We become like what we worship

Digging in Deeper: Exodus 20:3

February 6, 2024February 6, 2024Leave a comment

“Do not have other gods besides me.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

When the apostle Paul was talking about marriage with the Ephesian church, he described it as being a reflection of the relationship we have with Jesus. The thing about being in a marriage is that as much as our culture today would like to pretend otherwise, it is a definitionally exclusive relationship. When you are married to someone, you are married to just them and no one else. If you try to expand beyond that, you may have something else, but you don’t have a marriage anymore. Trying to continue calling whatever else you have now marriage will just dilute the definition and ultimately cause issues for you and the people who are in your direct sphere of influence. There’s a reason, then, the first commandment of God’s big ten puts a major limitation on Israel’s ability to relate to other gods. Let’s talk about it.

Read the rest…

Digging in Deeper: Amos 5:14-15

February 7, 2023Leave a comment

“Pursue good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord, the God of Armies, will be with you as you have claimed. Hate evil and love good; establish justice at the city gate. Perhaps the Lord, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

One of the most dangerous things in life is to be convinced we are on the right track when we are really on the wrong one. More than once in the writings of the Hebrew prophets we find them including the response of the people to God’s declaration of judgment coming on them. And in several of these responses we find them expressing shock at the reprimand they have received. They genuinely believed they were on the right track and weren’t doing anything wrong. After all, they were practicing various aspects of the religion faithfully. Wasn’t that enough to make God happy? Yet He wanted more. Let’s talk about what more He wanted from them and what this might mean for us.

Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Psalm 135:15-18

February 23, 2018February 23, 2018Leave a comment

“The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

In the ancient world, idols were obvious. Someone who worshipped an idol would often literally bow down before a statue. He would make sacrifices before a big hunk of carved rock or wood or shaped metal. They were things made by human hands. Today…not so much. But, just because idolatry is more difficult to spot doesn’t meant the reality of it is any different. Read the rest…

Morning Musings: Psalm 115:8

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017Leave a comment

ing”Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” (ESV – Read the chapter)

One of the things that begins to become clear throughout the Scriptures is that we become like the thing we worship. Whoever or whatever it is that we give our highest devotion gradually shapes us to more and more reflect its identity and character. Read the rest…