God

The World Will Know That There is a God

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We’ve heard it all over the news. The United States has struck a deal with Iran. Oh. The negotiations were headed by a team from Pakistan. One Muslim country worked with another Muslim country and a “Christian” country to sign the memorandum of understanding. For the record, it’s not a peace deal. We can only hope that it results in peace. We have to wonder if there will actually be peace. Will Iran forever put aside their plan to make a nuclear weapon? Or, are they just playing games? Were they just saying the appropriate words they knew everyone wanted to hear? Are they sincere? Only time will tell, but we had better hope that this is the real deal. If not, I’m afraid the consequences will be far worse than we could even imagine. Again, time will tell.

Apparently, there are still ongoing negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program and other issues. One news article I read quoted a well-known senator, who expressed concern that the U.S. and Iranian governments had different definitions of what they had agreed to. Could be. Not everyone has the same definition for the same word these days. And cultural practices and expectations can also thwart true understanding of an issue.

I’ve been reading reports about this truce and the potential fallout. There was already a hiccup when Israel struck Beirut. Iran threatened to retaliate, and the US made a statement against Israel. It was a back and forth and back and forth in the negotiation process. Not everyone wants to play nice. And here’s the main thing about the entire deal, the US knows that Iran follows a religion that approves of lying. So, trust is on very shaky ground. Even now. And Pakistan stood steady trying to prevent sabotage of any kind from either party. American diplomacy alone could not seal the deal. It took an outside force to finalize the truce. The formal signing was set for Friday, June 19th in Switzerland, but was then cancelled when the documents were signed electronically earlier in the week.

Now, some may ask which side won. You can be sure each side will take ownership of the winning bracket, regardless of the reality. In this situation, are there any winners? Is that the point? Peace is the point. No nuclear weapons or capability for a country known to brutalize its own people, let alone the rest of the world, is the point. But somehow, that main issue has been set aside. For what? People have been killed and persecuted for years by a hedonistic regime, and many knew it was time to stop them. For years, no one did any thing to stop the horrific treatment of a Persian people by an Islamic regime. This war has been costly on every side. And it impacts the world in ways we haven’t really seen yet. We must hope and pray that the issue is settled once and for all, but let’s not hedge our bets on it.

Here’s the main problem. Iran has definitely been weakened, but not defeated. The leadership regime has not been removed from power. The people of that Persian nation are still at risk of persecution and death. Is the country better off now than it was before the conflict began? Will the nation still be able to rebuild nuclear capabilities at some point in the future? If so, what was the point of all this conflict? The nation of Iran also has a history of not keeping their word. And they haven’t agreed to eliminate their nuclear capabilities.

These global issues may seem to be manmade. They are long standing and deeply rooted in darkness. Deep down, there’s a dark spiritual aspect that’s being played out. When global leaders and nations turn against God, it can only be expected that evil will prevail. The world needs to know that there is a Savior. There is still a God who is in control in evil times and even when evil leaders pursue those who stand against them. No one is above God’s commands, and all will answer to him. No one nation has all the answers and performs fully in line with God. That’s the nature of mankind. Unfortunately. We can’t trust any one in power to be God for us. We must look to God alone. There will come a day when all mankind will bow to God Almighty, and the world will know without a doubt that there is a God.

The whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17:46

You may know the story of David and Goliath. David was from the tribe of Judah in Israel. Goliath was from the country of Philistia. The history of the two countries’ disagreements starts long before these two men faced off. The conflict between the Israelites and Philistines was initially about the territory of Canaan and religious and cultural differences between the two nations. When the Israelites left Egypt under Pharoah’s hot pursuit, God promised the land of Canaan as their future home. God also required the Israelites, once they arrived in their new land, to eliminate everyone living there. Everyone. God didn’t want his chosen people to be enticed to worship any other god but himself. He knew the failings of mankind, and he wanted his people to have no part of idol worship.

The story, of course, has a twist because the Israelites didn’t eliminate every last person from Canaan. And the remaining people worshipped other gods. As the Israelites moved into their designated territories in Canaan, they met and befriended the locals. And, of course, they intermarried and began worshipping gods other than the One True God. Just as God had forewarned, his chosen people headed down a dark and evil path moving further from him.

Throughout the years, Israel’s army fought different battles with the Philistines. Some they won. Others they lost. And now Saul, the first king of Israel, had led his men to a battle with the opposition. A giant in the Philistine army would come out to taunt the Israelite army every day. He was big and bad and had killed many men. He seemed fearless and egotistical. All of Israel’s army ran from his presence. Until the day David came along bringing fresh supplies to his brothers and saw what was happening. He saw the men’s fears, and he wanted a piece of the action.

David had a deep faith in God, and he was also a mighty warrior in his own right. Oh. He had never fought a battle with other men. But he had killed lions and bears preying on the sheep in his pasture. He knew how to defend what was rightfully his, and he did it willingly and skillfully. He had no fears about facing the giant all his fellow warriors ran from. So he offered himself to fight this giant named Goliath. If you know the story, you know that he stood facing this warrior with only a few stones and a sling. But when he pulled that stone back in the slingshot and let go, it found its mark. Right in the middle of the giant’s forehead. Goliath came toppling down. David then picked up Goliath’s sword and finished him off. Israel had won the battle. All because a young man had faith in a God he couldn’t see, but knew that this God would stand with him in the toughest fight of his life.

Before David shot the fateful stone into the forehead of Goliath, he gave the speech of a lifetime. He let Goliath know that God would be the victor that day, and no one else could claim the victory. I’m sure Goliath scoffed as he heard David claim victory before it actually occurred. But after that stone pierce his forehead, the giant fell face forward into the soil. What Goliath thought was an innocent act of bravery by a shepherd turned into his face to face meeting with God Almighty. It was in that moment that he stood in front of his Maker giving an account for his life and every action he had taken and every word he had spoken. There was no time to repent. Goliath was dead.

