March 3rd Devotion

Deuteronomy 4:15-19 (NIV)
15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 8 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars--all the heavenly array--do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.

As Israel was preparing to cross the Jordan, God warned them about idol worship. The people that they would conquer, were idol worshipers, and there was a danger that Israel would embrace the idols of the very people they were to destroy.

When God had given them the law, there was nothing but His voice. There was nothing that could be made into an image of any kind. In essence, Israel was to worship the “Voice of God”. Hebrews says:

Hebrews 3:7-8 (NIV)
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert,

Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit like this:

John 3:5-8 (NIV)
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

As Christians, we live by faith, and faith does not require sight.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NIV)
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

Take a look around yourself. Do you see all the stuff. None of it can save your soul. None of it is God.

Love, Pastor Don