Answered Prayer in a Shoebox by D.Andrews

Dear Friend,

Today’s devotion included below “Answered Prayer in A Shoebox” is a reminder from GiG Mary that, “No matter how small or trivial your prayers may seem, remember God’s perspective. If it is important to you, it is important to Him.”

It’s Monday and time to share number 17 of the 52 Catechism truths. Oh, I don’t know about you, but in 2019, I plan to continue doing as 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV teaches, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

GiG, my prayer is that we will continue to study, learn, grow, and share truth with people in our circle of influence. Whether a new follower of Jesus or you have been walking this faith-walk for decades, there is always room for growth and I stand in need of it every day.

“ 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused… 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.” Romans 1:21, 25 NLT

Question 17: What is idolatry? (Romans 1:21, 25)

Answer: “Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator for our hope and happiness, significance and security.”

GiG, Martin Luther (German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation), teaches us through his writings that “To whatever we look for any good thing and for refuge in every need, that is what is meant by ‘god’.” Yet, many attest that they have God and everything needed provided they have money, property, and health. Turn on the television or surf the World Wide Web and you’ll see evidence of this—arrogance, false security, and pride because of such possessions, but desperate when these things are lacking or lost. So don’t get it twisted, to have a god means to have something on which one’s heart depends entirely.

When was the last time we explored our own heart thoroughly? Is it too much to ask for us to stop for a moment and do so. Will we find out that it embraces God alone or does it rely on something else? Simply put, does our heart give up and forsake everything that is not God? If so, then we have the one true God. However, if it doesn’t, then we have another god, a false god, an idol.

Catechism 16 showed us that “… sin is rejecting, ignoring, and rebelling against God, not treating God as God, and not giving him the honor that is his due.” So idolatry is loving anything more, treating anything as more important than Jesus Christ for our meaning in life—for our happiness, security, hope or self-regard. And that’s dangerous.

Timothy Keller (American pastor, theologian, and Christian apologist), points out in his writings the need to understand the sin of idolatry because “…it can be growing in a part of our life for a long time and get very deep without it right away leading to clear, visible, and easily seen violations of God’s law.” OUCH!

May we be encouraged to seek God’s forgiveness for prioritizing (worshiping) the things he has made. No person or thing should be our hope or our trust. God alone should be our all in all.

God’s Got It…so seek HIM—In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Le me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Psalm 31:1 NKJV

Have a “Be Motivated” Monday, January 7, 2019—to grasp this: sin is not just doing bad things. It’s turning good things into ultimate things—ruining our soul, destroying communities, and dishonoring God.

Called to serve and encouraging others to thrive,

DEA

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