SCRIPTURE
Ezekiel 20:18-32 (NRSV)
Israel become like the nationsI said to their children in the wilderness, Do not follow the statutes of your parents, nor observe their ordinances, nor defile yourselves with their idols. I the Lord am your God; follow my statutes, and be careful to observe my ordinances, and hallow my sabbaths that they may be a sign between me and you, so that you may know that I the Lord am your God. But the children rebelled against me; they did not follow my statutes, and were not careful to observe my ordinances, by whose observance everyone shall live; they profaned my sabbaths.
Then I thought I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness. But I withheld my hand, and acted for the sake of my name, so that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out. Moreover I swore to them in the wilderness that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them through the countries, because they had not executed my ordinances, but had rejected my statutes and profaned my sabbaths, and their eyes were set on their ancestors' idols. Moreover I gave them statutes that were not good and ordinances by which they could not live. I defiled them through their very gifts, in their offering up all their firstborn, in order that I might horrify them, so that they might know that I am the Lord.
Therefore, mortal, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: In this again your ancestors blasphemed me, by dealing treacherously with me. For when I had brought them into the land that I swore to give them, then wherever they saw any high hill or any leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices and presented the provocation of their offering; there they sent up their pleasing odors, and there they poured out their drink offerings. (I said to them, What is the high place to which you go? So it is called Bamah to this day.) Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Will you defile yourselves after the manner of your ancestors and go astray after their detestable things? When you offer your gifts and make your children pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols to this day. And shall I be consulted by you, O house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord God, I will not be consulted by you.
What is in your mind shall never happen - the thought, "Let us be like the nations, like the tribes of the countries, and worship wood and stone."
DEVOTION
It may seem strange to us to imagine that people made idols out of wood and stone. In our self-righteousness we may say, "I would never do anything like that! How could they!"
But, it occurs to me that if we are honest with ourselves, we would admit that we can relate to this statement--even in 2010.
For example, do we make idols out of paper (e.g., money)? Do we make idols out of steel (e.g., cars)? Do we make idols out of bricks (e.g., our homes)? Do we make idols out of cows (e.g., leather hand bag)?
I could go on and on, but I think we get the point.
An idol is ANYTHING that you love and/or prioritize more than God. An idol is any person, place, or thing that holds first place in your heart.
This is why I believe that most of us could probably admit that at one time or another we have bowed down before false gods, choosing to serve "the made" instead of The Maker.
Today, I want us to take stock of our lives and ferret out anything that we love more than Almighty God. Then I hope we will be able to offer that thing to God with repentance in our hearts, trusting that God is faithful and just to forgive our sin and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.
God has been gracious and merciful toward us, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love! We are so blessed by God's Unconditional Love that gave Jesus to die on the cross to forgive us of our sin and gift us with eternal life--NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
Let us live into this most gracious inheritance by sharing the good news and living into love, joy, and peace everywhere that we go!
There is NO-thing--and no one--more important than God, who first loved us! Let us fix our eyes steadfastly upon Him who has never let us down! Amen!
Let us pray: Oh God! I confess my sin to you this day. I have bowed down to false and man-made idols. Today, I give you first place in my life and my heart. Please help me to dedicate my whole life to declaring your praise. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
INVITATION
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