Life Journal, February 10, 2009
Today's readings: Leviticus 13, 14; Acts 17

What/Who Do I Worship?

Scripture

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city. . . .

So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: "Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: 'To an Unknown God.' This God, whom you worship without knowing is the one I'm telling you about.

"He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since he is Lord of heaven and earth, he doesn't live in man-made temples, and human hands can't serve his needs--for he has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and he satisfies every need. From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.

"His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him--though he is not far from any one of us. For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' And since this is true, we shouldn't think of God as an idol designed by craftsmen from gold or silver or stone."

Acts 17.24-30

Observation

God is not an idol to be worshiped--but the Creator of everything who wants to be in an intimate relationship with us.

Application (How will I be different today because of what I have just read?)

We aren't very different than the people that Paul met in Athens. We have many idols that we worship--People. . . things. . . .ideas . . . . power. . . . money . . . . jobs . . . . church buildings . . . . tradition . . . . the list seems endless.

God doesn't come in first very often . . . and yet it is in Him that "We live and move and exist." We take Him for granted. We spend so much time on our idols that we don't have much time for Him. . .He gets our "leftovers."

Today, I will look for those things that I worship--some out of habit, some out of desire, some . . . just because--and I will set them aside and return to God--worshiping Him and Him alone.

Prayer

Father, forgive me when I put my eyes on anything other than You. The world pulls at us and we give in so easy--usually without a fight. Lord, help me to stand strong, to tear down any idols that I have in my life, and to worship You alone. Thank You for Your amazing love and patience.