“Consider This” Blog

Too often we think idols are relegated to the Old Testament. We remember reading about people turning back to God and tearing down these poles or statues used to worship foreign gods. That was a picture of idolatry in that time, and that still occurs today in some parts of the world. But idolatry goes beyond that limited picture. Idolatry is alive and well in our society. Most often, idols are found in our hearts. This is what John was addressing in 1 John 5:21 when he wrote, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

“Why do you read the Bible?

Do you read it begrudgingly as an activity that you feel you have to do, or do you read it with joyful anticipation because you know Who is waiting to speak with you through it? Do you read the word because it gives you some sense of accomplishment or an impression that you are acceptable to God because you perform certain activities, or do you read the word to commune with God and develop a deeper relationship with Him as the sure and secure source of your fulfillment and salvation?

Why do you read the Bible?”

As we enter into the summer months in Michigan, we love to fill up our schedule with outdoor activities as we soak up the summer sun. If your days are like mine, I can come to the end of the day and realize that I did not take any time to spend with God in His Word. There can be a variety of reasons why we don’t spend time in God’s Word, but I think one of the reasons we don’t spend time in God’s Word is because we have a low view of Scripture. We don’t approach the Scriptures with awe and wonder. We don’t approach the Bible as something that is living and active.

“Throughout redemptive history, God’s people have gathered to worship him in all kinds of situations—many of them less than ideal. They worshipped together as slaves in Egypt and exiles in Babylon, as wanderers in the wilderness and as objects of Roman persecution. The church in a pandemic joins their faithful company. We may be six feet apart, but we are still the church.”

Maybe the reason racism is still rampant in white culture is less about the history of slavery in our country and more about the complete failure of our culture to teach a right and contrite confession of racism and partiality.