What Do You Worship?

Published: Feb. 13, 2020, midnight

b'Over and over again, Scripture condemns the worship of idols. The Israelites, God\\u2019s chosen people, struggled with idolatry. Even though they repeatedly witnessed God\\u2019s power and saw Him work mightily on their behalf, they still turned to man-made images and worshiped them. They turned to statues and other false gods for protection, provision, or sometimes just a little extra \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153insurance\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d while they pretended to fully trust in God. It can sometimes seem silly to us as we read through the Bible. How could they put their trust in an objectthat has nothing to offer them? No personal relationship. No power. Nothing.\\nThe truth is, God created us for worship. We have a yearning, a hunger, a deep desire within us to worship. And if we don\\u2019t give our full worship to Him, we will find ourselves worshiping something else. The idols we bow down to are the things we cling to or value more than Jesus. They can set up shop in our hearts and distract us from our need for Him and the life He gives us.\\nWhile we might think bowing before a golden calf or wood-carved statue seems silly, what might the Israelites say about how much time and affection we give our smartphones? Or the time and energy we spend trying to attain popularity, a prominent position on the team, or the starring role in a play? While it\\u2019s not necessarily bad to spend time doing these things, the problem occurs when we give them our total devotion and turn to them first for our worth and comfort\\u2014when they become our identity rather than our relationship with Jesus. \\nSo ask Him to show you the idols of your heart. Where is your attention and affection going? What is the central reason behind every decision you make? Who or what do you turn to when life feels uncertain or hard? Jesus delights in you and wants you to find your identity in Him. He is worthy of ALL your worship. \\u2022 Cara Campbell\\n\\u2022 Is there an idol in your life that you\\u2019re turning to instead of God? \\n\\u2022 What kind of trust are you putting in that idol? What are you hoping it will do for you?\\n\\u2022 How does Jesus provide for the things you think your idol will give you? Why is He worthy of your total trust and devotion? \\nDear children, keep away from anything that might take God\\u2019s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:21 (NLT)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nExodus 32:1-8; Psalm 135:5-7, 15-18'