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45-47

David knew the match up between himself and Goliath wasn’t about his skill. It was a statement to let everyone watching know that God was real and active. David didn’t wait for conditions to be favorable or for Goliath’s daily threats to make sense. He stepped into an impossible situation and trusted in the God he knew and who had defended him in the past. He trusted that God would show up in his moment of need, just as he had every other time David called on him. And God led him to defeat a self-important giant of a bully. God saved the nation of Israel that day, using a young man who was obedient in the time of trouble.

The situation in Iran has few similarities to David and Goliath’s story. In one situation, both parties claim victory. In the other story, there was a definite victor and a definite defeat. Headless bodies don’t get up and walk away. But parties that haven’t been eliminated live to fight another day.

What does this say to us today? There will always be factions at war with each other. Country against country. Man against man. Man against evil. Man against good. And man against God. Does the world that you inhabit know that you serve a real and active God? Do the people you associate with on a regular basis see God working for you and through you in every battle you face? Have you bowed to the God of the universe and vowed to follow him and eradicate all sin from your life? Do you turn your back on temptations and ungodly desires? Do you stand strong in the face of giants who want to destroy you and what you stand for? God is on your side and will defend you and strength you in your times of trouble.

Does the world that you live in on a daily basis know that there is a God because of the way you live your life?

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

You can read the full story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17.

Be Still And Know

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We have very little control of our days. You know that, right? How many times have you planned out your day and think you’re good to go when out of nowhere something beyond your control happens. You may get in your car to run errands and the car won’t start. You’re in the checkout line at the grocery store because you need just a few things when you realize your bank account can’t support those few things. You get a call from the school because your child is unexpectedly running a fever while you’re preparing for the work presentation of a lifetime. Your dog has an unexpected, unexplained health emergency that signals end of life is near. Your spouse calls you in the middle of the day and announces he is no longer employed. And you realize you’ve lost control of what you thought was a normal day. The list could go on and on.

We have less time than we think. Life flies by faster than we can even imagine. I ask myself how I am already at an age where I qualify for Medicare. How am I so close to “celebrating” my 50 year high school reunion? I remember when my parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. My mom said that she thought only old people were married for 50 years. Obviously, she didn’t know how they had gotten to that monumental moment in their marriage so quickly. The years fly by, and I bet I’m safe to say that most of us don’t accomplish as much in our lifetime as we thought or hoped we would. Our dreams die pretty soon after they’re hatched. Our relationships fizzle because we don’t give them the time of day. Our faith dries up because we forget to tend and water it. And time goes on.

I was reading an article about friendship this week. One of the statements in the sentence stopped me cold in my tracks. The author was talking about how we can’t just plan our lives and expect everything to fall in line. Life has, as she put it, “unplanned contingencies.” Isn’t that the truth?

I’ve read the Bible verse that truthfully opposes the profound statement I found, but I never flipped the switch to point it at myself. Someone did just that and it’s brilliant. Oh. I’m sure others may have thought of this by now and perhaps I have, as well. Here is the profound statement I read in the friendship article, and I wish I had penned it first.

Be still and know that you are not God.

Sounds simple, huh? The problem is that we all try to play God at some point in our lives. Some realize it’s a moot point and bow to his leading, while others press on determined to take life and make it bow to their every whim. We want to be God of our own lives so we can run the show. It just doesn’t work that way, even though we may put all our effort into it. We can’t take God’s sovereignty from him.

Be still, and know that I am God! Psalms 46:10

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

We can find calm in the storms of life, even during the ebb and flow when uncertainty reigns. Because of God’s sovereignty, which means that he is in complete control at all times, we can trust his plan. Oh sure. We can attempt to change it and fall flat on our faces. Other times, it may seem that our way is actually good. But in the end, God reigns supreme and he influences all of life. Regardless of what we believe, God governs all things. And our uncertain times are the moments when we must cling to him as if we’re on a life raft in a swift moving, out-of-control current.

I wonder if God’s enemies sit in terror at the mention of his name. I wonder if they realize that they will be beaten at their own game. Because for one thing. God isn’t playing games. He’s omniscient. He knows everything. And God’s people, those who love and revere him, have nothing to fear. God is on the throne at all times. He has entrusted this earth to mankind, and he sees how we manage it. Or manage it poorly, many would say. He sees the mess we’re in and he’s waiting patiently for more people to turn to him. He sees us in our moments of uncertainty and allows us to live through them. The tests of life are what mold us spiritually, emotionally and mentally. God is completely aware when our lives take an unexpected turn, and he will be our refuge in that time. Life doesn’t have to run smoothly in order for it to be a good life.

I saw a saying on a poster years ago that has stuck with me. There is one God. You are not Him. We just don’t want to admit that we aren’t in control of our lives and that someone bigger and higher and more worthy makes our world turn. God has always existed. There is no beginning or end to him, and there never will be. He is the Master of the universe. We just need to trust him.

The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29

He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 1 Chronicles 29:11-13

Invited Guests

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We were invited to a Christmas party by a host we didn’t know. And we knew none of the other invited guests. It was quite interesting to say the least. We were the strangers entering a home where most everyone knew someone else. It felt a bit awkward at first walking into a house full of unknowns, but we managed to meet some interesting people. The house felt a bit cramped with such a large crowd, and the host informed me that they wished they had made the kitchen and dining room bigger when they were building the house over twenty years ago. At the time, they were expecting their third child. Then a fourth came along a few years later. Now in a few months, they’ll be empty nesters.

The house was overflowing with talking, laughter and food. Their youngest son, who is a musician, played for the crowd. The mini concert was beautiful, but it caused even more noise in the cramped space. Some people who were already living with hearing loss felt as if they had lost even more of their hearing that night. But we all continued talking.

