So Micah ordained the Levite as his personal priest, and he lived in Micah’s house. “I know the Lord will bless me now,” Micah said, “because I have a Levite serving as my priest.” – Judges 17:12-13
How easily the flesh can concoct a religious scheme that appears to please God but in reality is a foolish spectacle! The Levite left the proper place of worship at the tabernacle and went out as a hired “priest” for an idol worshiper.
Religion drifts away from God and toward idolatry because of the love of power and money. The further religion deviates from God’s Word, the more accepted it is by society. Flesh gives birth to flesh, and soon a system of religion is developed that has nothing to do with the Word of God. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6 KJV).
Jesus taught Nicodemus that knowing God was as simple as the Holy Spirit’s giving him a new birth (v. 8). Yet Nicodemus, in his human mind, wanted to make it more complicated. Our minds long to do something religious to earn salvation. If earning salvation is hard, you can be sure it’s the plan of man. If it is simple, it’s the truth of God.
Everyone can easily receive God’s salvation, for it is available to all. Don’t try to find God with your natural mind. Instead, follow the way of the Spirit!