The woodworker draws up plans for his no-god, traces it on a block of wood. He shapes it with chisels and planes into human shape—a beautiful woman, a handsome man, ready to be placed in a chapel. He first cuts down a cedar, or maybe picks out a pine or oak, and lets it grow strong in the forest, nourished by the rain. Then it can serve a double purpose: Part he uses as firewood for keeping warm and baking bread; from the other part he makes a god that he worships—carves it into a god shape and prays before it. With half he makes a fire to warm himself and barbecue his supper. He eats his fill and sits back satisfied with his stomach full and his feet warmed by the fire: “Ah, this is the life.” And he still has half left for a god, made to his personal design—a handy, convenient no-god to worship whenever so inclined. Whenever the need strikes him he prays to it, “Save me. You’re my god.” Pretty stupid, wouldn’t you say? Don’t they have eyes in their heads? Are their brains working at all? Doesn’t it occur to them to say, “Half of this tree I used for firewood: I baked bread, roasted meat, and enjoyed a good meal. And now I’ve used the rest to make a repulsive no-god. Here I am praying to a stick of wood!”
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5 Days
God’s ways are not our ways. He does not adjust His ways over time nor accommodate them to our feelings or preferences. But He is willing to reveal them to us. They are found in His Word, and they haven’t changed. Never be satisfied merely seeing the acts of God. In this five-day devotional by Richard Blackaby, explore Scripture to move from seeing God’s actions to being intimately familiar with His ways.
This 5-day plan continues a journey through the book of Acts, the Bible’s gripping sequel of Jesus at work in the life of his followers as he expands his kingdom to the ends of the earth. Acts 19 brings us to Ephesus, where we see the way of Christ resisted by a spiritually confused world. It’s a journey on what it means to be a Christian. It’s a story in which you have a role to play.
The Bible has a lot to say about idolatry. In the 21st century, there are many things competing with God for our attention and worship. This 5-day plan will help readers gain a biblical understanding and perspective of idolatry, apply it to their lives, and prepare them to share this learning with others.
7 Days
Mesu Andrews, best-selling author of Isaiah’s Legacy, joins Bible teacher Shawna Duvall to explore the life of Manasseh. When Manasseh was taken captive by the Assyrians, he turned to Yahweh and ran into His open arms of redemption. Through Manasseh’s journey, we’ll discover Who Yahweh is and the crimson thread connecting Manasseh to Jesus. By exploring the chains binding Judah’s most notorious king, we’ll learn to live in unchained freedom.
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