Devotion
Is it possible to have idols and worship God?
David Jacobs
I once had the pleasure of having dinner with an environmental scientist. I asked him how he got into that field, and as it turned out, he was a Christian who had fallen in love with God's creation and wanted to dedicate his life to studying it. We must have talked for more than an hour about the importance of preserving biodiversity. After dinner, I walked with him out to the parking lot to say goodbye. As he was unlocking his car, I said "wait a minute, don't you care about air pollution?" He replied, "Yes of course, as a father I am particularly concerned about the effect it could have on my children and grandchildren." I had to point out, "But you are driving a diesel car!" This got him all in a huff and he started stumbling on about improved gas mileage. It was clear that he knew there was a contradiction between his beliefs and the car he was driving, but somehow he has kept driving that diesel car as long as I have known him.
This conflict between belief and behavior isn't at all unusual - in fact we see it in God's own people again and again. In Exodus 32, verses 1-5, the people ask Aaron to make an idol, as Moses has gone up the mountain to talk to God. Aaron gives in and makes a golden calf. But notice he doesn't stop there. He builds an altar to God in front of the calf. He tried to let the people worship both God and the calf at the same time! Of course, this didn't sit well with God, as it was a contradiction to worship both Him and an idol.
All too often we try to put some aspect of our lives on equal footing with God. Yes, we go to church and pray, but we are really focused on getting ahead at work or on getting a date. How do we square this with the fact that God demands that we put Him above all? The fact is, we can't, and just as God wouldn't like His altar being placed next to a Golden calf, he also won't tolerate us putting our own desires on the same level as His.
However, as the story of the golden calf shows us, people are always looking for leadership. God has said, make Me your leader! We know that we must follow him, but sometimes as we begin to feel disconnected from God, we begin looking for leadership in other places. It's important that we stay on track for God, and one way we do that is by surrounding ourselves with leaders who are dedicated to God's path. Aaron did not stay on God's path, but led God's people astray when they asked him to. When we choose our leaders, we must be sure that they will not make Aaron's mistake -- and that we will not make that mistake when people look to us for leadership.Prayer: Lord, we are constantly being tempted to stray away from your path.
Prayer
I pray that when we forget you, you will remind us. I pray for the strength of our leaders, so that when we ask for idols, they lead us back to you. I pray also that you will make us each a strong leader, so that we will always remind each other that yours is the righteous path.
Devotion
Satan Has Been Defeated
Frances Taylor
Salvation and power have come with Christ and Satan has been defeated. Sin and death have been conquered by the actions of one man, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, both human and divine who came into the world to bring the Good News of salvation by living, dying and rising for us. As Christians we claim to believe this but our actions sometimes deny it. Unfortunately, people seem to resurrect Satan all the time. We allow him to lead us away from God, forgetting the way to the Father that is love, and giving in to Satan's path of hatred, anger, pride, lust, chaos and destruction.
Satan, of course, doesn't present these as bad things, he makes them seem attractive. He presents sin as goods to be desired, as things to make us happy or give us pleasure. It can be hard to stay on the path that leads to God when the world seems to be crowding us and pushing us off of it. How easy it is to forget the sacrifice that bought our freedom! Which of us ...
Morning Prayer
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Inspiration
It is right for us to defer to others and to rejoice with others when they have cause to rejoice over some blessing in their life, instead of sorrowing before them over some problem in our life. It is right also to weep with those who weep, showing compassion and feeling for them in their grief instead of "dancing joyfully before those who mourn" as if insensitive to their sorrow.
Prayer
Give me a discerning spirit, Lord, to know when to rejoice and when to weep. Let me show concern for others and their situation and life events instead of just focusing only on my own. Let me show true compassion and genuine joy in the right way and time to others. Amen.
Night Prayer
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Inspiration
Christ's crucifixion is the perfect example of obedience to God. Death on a rugged cross was not an enjoyable experience for Him, yet the outcome allowed us the opportunity for salvation. God asks us to complete countless works in His name. Often, they do not feel enjoyable, yet we understand the result of our obedience is far above our comprehension. We trust that any ordeal we face will have the best outcome regarding God's plan for the world.
Prayer
Dear God, we will trust You when You ask us to complete works in Your name. Even though the tasks appear challenging, we have faith in Your plan and continue to live our lives according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.