We met a couple who had moved here from San Diego four years ago. They said they didn’t miss anything about their life out west. They had settled into this neighborhood we were visiting and loved it. She was working remotely, but was planning to retire soon. They were building onto their house. She said they had attended our church for a bit when they first moved here, but it wasn’t the right fit. They have since found a “theologically conservative” church a little farther away.

Another woman has been single more years than she had been married, and she didn’t expect that to change anytime soon. She said she met the hosts at church. She enjoys visiting her daughter at work on Sunday evenings for dinner.

Then we met a couple who attends our church. I’ve never seen them before in my life, but there they were. After talking for a time, we discovered we had attended the same college a few years apart. And we even knew some of the same people. The wife has had two cornea transplants in the past year, and her husband is losing his hearing. But they love life and enjoy camping in nice weather.

The hosts were very pleasant people. We talked as if we had known each other for years, even though the wife and I had met only days earlier. And my husband, who is a musician, had a great conversation with the musician son. We had a nice time with a group of strangers that evening. After all, friends start off as strangers.

The house was crowded with standing room only for the latecomers. It was loud with many voices all at the same time. You had to talk loud and listen closely to the person next to you. But somehow it worked. Everyone took it in stride. There was no pushing or shoving, just polite jostling as people struggled to get from here to there. People moved cautiously through the space carrying plates of food and cups of warm wassail. It was a pleasant evening in the midst of strangers.

It’s the holiday season and people are being merry and bright. Festivities abound this time of year, and it doesn’t hurt to meet new people who are celebrating the birth of our Savior.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

This time of year is when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I think about the trip Mary and Joseph took that led them on an adventure of a lifetime.

I wonder what thoughts and fears were swirling in the minds of Mary and Joseph when they learned they must go to Bethlehem. I wonder what strangers accompanied them as they set off for Bethlehem. They couldn’t have been traveling alone. After all, Augustus had authorized a census to be taken throughout the Roman empire. Every man was forced to return to his ancestral town to register himself and his family. There must have been hordes of people on the roads going in different directions during that time. There must have been much confusion and anxiety in the preparations for travel.

But a couple in their situation, engaged to be married and pregnant with her first child, it would have been very unusual to travel together. Yet, here they were. Traveling to a distant place where Joseph’s ancestors were born. I wonder. Did he still have family in Bethlehem? Did he know anyone there who could assist them in any way?

Mary and Joseph were most likely surrounded by strangers. They intermingled with them and made acquaintances as they traveled. And they kept traveling. Others could see that Mary was heavy with child. Who knows if they offered assistance. They didn’t know that this couple traveling weren’t yet wed. They didn’t ask. And I’m sure Mary and Joseph didn’t tell. They were all on a journey to be counted. All familiar yet unfamiliar. Even Mary and Joseph not yet married. They knew each other, yet they didn’t. They had never lived together, yet they were alone in a crowd sharing the most intimate of times. Tied together through a betrothal and a pregnancy all begotten by God.

And when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, all the inns were full. People who arrived first got first pick of the best places to lay their head. By the time the couple arrived, there was no room for them. Oh. I’m sure they weren’t the only ones stranded out in the open. But a bigger problem was that Mary was heavily pregnant. Due at any time. What were they to do?

They eventually found a space to keep them sheltered from the elements. It could have been a barn. Or a cave. It was in fact a stable for the cattle. That’s where they lay their heads. And as it would happen, Mary delivered this child of God. Born in a stable in the dark of night. Was anyone with them to help her? Or were she and Joseph all alone? We don’t really know.

But there were people out and about. In the fields, shepherds were watching their sheep. Suddenly an angel was hovering in their presence. And he spoke words of joy and blessing to them. After he shared the good news that the Promised Messiah had been born, a host of angels joined him singing and praising God. Then this band of weary shepherds went to find the babe in the town of Bethlehem, just right where they were told he would be found. He would be in swaddling clothes lying in a manger. And he was.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14

Oh. Mary and Joseph weren’t alone for long. As this strange band of shepherds burst into the stable, there was the baby just as they had been told. He looked like any other baby. A newborn. But they knew he was different. And they bowed to worship him. I’m sure Mary and Joseph were in awe. How did anyone know they were in the stable and that Mary had just given birth? How did these men know? They weren’t strangers for long, as the men shared how the angels surprised them in the field with the great news of the birth of Jesus.

You can read the full story in Luke 2.

Mary and Joseph encountered these shepherds coming to worship the Messiah. They wanted to pay tribute to their Savior. Little did they know of the life he would lead, but they bowed before him in humble gratitude. Strangers yet kin in spirit.

Later, when the wise men came to call, it was with the same reverence they bowed in worship. As they offered their humble gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, the knowledge of who they were worshipping left them in awe. A small child yet the Savior of the world was in front of them, unaware of the mission of his life. They too were strangers in a foreign land yet bound by the Lord of the universe.

We too can be strangers to the Savior, yet we don’t have to be. We too can bow in worship before him, not only during the season we celebrate his birth, but we can choose to bow before him in submission every day. I pray that your life will be lived in surrender to His will. Don’t be a stranger to the goodness and forgiveness of God. He is the Good News the world has been awaiting.

Crushing Disappointment

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

It was the night the Awana kids had been waiting for ever since the opening week. They could wear their Halloween costumes, and they were allowed to spend their hard-earned Awana bucks in the Awana store. They were so excited. They didn’t know what goodies were waiting for them in the store, but they were ready to find out. They were thrilled to see everything on display as they took turns carrying in their fake money and shopping for goods. And when they came back with their prizes, they were beaming.

It was finally the last little boy’s turn for my group. I went with him. He was ready to spend the seven fake dollars he was holding in his hands. But he wanted to save some for the next time the store was open. They only problem was that seven fake dollars don’t buy much in the store of little goodies. There were some big costly prizes to be bought with the right amount of money. And the prices and size of the prizes trickled down to little bits. He had to stay in the little bit section. He looked and looked over all the prizes that were in his price range, but he couldn’t find anything he wanted. Nothing was jumping out at him. And I tried to help him by pointing out toys and goodies he might have missed. But no. Nothing.

