1 Chronicles 16:8-36
When you read the title of today's devotional, a few things might have run through your head. Upon thinking about idols, you may have thought about the popular TV show American Idol. Maybe you thought about the carved statues in East Asian religions. Or perhaps you thought of your celebrity role model. Regardless, you have a pretty good understanding of what idols can be and may be in your life.
After reading the passage in the Bible however, you might think that titling today "Idolatry" was odd. True, this is song of thanksgiving from David. However, I think it is really important to note that David understood his place before God. He knew God, and most importantly, he was known by God.
David refused to worship anything or anyone but the Lord. In this song of praise, David shows so much adoration to our heavenly Father. We can learn a lot from that.
When we have a grateful heart toward the Lord that pours out praise and adoration and thanksgiving, it enables us to have a proper posture before the Lord. We cannot serve two masters as we looked at last week in Matthew (Day 3). That means we cannot worship both God and something or someone else. When you are ascribing glory to the Lord, thanking him for your salvation, remembering his great works, trembling before his throne, and seeking him continually; there is no place for worshipping a lowercase-g god.
Idolatry is the act of worshiping some thing instead of the one true God. Anything is capable of becoming a god in our lives: marriage, money, children, cars, body-image, time, social media, food.
Verse 11 holds the keep for us.
"Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually."The Lord promises he will be found if you earnestly seek him (Matthew 7:7).
However, as it says in Psalm 115 (please please don't neglect this passage in your 'New Bloom' devotional), when we forgo the glory of Christ and glorify the man-made, the finite, we become as is our idol: worthless and useless, absolutely dead.
Worship the one true capital-g God. He is worthy of our praise. He never ends. He is not man-made. He is living. He sees. He speaks. He hears. And he is our empathetic Savior. Abandon your idols, hold fast to Christ.
What tends to becomes an idol in your life?
Do you lead a life of gratitude and thanksgiving to the Lord?
Day 14 is designed to let you reflect on this past week of scripture readings and questions. Revisit a verse that really stuck out to you. Jot down a phrase with which you really connected. Scribble a prayer of gratitude or repentance. Ask Christ to give you a desire for more of him. However you choose to do use your quiet time, stay focused on your time with the Lord.
Love,
More from New Bloom:
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, likes or dislikes about the New Bloom devotional, I would love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below and I will respond. Thank you so much for taking this 2-week journey with me. It has truly been an exciting adventure and I hope you grew in your walk with the Lord as much as I have. I hope you have been encouraged in Christ these past 14 days.
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