Jeremiah 10:14-16
Everyone is dull-hearted, without knowledge; Every metalsmith is put to shame by an image; For his molded image is falsehood, And there is no breath in them.15 They are futile, a work of errors; In the time of their punishment they shall perish.16 The Portion of Jacob is not like them, For He is the Maker of all things, And Israel is the tribe of His inheritance; The LORD of hosts is His name.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
You become like what you worship...That is my message to you today...you become like what you worship. Yes, I am repeating myself. So think of what you are worshiping and imagine what will be your essence if you continue down that road. See your end so to speak.
Now, I worship the true and living God but there are things in my life that at times I pay too much attention to or even put before God. I do not, by the grace of God, make this a practice. By the grace of God, I repent when the Lord shows me what I am doing...and I am ever so thankful that He shows me. When I really think about what I would resemble if, as I said before, continued down that road without repentance...I SHUDDER. The word shallow comes to mind...empty headed and definitely dependent on the praise of men. None of which are qualities I desire.
Romans 1:19-25
because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Paul is saying here that we as fallen, unsaved human beings are without excuse and even though we know that there is a God from our own conscience as well as the evidence of creation, some of us (well okay..many of us) will suppress that truth and refuse to honor God as God. Why? Because we like darkness more than light. We love our sin more than we love God. Eventually God gives us over to our own desires and we become futile in our thoughts and our hearts are darkened. We wind up serving the creature rather than the Creator! God lets us have our own way! Uh oh...our own way is NEVER a good thing. If we are not worshiping Him we are worshiping something else...and as the Bible says...because we are not worshiping the true God our foolish hearts will eventually be darkened...
I am thanking God that the "Portion of Jacob" is mine. I was praying and asking the Lord last night to show me the antidote for idol worship. I knew there must be an answer and that it was probably obvious. As I was reading Lamentations...another book written by Jeremiah I found it.
Lamentations 3:24 “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “ Therefore I hope in Him!” The antidote to idol worship is to immerse yourself in Him and remember that it is in Him that you live and move and have your being. How many times have you said to yourself..."if i just had or if this would just occur then I would be okay"...How many times? Finally you go to where you should have gone at the outset...to the Lord and spend time with Him and return realizing that it really wasn't any of those things that were needed or were going to make it better...IT WAS HIM YOU WANTED...HE WAS WHAT WAS NEEDED. The Lord doesn't just give me a portion...HE is my portion. He is the Becoming One...He becomes whatever we need. In Him we find such satisfaction in our souls that nothing else matters.
Girls, may you never fool yourself in thinking that you can live after your own desires and that somehow the grace of God will make up for it or His love will cover it. God said, "Tear your heart, not your garments." He doesn't want an outward display. He wants an inward work in your heart and your total devotion to Him. If there are things you are putting before God even today...repent...stop...go in the other direction. If your life is filled with an outward display but not much of an inward change...surrender to Him right now and ask Him to do that work in your heart.
"The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’ --Numbers 6:24-26
Love
Mom