And then the most awful thing happened. Someone came to the door of the room and told us that the store was closed. Shopping was done. As I coaxed him out of the room, his head hung dejectedly down to his chest. He had nothing to show for his seven fake dollars. The boy who is usually full of his own self importance was left with nothing. I tried to encourage him by telling him that he had time to earn more money for the next time the store was open. It will be a few months before the store opens again.

The kids can earn Awana bucks by memorizing Bible verses and bringing their Bible, Awana book and vest each week. He sometimes forgets to bring them, and he doesn’t always have a Bible verse memorized. He’s more interested in talking back and writing on the white board. He doesn’t seem to understand that those things don’t earn him any money. He’s only seven, and he may not have much encouragement at home to learn the verses each week. But he can do it if he would put forth the effort. I see some moments of encouragement and goal setting with him in my future.

As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this. Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once. I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. Philippians 4:15-17

As I was reading my Bible this week, I came across Philippians 4:15-17. It jumped out at me differently this time. I wondered. Did Paul ever feel disappointment in his situation? Did he assume all the churches would financially support him as he sat in prison? Did he believe that the believers in the cities he had travelled to on his missionary journeys would remember him in his time of need?

Paul had been put in prison because of his teachings about Jesus Christ who had appeared to him on the road to Damascus. Paul’s life had been transformed by the saving power of Jesus, and he used every day of his life to tell others about his newfound freedom in Christ. He wanted others to know this Jesus and believe in him, too. But there were those who didn’t agree, and they hated Paul with a vengeance. As he had once hunted followers of Jesus, he found himself being hunted for the same reason. And then he was imprisoned before being killed.

In the book he wrote to the Philippian church, Paul was joyful. As he sat in jail, he showed no signs of disappointment or discouragement. His faith was in Christ alone. He wrote letters to the churches he had visited and ministered to. He would hear along the grapevine how the churches were doing, and he learned of the struggles some of them were experiencing. He wrote to give them words of encouragement and admonishment. He loved those people and hoped and prayed that they would remain faithful to God. Since he couldn’t be with them in person, he did the next best thing by writing letters.

When Paul was in prison, he needed financial support. One church he had ministered to sent him money and supplies on a regular basis. Others sent nothing. He told the church of Philippi that he had learned to be content with nothing and with a lot. He had lived through both extremes and found that God was the sustaining force of his life whether his belly was full or empty. Whether he was warm or cold, he would praise the Lord. His situation would not alter his view of God or his joyfulness.

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:12

I wonder though if he ever experienced disappointment in the churches that never helped him out. Did they ever think about him and then ignore his needs? Were they just always so low on cash and supplies that they couldn’t scrape up anything for him? Didn’t they think to plan ahead and set aside a little bit each week to share with him? Did they just not have enough faith to trust God for their needs? Or were they so single minded that they only thought of themselves? Can you imagine him sitting there pining for the generosity of those who had been helped by his teachings? And then getting nothing in return? We never hear of that in his writings.

Unlike my little Awana guy who didn’t plan appropriately enough to earn more money and was greatly disappointed, Paul was joyful regardless of his circumstances. He was thankful for those who prepared ahead of time and faithfully helped him out. He knew that times were tough for them, as well. And he let them know that he was joyful regardless of his situation, and he wanted them to be joyful with him. He didn’t create a list of those who never helped him, and he never chastised them. Even though he knew that this group of believers in Philippi was the only church to send him supplies, he loved the others just the same. He knew that if they shared with him in need, God would bless their generosity. The other churches didn’t know the joy they were missing out on by not helping a fellow believer in need.

Paul’s joyfulness can be a great lesson for us when we become disappointed and disillusioned with others. Our expectations may be out of control and unrealistic, while the actions and words of others may be, as well. Our joy must come from God and God alone; not in our accomplishments, which are fleeting, but in the love and mercy of God our Father. He alone is our present help in trouble. He will not fail or forget us. He stands with us as we stand strong in faithfulness to him.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10

He Knows My Name

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I’ve lived in this house for over a year now. I met my next door neighbor before we even moved in. And soon after we moved, he was added as a contact in my phone. He sold us a water softener system, and he’s been in my house multiple times and offered assistance in many other ways. As I type this, he’s in my garage changing the filters on the water softener. He occasionally calls me to check up on us if he doesn’t see us in the yard. He’s a good neighbor, indeed.

Just last week, I saw a new dentist. The dentist’s office is in my neighbor’s hometown about thirty minutes from where we live. The hygienist told me that she and her husband had grown up in that town, so I mentioned that my neighbor did, too. She asked his name, so I told her. And I told her that he works for the business his dad owns. She knew exactly who I was talking about. After living in a large city for many years, I’m still surprised when I talk to someone I don’t know who knows someone I do know. It doesn’t really happen too often in a large metropolitan area, but it seems to happen quite often around here.

But when I mentioned his name to the hygienist, she corrected me on his last name. For over a year now, I’ve had the wrong last name typed in my contact list. How that happened, I’m not really sure. I knew that I had initially confused the two last names, but I thought I had it correct. All this time, I’ve been wrong. Oh. I’ve never called him by the wrong last name. But I had mistakenly slapped the wrong name on him. I quickly corrected my contact list and made sure to inform my husband, because I had also given him the wrong information.

My neighbor will never know that I got his last name all mixed up. He’ll never know I’ve been calling him one name all the while it’s another one. I would definitely recognize him anywhere I saw him, but I would have gotten his last name wrong. That could have been embarrassing. But I’ve now been corrected, and all is good.

I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5

God was intentional about creating me. His timing is perfect, and by his hand I was created. He knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb, so of course, he knows my name. He has the most intimate and thorough knowledge of me, more so than anyone else. I’m his creation, and he created me with significance and purpose. God is the one who formed me in my mother’s womb, so he is the one who commissions me to go and serve him and him alone. He knows the plans he has for me.

