JULY 19, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – VANITY OF IDOLATRY

JULY 19, 2021 CAC LIVING WATER DEVOTIONAL : TOPIC – VANITY OF IDOLATRY

Read previous CAC Living Water Devotionals here

LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Monday, July 19, 2021

VANITY OF IDOLATRY

Read: Habakkuk 2:18-20

Habakkuk 2:18-20  What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

MEMORISE:

Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ To silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all (Habakkuk 2:19)

EXPOSITION

God declared His mind to His people in the Law. He specifically warned them against worshipping other gods (Exod. 20:3-5). It is clear that our Lord God is a jealous God whose glory He will share with no other, and His praise with no idol. Man has always flagrantly violated this command. Come to think of it, how would the God Almighty, the Maker of heavens and earth be compared to a mere molten or carved image? The ancient people specialised in making craft – carved woods, bronze work of all kinds. Making craft isn’t the issue, but what man’s depravity and futility caused – shamelessly bowing to images of man, starry hosts, and animals. The Fall distorted and damaged man so much that he was short of God’s glory. Hence, he sought solution from mere creatures and not the Creator (Rom. 1:18-32). God never tolerates idolatry, hence His warning to His people to desist from such pagan practices. However, He left some to reprobate mind (foolish thinking; Rom. 1:28, NLT) to be doing things that should never be done.

Idols are images that have legs but cannot walk, eyes they can’t use. In this regard, idols go beyond physical images. They may be imaginary in our hearts. What about those practices that we place ahead of God, or that are more valuable to us than He? Education, fashion, work, entertainment, computer and wealth, even, your houses, cars could become become idols. They are all idols. Idolatry is futility and vanity! May God never allow us to waste our efforts serving and worshipping idols.

Our text puts it straight that worship of idols brings no profit. Or, of what benefit is a lifeless object that cannot do you any good? They are lies, and give false hope, security, blessing, etc. Isn’t it crazy when people put their trust in what they make? Habakkuk declares woe upon you if you still have idols in your heart, homes, finance, etc. Desist today and enjoy God.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Help me, O Lord, to trust You alone.

2. Lord, deliver me from idols in my heart and those I place value on more than You.

3. Lord Jesus, let the whole earth be filled with Your knowledge according to Your Word so that people can realise the futility of idolatry.

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Neh. 13:16 – 13:31; Esther 1:1 – 3:2; Acts 16:40 – 17:21

Leave a Reply