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[expand title=”Devotion Text”]Today’s passage chronicles Israel’s sad demise when they were captured and deported to Assyria. “All this took place because the Israelites had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt…. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before them….” (2 Kings 17:7-8 NIV).
2 Kings 17:41
So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.
It was not that Israel stopped worshiping God. The problem was that they worshiped God…and in blatant disobedience to Commandments #1 and #2…worshiped other gods. They never quite got the “no other gods before me” and no “likeness of anything” instruction. But then…do we?
Israel’s hypocrisy reminds us that we don’t have to stop worshiping God to worship idols. We can do both at the same time. Jobs, possessions, relationships, money, hobbies, and a host of other things serve as the “add-ons” and the consequences flow to our children and grandchildren.
Talking Points
- Ask God to examine your heart. Ask him to show you any “add-on” objects of worship in your life.
- Ask God—for your sake and the sake of your children—to help you get rid of any worship “add-ons.”
Father, examine my heart. Point out anything and everything that I serve…along with you. Please help me tear down idols before, like Israel, it is too late. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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