I don’t have to worry about God forgetting my name or calling me by the wrong name. After all, he created me in his image and named me. He values me and wants to have a relationship with me. God is omniscient, so he knows everything. After all, he even knows the number of hairs on my head.

And just when I seem to forget all that God can do, I’m reminded that he knows when I sit and when I stand. He knows my thoughts. He knows the good and the ugly thoughts I have. Before I even speak, he knows what I will say. And he loves me with an unfailing love.

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. Psalms 139:2

I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself. Jeremiah 31:3

Oh. I don’t think my neighbor will need to walk with me through deep waters or go through rivers of difficulty with me. He won’t give his wife and daughter as a ransom for my freedom, but he has offered assistance more times that I can count. He isn’t my Savior, and he isn’t my Lord. He doesn’t need to redeem me. But he is the definition of a good neighbor. And now I know his name. But the one who knows me best and loves me most will do that and more for me. And he’s always known my name.

But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Isaiah 43:1-3

No. It isn’t all about me. The love of the Lord God Almighty is endless and reaches to the farthest corners of the world. Just as he loves me entirely, he loves everyone else the same. He knows your name just the same as he knows mine. And he will welcome you with open arms when you come to him in full repentance. Accept him today as your Lord and Savior and you will be welcomed into the family of God. He already knows your name, and he’s waiting for you to accept his call to repentance.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 1 John 4:16

Unearned Favor

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

We moved to a new state eleven months ago. This new state doesn’t have the bank where we have banked for our entire marriage. So, throughout the last months, we have been slowly moving checking and savings accounts to a new bank closer to home. It’s been a process. Stopping and restarting automatic payments and deposits. Hoping we haven’t forgotten any. I think we’ve finally crossed the finish line with the previous bank. Oh. We didn’t have any complaints with the former bank. We just needed a bank that was close to home. Not two states away.

We happened to be near a branch of the old bank a couple of weeks ago, so we stopped in to finally close out all the accounts. It was the end of an era. As we sat down with the bank manager, he pulled up our accounts. He calculated any interest that might be owed on the small amount we still had in the bank so he could produce a final check for us. And then he said the words we all hope to hear but usually don’t. Do you have another account? I told him that we had already moved our investment accounts, so no. There are no other accounts.

But lo and behold. There was an account in the name of the man of the house. It had sat dormant for many years. And the balance in that account blew us away. How could an account with that much money be forgotten and set aside? How does that happen? I don’t know. But it did.

I have to confess. As I sat there, I created in my mind a long list of ways to spend that wad of unknown money. We had hit paydirt. Oh no. Don’t get me wrong. We weren’t suddenly wealthy. But when you’re told you have a nice amount of money coming to you that you didn’t expect, you get a little excited. But I do have to admit that I sat there waiting for the shoe to drop. Would he discover that the account really wasn’t my husbands? Would the man have to come clean that what he thought was our account really wasn’t? But no. He didn’t. And we walked away with a lot more money than we had expected. It felt good to have that extra cash in our pocket.

What will we do with the money? You ask. I have no idea. Right now it’s sitting in a savings account accruing a very small amount of interest. But it’s ours, and it feels good. To be honest, I could have it spent in no time. Our new home has a host of updates that need to be made. Oh. We’re whittling down the list a little at a time, so every little bit of unplanned financial surprise is just that. A surprise.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10

Did you know that the word grace was used 124 times in the New Testament? And the apostle Paul used that same word 86 times in his writings. Grace is undeserved favor in God speak. And grace is getting something that we shouldn’t get without working for it. But God gives it to us without charge to us. Oh. There was a payment for grace. A huge sacrifice. Anyone who knows anything about the Bible knows that the sacrifice was God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus was crucified and died on a cross for the sins of every person who has ever had life. We didn’t have to ask for this favor. It was given to us freely. At least, it’s free for us. Someone did die for us to have that favor. And he did it willingly.

I think about the free gift of grace. It’s similar to the free money we discovered in a forgotten checking account. Oh. But this gift of grace is different.  It has eternal consequences.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

When I think of grace, I’m reminded of the neighbor who shoveled my driveway all winter.  And he asked if I minded if he did it.  And then another neighbor recently loaned us two window air conditioning units when our central air stopped working. They didn’t have to offer these acts of kindness to us, but they did it from the bottom of their hearts with no expectations of receiving anything in return. That’s what grace is. Good neighbors. Kind hearts. Acts of generosity.

Grace is an act of kindness we don’t expect or deserve.  It’s just given free of charge without any expectation of repayment.  So when the snow shoveling neighbor asked if we would mow his lawn while he was on vacation, you bet we said yes.  And when the air conditioning neighbor asked to use our water line and hose while he worked on a concrete project next door, you bet we agreed. 

God’s grace extends to everyone who calls on his name for salvation. We can also offer grace in a multitude of ways to those who need a helping hand or a favor. They may ask, but they may not. We can still offer a loving hand to help.

I remember the story of Jesus stopping to rest at a well outside of the town of Sychar in Samaria. He knew that a woman with a checkered past would come to the well in the heat of the day to draw water. She didn’t come with the masses of women during the cool morning hours, for fear of being rejected. She came alone when no one would be around. Except on this day, Jesus sat there waiting. He asked for water, and she was surprised at the request because he was Jewish. She knew Jews looked down on Samaritans. And then he offered her living water that would quench her thirst forever. She questioned how that was possible. So he told her of this living water that would change her life. And he continued on to tell her that he knew of her five husbands and that the man she currently lived with wasn’t her husband. He didn’t judge her or rebuke her. In love he offered her forgiveness and grace. Undeserved favor. And desperate for it, she gratefully accepted the invitation. And she ran and told the people of her town the good news.

