Day 7: Worthless idols
“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” (Jonah 2:8).
O Lord God and heavenly Father, we were created for Your glory (Isaiah 43:7- ESV). You made us in Your image, and breathed Your very breath into us (Genesis 1:27, 2:7). You formed us for worship, and for fellowship with You.
Even when sin marred Your perfect creation, You extended Your love to humans, creating for Yourself a people and giving them Your protective Law. Among Your commands, You emphasized singular worship:
"You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7)
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)
Fear the Lord your God, serve him only... (Deuteronomy 6:13).
Lord, You have given us Your commands—Your word—as a shield to protect us against the forces of evil and deception: Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him (Proverbs 30:5).
The Lord Jesus Himself used the written word when He was tempted to choose worthless idols in place of the God of glory (Romans 1:23). Baited by the devil to yield worship to him in exchange for all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor, Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:13, "It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only’” (Matthew 4:8-10).
We are surrounded by similar temptations. The tempter relentlessly dangles before us the kingdoms of the world and their splendor—fame, fortune, popularity, influence, power, position, recognition, self-realization.... And even deadlier and more subtle are the good or neutral things used to manipulate us into creating "other gods" and "worthless idols"—jobs, relationships, children, food, entertainment, ministries...
Father, You have promised us a way of escape—a way out of temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). You have given us Your great and powerful word, the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17) to fight against the schemes and strategies of the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Help us to thrust through the ruses of the enemy, so we do not exchange the truth of God for the lie (Romans 1:25 - NKJV).
The deceiver offers us the kingdoms of this world. The truth of God tells us that The world and its desires pass away (1 John 2:17). The deceiver tells us to build bigger barns (Luke 12:18). The truth of God tells us to store up...treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20). The deceiver tells us "just a little bit more" (Ecclesiastes 5:10. The truth of God tells us, "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:36).
The deceiver tells us, "I am, and there is none besides me’" (Isaiah 47:10). The truth of God tells us, I am the Lord, and there is no other—Worship the Lord Your God and serve Him only (Isaiah 45:5, Matthew 4:10).
Father, how awful to think of living without Your love! But the truth of God tells us that “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them” (Jonah 2:8). Keep us from foolish choices. We pray like the psalmist, Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to Your word (Psalm 119:37).
Comments