"Though you, Israel, commit adultery, do not let Judah become guilty. "Do not go to Gilgal; do not go up to Beth Aven. And do not swear, 'As surely as the LORD lives!' Hosea 4:15 (NIV)
Who likes leftovers, really? They never taste the same as they did before, right? What kid celebrates when they ask mom what’s for dinner and she comes back with, “Leftovers. You know where the microwave is. Get started in warming it up.” And when it comes to leftovers, how long is too long? That’s the question I struggled with early on. We’d gather around a Tupperware taking turns sniffing it and daring one another to taste it. Leftovers don’t come with expiration dates. Who likes leftovers, really?
Can I be honest with you? There are some leftovers I absolutely love. That’s right, I said it! Some things taste better after sitting around for a while marinating in its own juices. Do you need examples? Italian food--always better the second time around, chili beans, most Mexican food, and Puerto Rican food! Whatever’s left, the remains of yesterday’s dinner popped in the microwave and minutes later you’ve got edible gold. Leftovers, to you I say, “Forgive us for giving you a bad rap!”
Remnant! I love that word. It means the remaining. Israel had fallen into idol worship. But not all was lost. God had His remnant, those remaining, the rest, His leftovers! God had those that had not yet bowed and worshiped at the sex shrine at Gilgal or in the sin city of Beth Aven. God’s remnant was Judah.
We’re living in days where the church has become worldly. You can’t tell the difference between God’s own and those that don’t know Him. Are you a “Israel Christian” or a “Judah Christian?” Are you the worldly or the remnant? Are you the one who’s refused to bow down to idols? Have you turned your back on the world and its ways? Have you rejected materialism and “me-istic” worldview that makes you the center of your life instead of Jesus?
God can change the world with people that refuse to worship at the feet of idols. God can change the world with a remnant, a small group. In fact, it was from the line of Judah where Jesus was born.
We don’t need big numbers. We need a big dependence on our big God.
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