Oh. Don’t be fooled. This woman from Samaria was very aware of the tensions between the Jews and her people. She knew exactly why Jews wouldn’t associate with people from her region, so she was very surprised when this obviously Jewish man sitting alone at the well asked her to get him a drink of water. She didn’t hesitate to serve him, but she had questions and he had the answer she didn’t know she needed.

You can read the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) Ephesians 2:4-5

Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. Romans 3:24

Did the bank manager, out of the goodness of his heart, just randomly offer us a sum of money that wasn’t owed us? Did the neighbor just randomly choose me out of thin air to shovel my driveway? Did the other neighbor happen to walk down the street and assume our air conditioning wasn’t working because our windows were open? No. The banker realized the money legally belonged to us, so he set the bank right with us. The neighbor shoveled our driveway because he knew I was living alone. The other neighbor offered the two air conditioners when I happened to mention our situation during a random conversation. These men used the gifts they had to serve those who were in need. Oh. They didn’t have to offer anything, but they did. And that’s exactly what Jesus Christ offers to anyone who comes to him. He offers forgiveness, grace and mercy. He will wipe our slate of sins clean when we confess and repent. He will make us a new person ready and willing to serve him. The least we can do is bow in submission and receive the free gift of salvation that he is offering.

When Life Stinks

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I’m not sure which is worse to live through. A cold house in the middle of a very cold winter when the furnace isn’t working. Or. A hot house in the middle of a very hot summer when the air conditioning quits working. I hate to say it, but I’m living in a very hot house right now. And this past winter, it was a cold house. As I type this, I’m waiting on a repairman who can hopefully help resolve the problem.

And the verdict is in. We need a new air conditioner. Oh. The old one still works, but the coolant is no longer legal to use. That requires us to purchase something we really don’t need but we do need. Apparently, there’s no way around it. Isn’t it funny how life works. And we’re also waiting to hear if our home warranty company will cover the cost. Or at least part of it.

Life is unpredictable, and sometimes the unpredictability just stinks. And usually we just have to adjust when the unpredictable sinks to an all-time low. Oh. It could be anything that surprises us. Catches us off guard. An unexpected home repair. Or an unexpected illness or diagnosis. It could be a job loss. Or an unplanned pregnancy. Or the loss of a loved one. Or a local tragedy. Perhaps it’s a huge unexpected change of plans. We never know when life will trip us up.

There are ups and downs in the flow of life. Some good. Some bad. And some ugly. At times, the trouble sticks around indefinitely, and other times it’s short-lived. We never know what life will bring, and we don’t know how our troubles will be resolved. But we can still find good in life even during the most difficult of times.

Oh. I know there are deeper troubles we can find ourselves in besides living without air conditioning. I’m thankful that, at the moment, this is the only trouble we’re in. Because it’s momentary, we will see the end of it in a relatively short time.

I’m thankful at the moment for a portable air conditioner that’s keeping the house modestly cool. Plus. We have fans going during the day and night. And we’re sitting outside under the big oak tree keeping cool for awhile each day. Oh. We’ll have a new cooling unit installed, but we have to wait in line with all the others who are experiencing similar troubles.

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 1 Peter 5:6-7,10

When life throws us into a spin of tough times, we must lean on God. He is the God of all comfort, and he will sustain us. When the uncertainties and emotions ebb and flow, we have a constant source of strength. God is an ever-present help in times of trouble.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Psalms 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalms 46:1

When we are walking through a very dark valley, can we still find good in life? Can we push away the fearful thoughts that can overwhelm and discourage us? I know from experience that during the toughest times of life, I lean in closer to God than I do when life is going my way. I seek his presence more, because in the low times I realize I can’t handle life on my own. I don’t know why I think I’m handling life well on my own when things are going smoothly. It’s second nature. But we need God in every day of our lives, not just during the tough times.

And during the easier days we also need to spend time with God. Filling our cup of life with his goodness and love and kindness. It’s only when our cup is full that we can dip into the excess during those unexpected difficulties. Life is good at all times when God is the center of our lives. Our circumstances may be difficult, but God is always, always good.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalms 23:4

God’s gracious presence is with us during even the worst times of our lives. He doesn’t leave us. We must reach out to him for strength and support. He loves us with an everlasting love during every period of our lives. He doesn’t love us only when life is easy. He loves us as much during the difficulties we face. His love never changes or ceases.

I know someone who was traveling internationally this week. She arrived, but her luggage didn’t. And the power was out, meaning the water also didn’t work. What a way to start a missions trip. Was she excited and on fire for the assignment, or was she fuming at the inconvenience of it all? Fortunately, her luggage showed up three days later, after she had made an emergency shopping trip.

Life is full of events we don’t ask for. It’s in those moments that we have to realize that God is still God, and we are not. He walks beside us during every trial life throws at us. Regardless of how big or small it may seem to others, God is in the midst of our troubles allowing us to fall back on his grace and mercy. He’s waiting for us to call out to him in our moments of need, as well as in our moments of plenty.

Be still, and know that I am God! Psalms 46:10

All creatures, when in distress, run to their refuges. ~Trapp

Love and Obedience

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

Jesus was both loved and hated. Those who loved him were faithful followers who hung on his every word. They believed his message. They longed to see him perform miracles and change lives. They whispered about him behind closed doors, longing to spend more time with him. They wondered if he was the promised Messiah.

But then there were the haters. They too listened to his words, but they were appalled at what they heard. They asked him what they thought were hard questions, trying to trip him up. He answered all their questions with ease or with silence. They hated his teaching because his words pointed directly at their sin, and their sin was their identity. They didn’t want to change in any way, shape or form. They wanted to be rid of him, even if it meant violence against him. They hunted him and talked about him behind closed doors plotting revenge.

Jesus was gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room for the Last Supper. He was sharing with them about his upcoming death. They weren’t understanding clearly what he was telling them, and they were confused as to why he was telling only them. Why not tell the masses?

