Read: Ezekiel 6:11-14
Reflect:
- Twice more God says, “They will know that I am the Lord” (v13, 14). Idolatry is a deceptive practice. It starts out innocently enough. You notice a good thing that happens, e.g., rain. And with the rain comes refreshment and crops. You want to be thankful, so you turn to whomever gave the rain. Then, you need rain, so you again turn to the source of rain and seek them. It all makes sense.
- Unless, you are gullible (naïve) enough to believe that the source is someone other than God Himself. If you allow yourself to believe that some wooden idol, or some philosophical idea, or some remote being, is god, then you are distracted…and misled. You begin to put your faith in something that can’t really supply the rain.
- Yet a thinking person realizes the above could easily describe what we call God. How do we know the difference between a god and God? God doesn’t merely appear in the good times…He’s there in the bad. God doesn’t merely take credit when it rains, He predicts when it will rain—or not. God chooses to disclose Himself as kind and gracious, not capricious. God never promotes evil or immorality.
Respond:
- How would (did) you explain God to children? How would (did) you help them see that belief actually requires faith?
- How do you “know” that the One you worship is God Himself and not some figment of your imagination or desire?
- Read Psalm 19.
Pray: Thank God that He has chosen to disclose Himself to us and wants us to know Him. Pray again for those 5 people you have identified who need to know God. Pray that you are filled with confidence about who God is.
