"But the Israelites would not listen. They were as stubborn as their ancestors who had refused to believe in the Lord their God. They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they despised all his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves."
2 Kings 17:14-15a (NLT)
After the kingdom was split in 2 (Israel in the North, and Judah in the South), Israel really moved away from God. So God sent prophets to warn them that a great punishment was coming if they didn't change their ways. But unlike Ninevah who listened and repented when Jonah brought them God's Word to change their ways or else (much to Jonah's dismay). Israel seems incapable of learning from their past... Sometimes I wonder if we can.
But this line from chapter 17 really caught my (Aimee's) attention: "They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves." What you worship, what you put on a pedastal, what means the most to you, says a lot about who you are. I don't think that there is anyone who would really deny that. There are simply some out there who have really interesting interpretations of what different idols say about them. But, what really matters, is what GOD says those idols say about you!
Worshiping anyone or anything other than God is making that person or thing an idol. And worshiping any idol is pure foolishness. No idol can compare to God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Heaven's Armies. How can it?! Idols are worthless because they can do nothing for you. They can't provide for you like God can. They can't bless you like God can. They can't even punish you like God can. They may bring you joy, but it's fleeting. So, when you worship something that is worthless, you become worthless, because you are placing your trust in someone or something that will fail you.
Our worth lies in our Creator. He created each and every one of us. He created each of us to be unique and to serve a unique purpose (yes, we all are called to spread the Gospel and bring glory to God, but how we do that will be different from person to person). God loves you for who you are, whether you're good or bad. Of course, He prefers when you're good, but that isn't the only time He loves you. He loves you so much, in fact, that He sent His Son to die on a cross so that you can join Him in paradise someday!
What has your idol done for you?
After the kingdom was split in 2 (Israel in the North, and Judah in the South), Israel really moved away from God. So God sent prophets to warn them that a great punishment was coming if they didn't change their ways. But unlike Ninevah who listened and repented when Jonah brought them God's Word to change their ways or else (much to Jonah's dismay). Israel seems incapable of learning from their past... Sometimes I wonder if we can.
But this line from chapter 17 really caught my (Aimee's) attention: "They worshiped worthless idols, so they became worthless themselves." What you worship, what you put on a pedastal, what means the most to you, says a lot about who you are. I don't think that there is anyone who would really deny that. There are simply some out there who have really interesting interpretations of what different idols say about them. But, what really matters, is what GOD says those idols say about you!
Worshiping anyone or anything other than God is making that person or thing an idol. And worshiping any idol is pure foolishness. No idol can compare to God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Lord of Heaven's Armies. How can it?! Idols are worthless because they can do nothing for you. They can't provide for you like God can. They can't bless you like God can. They can't even punish you like God can. They may bring you joy, but it's fleeting. So, when you worship something that is worthless, you become worthless, because you are placing your trust in someone or something that will fail you.
Our worth lies in our Creator. He created each and every one of us. He created each of us to be unique and to serve a unique purpose (yes, we all are called to spread the Gospel and bring glory to God, but how we do that will be different from person to person). God loves you for who you are, whether you're good or bad. Of course, He prefers when you're good, but that isn't the only time He loves you. He loves you so much, in fact, that He sent His Son to die on a cross so that you can join Him in paradise someday!
What has your idol done for you?
What are you telling others that you're worth?
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