I Believe; Help My UnbeliefMfano
Idols are a rare sight in Muslim countries, but where I grew up, there were gold jewellers in the dark bazaar backstreets. These skilled artisans were burning, pounding, and fashioning fancy ornaments like in this passage.
Hmmm…So, you would compare your glorious God to some ridiculous object…fancy with gold and silver? (Or maybe you’re too poor to own the fancy kind, so you choose a really ‘sturdy’ piece of wood instead. And you look for a skilled artisan who can craft you an ‘immortal’ image.)
Yeah. Right. THAT will last forever–NOT!
We’re being challenged to ask, What will gloriously last…forever?
We’ve seen some pretty ancient landmasses. Some epic trees. Some jaw-droppingly old art and architecture. Poof!
Or, we’re pretty good at idolizing our images. But, like withering grass and fading flower–we’re soon grey, wrinkled and forgetful. Poof! Nothing compares to our sure God who lasts forever.
Ponder or write out your epitaph today. It’s a good indicator of what you most value.
Prayer
Forgive us for being sucked into surrogate gods of our fashioning, even idolizing ourselves. Forever-God, reorientate our worship to you.
Andiko
Kuhusu Mpango huu
Isaiah 40 is a pocketful of comfort for a languishing people. It’s served up in two courses: messages to renew hope and questions to reorientate worship. Main course–God’s good news; dessert: God’s glory. It wasn’t just Israel that was languishing; we all need this kind of nourishment to worship well.
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