there’s a bridge element between those burners it makes for an nice, evenly heated cooking area. I’m no chef, but I’ve made smashburgers, eggs and bacon, and grilled a few vegetables. Best of all, the griddle rolls out great pancakes.

We do blueberry pancakes, banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, whatever strikes us. The batter goes on the griddle, browns on one side, and then the all important flip. A broad griddle gives room to turn the pancake over quickly and decisively. Then butter and syrup and breakfast bliss.

Visions of flapjacks flooded my head with I came across this line from the book of Hosea: Ephraim mixes himself with the peoples; Ephraim is a cake not turned.

The prophet Hosea castigates the nation and leaders of Israel for their active rebellion against the Lord. He points out their sin of worshipping the gods of the lands around them, of abandoning Jehovah to chase after demonic entities promising riches and power and sex and all their heart’s desires.

Hosea underscores the futility of their pursuits. A cake burned on one side and raw on the other is fit only for the trash. So goes Ephraim and the rest of the nation of Israel, growing old and gray and feeble while failing to notice their slide to irrelevance.

Don’t go off half-baked. Follow the Lord. Take in the Bible and talk with God throughout the day. Flip your pancake, and enjoy the Lord’s goodness all the days of your life.

Hosea 7:8

Photo by Fa Barboza

I’ve never been much of a fisherman. Growing up in the Ozarks opportunities surrounded me, but I found swimming in the lakes and creeks more enjoyable than casting a line. My wife, on the other hand, slays the fish. She’s some sort of maestro, conducting fish to her hook, oddly beguiling the creatures. Which is good for me, because I’ll always eat her catch.

The Bible says a lot about fishing. In one of my favorite stories, Jesus instructed Peter to pay a temple tax by going fishing. Authorities levied a tax on Jewish citizens to pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the temple. Before sending Peter off to catch the prize, Jesus discussed this tax:

Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free. However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself.”

Jesus reminded Peter, and the rest of us, that a tax imposed to maintain God’s house does not apply to the Son of God. Jesus is Lord—Lord of the Sabbath, Lord of all creation, and especially Lord of the temple in Jerusalem. He owes no taxes and is beholden to no earthly governments or institutions. But, to not give offense, he pays the tax for himself and Peter.

You and I pay taxes every day. Sales tax, income tax, county tax and school tax to name a few. The ways our government representatives load taxes on the citizenry reveals a great deal of creativity. But I pay my taxes, because as a citizen I owe them.

Although the Lord owes no taxes, Jesus quietly paid for himself and his disciple. Following this miracle, in a short period of time Jesus humbly endured death on the cross to pay for mankind’s estrangement from God. That tax we cannot pay—we need the Lord to pay it for us.

But with the debt paid, as sons and daughters we are set free. Free from the penalty of sin, free to let worry about taxes fade, and free to enjoy a life with the best fisherman of all.

Matthew 17:24-27

Photo by Thomas Park