REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on November 26, 2013. He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).
Devotional Thought for This Morning
“Can We Commit the Sin of Idolatry?”
Psalm 115:1-18
[1] Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!
[2] Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
[3] Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
[4] Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
[5] They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.
[6] They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.
[7] They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.
[8] Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
[9] O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
[10] O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
[11] You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.
[12] The LORD has remembered us; he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron;
[13] he will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great.
[14] May the LORD give you increase, you and your children!
[15] May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
[16] The heavens are the LORD’s heavens, but the earth he has given to the children of man.
[17] The dead do not praise the LORD, nor do any who go down into silence.
[18] But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD!
What do you think about when you hear the word “idolatry”? In today’s world, we might think of worship of pagan gods or exalting high profile people but if we look at our hearts, we often worship idols all the time. John Calvin said: “The human heart is an idol factory. . . . Every one of us from our mother’s womb is an expert in inventing idols.”
Each of us has invented and worshipped false, failing saviors. Although these things may not necessarily be bad things in and of themselves, such as sex, food, comfort, approval, success, etc., they are never meant to replace God. When we do put them at the center of our lives, it leads to dissatisfaction.
In Psalm 115, the writer states that idols are only objects made by human hands; hence, they are less significant than those who made them, even if they are made of precious metals such as silver or gold (vv.4-7). The turning point in the Psalm is in v.9 where the writer states that only the God of Israel is trustworthy and He is their help, not any man- made idol. It is the Lord who blesses, but those who put their trust in idols or false gods will be disappointed because they are nothing and can do nothing. The Psalm ends with encouraging words to worship the God of heaven and to remember His greatness.
What are the idols in your heart? Lay them down as you pray and worship Him this morning. Ask the Lord that he would be the highest priority in your life because only He is worthy of our worship.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for having given me the strength and willingness to break away from the sin of idolatry; now I just got to do it! Help me, Lord. Amen.
Bible Reading for Today: Jeremiah 52
Lunch Break Study
Read Mark 10:17-25: And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” [18] And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. [19] You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” [20] And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” [21] And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” [22] Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.[23] And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” [24] And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! [25] It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Questions to Consider
- Why did Jesus ask the rich young ruler to give up his possessions?
- How can we break from the idols in our lives?
- Do you resemble the young ruler in any way? If so, how?
Notes
- Not all of us will be asked to sell everything that we have, but all of us are commanded to set aside any idols that may be present in our lives. Jesus meets with a rich young ruler whose confidence is derived from his wealth and status, instead of God. Jesus tells him to go and sell all of his possessions because He knew that this man loved material things more than God. Not wanting to heed this advice, the young man went away because he was unwilling to cease his idolatry.
- The way we can break away from the idols in our lives it to see the beauty and majesty of Jesus. Upon seeing the incomparable greatness of our Lord, we will then realize how small and insignificant our idols truly are. Spend time meditating on his greatness and ask God to break the idols in your life.
- Personal response
Evening Reflection
If we look to some created thing to give us the meaning, hope and happiness that only God himself can give, it will eventually fail to deliver and break our hearts. –Tim Keller
What you treasure will ultimately require you to die for it; Jesus is the only treasure that died for you. –Tim Keller
Jesus is the only one that can give us freedom from our idols. Remember the words of Paul in Galatians 5:1: “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Give thanks to Jesus and the freedom he gives to all who put their trust in Him.