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"Shall a man make gods unto himself, and they are
no gods." - Jeremiah 16:20
One great besetting sin of ancient Israel was idolatry, and the spiritual Israel
are vexed with a tendency to the same folly. Remphan's star shines no longer,
and the women weep no more for Tammuz, but Mammon still intrudes his golden
calf, and the shrines of pride are not forsaken. Self in various forms struggles
to subdue the chosen ones under its dominion, and the flesh sets up its altars
wherever it can find space for them. Favourite children are often the cause of
much sin in believers; the Lord is grieved when he sees us doting upon them
above measure; they will live to be as great a curse to us as Absalom was to
David, or they will be taken from us to leave our homes desolate. If Christians
desire to grow thorns to stuff their sleepless pillows, let them dote on their
dear ones.
It is truly said that "they are no gods," for the objects of our foolish love
are very doubtful blessings, the solace which they yield us now is dangerous,
and the help which they can give us in the hour of trouble is little indeed.
Why, then, are we so bewitched with vanities? We pity the poor heathen who adore
a god of stone, and yet worship a god of gold. Where is the vast superiority
between a god of flesh and one of wood? The principle, the sin, the folly is the
same in either case, only that in ours the crime is more aggravated because we
have more light, and sin in the face of it. The heathen bows to a false deity,
but the true God he has never known; we commit two evils, inasmuch as we forsake
the living God and turn unto idols. May the Lord purge us all from this grievous
iniquity!
"The dearest idol I have known, Whate'er that idol be; Help me to tear it from
thy throne, And worship only thee."
See Also:
Daily Devotional: Today With Jesus
Daily Devotional: My Utmost for His Highest
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