Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 115:1-9
Ps 115:1-9
Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Why do the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them. O house of Israel, trust in the LORD--he is their help and shield.
Col 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
When we make our own gods, they will never rise above what we are. The God of the Bible made us in his image, with a goal of us being like him. But his adversary, the devil, has a goal in mind for us also. His goal is for us to rebel against God and for us to even treat him with contempt. It is with this goal in mind that he will put temptations in our way and will try to deceive us into believing his lies.
The gods of this world teach our young people that there is no Supreme God who has authority to tell us how to live, nor any absolute morality, or that right and wrong are always relative to the situation. When children grow up with these ideas put into their minds, it is no wonder they act the way they do. This is just another way of saying that we are our own gods and that we determine right and wrong for ourselves in every situation. This is selfishness personified.
With this mindset, each generation will drift farther and farther from the God who made us and who provides all things for us. The result is that when we fail to acknowledge him as God and we fail to give him thanks, he will eventually give up on us and allow us to go from bad to worse. The Roman nation, along with others, have collapsed because of their own wickedness and ungodliness fed by idolatry.
Heavenly Father it is so wonderful to be able to know that you are God and that you have made me in your own likeness. I ask you to help me open my heart to the working of your Spirit within me, so I will be molded more and more into your image. Fill me with your love until it overflows on all around me. Give me your mercy and compassion so I will show it to others every day. Help me be kind to everyone, even as you are kind to me. Keep me from being judgmental and critical, but rather help me show grace. I humbly pray in the name of Jesus.
Robert