One of the disciples asked Jesus why he was planning to reveal his mission only to his closest followers and not to the masses. But when you think about it, why would anyone reveal such intimate information to those who don’t support them? Why give the haters one more thing to plot against? Oh sure. At the appointed time, revealing his true identity and mission was necessary. But it wasn’t yet time. Jesus’ own disciples still had doubts that he had to deal with. So, why go to the masses with your most private but soon to be ultimate destiny?

Jesus spoke simply and plainly to his disciples when he explained that only those who love him would obey him. And if we truly love him, we will keep his word. There will be no question of our commitment. That can’t be said for those who hate him. Jesus also knew that once his work was completed on this earth the Holy Spirit would come to instruct those who loved him. And anyone who rejects Jesus also rejects his Father and would not receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus lived in complete reliance on and submission to his Father. There was no line he would cross or attitude he would cop in rebellion against his Father’s plan for his life. And he knew there was a price he would pay when he relinquished his heavenly body for an earthly one. He knew the price would be high, and he was willing to pay it in an earthly body that would hold him for no more than thirty three years. But he couldn’t speak publicly of the plans. They were for certain ears only. And his disciples were the chosen audience.

Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. Matthew 12:30

Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, “Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?” Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. John 14:22-24

Jesus’ disciples thought he was planning to establish an earthly kingdom and then overthrow Rome, so they couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t go public with his plan. But the plans set out for the Son of God had nothing to do with an earthly kingdom, and Jesus had plans to share the details with only those who loved and obeyed him. He knew anyone else would try to sabotage his ministry.

Love is a commitment. When we choose to love and obey God, we must understand the strength of that bond. God sacrificed his only Son for our sins, so we must love him with everything we’ve got. Otherwise, is it really love? Some say there is a fine line between love and hate. But, I wonder. How fine is that line? Perhaps it depends on the relationship and the reasons behind the love or hate. In this passage of Scripture, there is a definite distinction between those who love Jesus and those who don’t. And Jesus must treat the two groups differently. The groups don’t have the same values or mission. One is out to win the world for Jesus, and the other is out for blood. Jesus’ blood, that is. Love is not out for blood. Only hate seeks revenge and destruction. Only hate seeks to destroy those who disagree with you. Love seeks open discussion and reconciliation, not retaliation.

We read in Deuteronomy that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and strength. This level of commitment to our Lord and Savior is in acknowledgment of the fact that the Lord alone is God. And because of our love for God, we must abide by his commandments. Even if those who hate God or are just opposed to the teachings of Jesus also oppose us and our beliefs, we must stand firm in our faith and commitment.

Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Obedience is the necessary consequence of love.
— James Smith

We Need to Pray

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I read yesterday that one prominent newspaper which had publicly stated earlier they would not endorse either presidential candidate printed a scathing opinion piece about one of them. It was not an official endorsement of the other candidate, but it could have been. The piece left no doubt of their vile hatred for this particular candidate, because they named names and referenced incidents specific to this person. So. Was it an implied endorsement that they hoped no one would catch? Because they obviously said the quiet part out loud. They were warning voters against one candidate but didn’t go so far as to suggest voting for the other one. You can decide for yourself if that’s an endorsement or not.

Both candidates publicly insult each other. They stoop to the lowest of lows with their accusations and spin.  One speaks in what’s now referred to as word salads, while the other one slings insults out faster than he can toss fries. Shouldn’t this be a sign that we should pray for their dignity?  Because what is said in public is magnified in private. 

One candidate has an unusual first name, which can be pronounced a couple different ways. She has gone on record at different times in her life using each pronunciation, yet now people are publicly called out for using the wrong pronunciation. The other candidate verbally bullies people in public and seems proud to do so. I could list many other faults and offenses of each of them. But like it or not, one of them will be placed in the Oval Office to lead this once great but now faltering nation. Shouldn’t we faithful followers of Christ be on our knees begging God to convict them of their unconfessed sins? Shouldn’t we be praying that they appoint godly people as their advisors and advocates? Shouldn’t we pray for their safety? Shouldn’t we pray that the dangerous rhetoric stops before situations turn violent?

Do we intentionally use offensive names and words when we discuss the candidates? Would we say those same words about these individuals if Jesus Christ was standing next to us? Perhaps if we prayed for our candidates by name with conviction and the love of God, we might speak truth about them with a gentle and humble attitude. 

Not only should we pray for them, but we should speak about them respectfully. We don’t have to agree with them, but our government heads are in those exact positions because God has ordained their days. Even though they may speak and act against biblical principles, God has allowed them this moment in history. We must pray for their salvation. We believers must rally together and intercede for them, because who else can and will do so? They need God’s help, and we who call ourselves Christ followers must pray for our elected officials.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4

Many have voted early, so the vote has been cast. For those who are waiting until election day, there are still two days before you punch the ticket. Yours will be one of the million deciding votes. But just to state the obvious. Every vote is a deciding vote.

Do we really want our elected leaders to be men and women who love and serve God? Do we want a strong moral and ethical leader of the free world? We need to pray that people of the highest caliber and most noble character throw their hat in the ring when the next election cycle begins. We need to pray that God nudges godly people to run for office. We can’t leave our nation’s sovereignty in the hands of godless fools or our nation won’t stand.

When I reference ungodly people, I speak of those who haven’t acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives. I’m not saying they’re horrible people.  They’re capital G Godless people. We all serve a god of some sort. It may not be Jesus Christ the Savior of the world.  But we serve someone or something. We bow to another authority whether we acknowledge it or not. Just as Joshua commanded the people of Israel, we too must choose today who we will serve.

So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord , then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15

Word has it that millions of believers won’t even vote. Perhaps they think they should vote only for someone who has openly confessed to being a born again Christian. Or perhaps they will only vote for someone they agree with on every issue. But do we hold everyone else we do business with to the same standard? If we did, we might just be sitting alone running the world by our unqualified selves. Wouldn’t that be a dreadful sight? Here is our choice this year. An unremarkable woman or a self-absorbed man.

