Schizophrenic Living

They feared the Lord, and served their own gods. —2 Kings 17:33

Israelites were living a double life. One the one hand they feared the Lord, but on the other hand they served their own gods. The Lord was the God of their lips but not of their lives. Jesus described them, “The people draweth nigh me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” He asked, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Paul writes of those “who profess that they know God; but in works they deny him.”

What we profess on Sunday needs to be practiced the rest of the week. Worship and work must bear the same witness. It is what we serve that tells the tale. No man can serve two masters. The shame of too many church members is that they lead a double life; they fear the Lord and serve their own gods. I pray this is not true of you.