Scripture:

Isaiah 44:19

No one stops to think,
    no one has the knowledge or understanding to say,
“Half of it I used for fuel;
    I even baked bread over its coals,
    I roasted meat and I ate.
Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?
    Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

Who is Your God?

I think when we read about idolatry in the Word of God, we think: "Well, that is dumb, worshiping a statue or wooden idol, or a golden calf."   But... we overlook the fact that there are modern-day idols; they are just not as blatantly obvious as a wood statue or a golden calf.  See, modern-day idolatry can manifest in seemingly innocent ways, like placing too much importance on material possessions, success, or even relationships, social media, or even yourself.  

Hopefully you caught it like me; the Lord is giving us a powerful truth but almost in a satirical way, pointing out how foolish it is to place our trust in things made by human hands or effort. 

"Shall I bow down to a block of wood?"   Just a moment ago I put some of that same wood in the fire.   That is funny, Lord, but it is also a truth that hits you.  

What have you allowed to:

Take your attention?

Get your worship?

Steal your time?

Our God-Shot today is to examine what we have allowed to have greater importance in our lives than God.  Is it our phones? Do they get the first part of our day? Is it our job? Does it get even greater priority? Is it money? Am I pursuing it so hard there is no room for the Lord in my life?   Is it myself? Am I spending all my time self-focused?   Is it my family and friends? Do they get all my time, and none is left for my relationship with Him?  It is not that most of these are things you can't have in your life; the question is, do they have the bull-share of your life, meaning do they crowd out God? That is the question, the challenge today...

Lord, forgive us for anything we have allowed to steal our attention, to become gods in our lives; help us to put you first in all that we do; let our motives be transformed.  We can rely on you; you are our strength, our trust, our salvation- not things, not money, not position, not people. Let us return our hearts to what matters: you, LORD, you.   In Jesus' name, Amen!