Some say this is the most important election in the world. It’s make or break time. Do or die time. And we must get it right. But just know this. God already knows the final tally of the votes. He knows who will move into the White House. He who created the world allows good and evil to happen. He allows good and evil leaders to be inaugurated. We must trust him.

God is sovereign over the entire universe. He is still and always in control, and he allows evil to take place. We are a fallen people, and just as those before us made poor decisions and walked away from God, so has our nation. We are reaping the consequences. Be mindful of that. But also know that it isn’t too late to turn this country back to God. Oh. It would be a massive undertaking. But it isn’t an impossibility. God is a God of miracles. If we as a nation would humble ourselves and pray, he will hear our prayers. That’s why we must pray. Even for those we disagree with and don’t like. They too are made in the image of God. And they too will someday stand in judgment before him. We know the effects of others praying for us in our time of need. Let’s humble ourselves and do the same for candidates we stand for and against. 

If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Years ago there was a person in my life who rubbed me the wrong way. I just didn’t like them. We had different personalities. And different life stories. Different approaches to just about everything. And when I would see them, I would breathe an internal sigh of disgust. No. I’m not proud of myself. 

And then one day I realized I should pray for that person. They had become a Christian, but they carried a load of baggage that needed to be set aside. As we all do. So I began praying. And guess what happened. That person didn’t necessarily change, but my attitude toward them began to soften. Where once I was annoyed to be in their presence, I now had a softening of my spirit toward them. It didn’t change the fact that we still had many unresolved issues. And we never became best friends. But I now saw them as I am. A sinner saved by God’s grace in need of discipleship and love and correction.

Let’s learn the same lesson as we compare our own failings to those of our presidential candidates. We’re no better than them.  Our ugly words and demeaning actions are not in the public arena as theirs are. But we  are always on display in front of God. 

Shall we pray.

The Foolishness of Idols

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We’ve been told in the Old Testament that manufactured idols can do nothing for us. Oh. Those who lived during those ancient times tried and failed to achieve anything with their prayers and sacrifices to their handmade idols. But it didn’t stop them from repeatedly worshiping these fake gods. There were those who actually made and sold the idols as a career. They believed these handcrafted objects could save them from war and disease and famine and anything else they didn’t want. They thought these idols would bless their families and their crops and their lives in untold ways. They bowed and worshiped a piece of wood they had carved into an inanimate object. And those objects. Those idols did nothing for them. Nothing at all.

The Israelites had been warned many times about their habit of idol worship. Through the years, many prophets had blasted their disobedience to God and warned of the impending punishment. But the people didn’t listen. It seemed easier and more convenient for them to bow to an image that couldn’t speak or move. After all, an image that can’t speak or move can’t convict you of your sins. It won’t bring shame or guilt onto your disobedient heart. It won’t even hear you when you cry for help. But the Israelites worshiped their idols and wouldn’t turn back to God.

This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!” How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. Isaiah 44:6-11

We may think modern societies don’t worship idols. Especially nations that call themselves Christian. We may believe we worship the One True God and him alone. But when we look at our lifestyle. Our goals. Our wants. Our deepest longings. What do we see? Where are we headed? What is it in life that fully satisfies us? What do we call sacred?

The thing about idols. They can’t make anything happen, because they need someone to make them. They can’t make themselves, and they will wear out and possibly break. In other words, they’re useless. Who but a fool would make their own god?

Let’s see if your idols can save you when you cry to them for help. Why, a puff of wind can knock them down! If you just breathe on them, they fall over! But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain. Isaiah 57:13

Idolatry. The worship of an image built on man’s imagination is a severe act of rebellion against God. An idol doesn’t have to be manufactured out of wood or stone or metal or ceramic. Idolatry is the act of giving sacred value or power over to something or someone other than God. We may worship our best friend. Or our spouse. Or our job. Or our fancy car. Or that designer handbag. Or our closet full of clothes. Or that sports team. Or that hobby. What holds sway over your life in the place of God? Where do you look for security and happiness? What do you bow down to?

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! Psalms 95:6-7

The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” Isaiah 44:19-20

Just as God warned his chosen people, the Israelites, that they must not worship other gods, he is telling us the same thing. The first and second commandments warn that we must have no other gods or idols. But we, like the Israelites, have chosen to place other gods above the One True God. And, unless we repent, there is punishment for that act of disobedience. God allowed his chosen nation to be attacked over and over in an attempt to make them see the error of their ways. Oh sure. They repented of their sins for a time, but they continued to return to their false gods.

We can’t think that we’re safe from God’s punishment for our waywardness as a nation and as individuals. Just as Israel did, we will bring disaster upon ourselves if we continue down the path we’re on. The truth will catch up with us sooner or later. And while it’s still today, we have time to repent and turn from our wicked ways. God is a jealous God, and he wants the hearts of all nations to bow to him. And they will. At the appointed time, every knee will bow. Why not today?

“What good is an idol carved by man, or a cast image that deceives you? How foolish to trust in your own creation— a god that can’t even talk! What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols, ‘Wake up and save us!’ To speechless stone images you say, ‘Rise up and teach us!’ Can an idol tell you what to do? They may be overlaid with gold and silver, but they are lifeless inside. But the Lord is in his holy Temple. Let all the earth be silent before him.” Habakkuk 2:18-20

Many times we’re seeking God, but we don’t realize it. There is a deep longing, a yearning inside each of us that is looking to be filled and satisfied. And we search and search for the answer. We look in the oddest places to find fulfillment. We choose the most unsatisfying activities or items to try to fill that longing. We look for relationships or people who are broken to make us whole, and they’re not whole themselves. We aren’t happy. We blame others for our problems. We seek comfort in the wrong places. Nothing we try fills us. There is no manmade idol that can comfort us. That can forgive us. That can love us. Only God can do that. Only God will satisfy our souls.

Continue seeking Him with seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him.

C.S. Lewis