Verse of the day: Judges 18:24, So he said, “You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, ‘What ails you?’ ”
For those of us who know the Lord, what confidence would we have in Jesus if He could be taken from us? What hope would we have if our salvation was founded on a god who could not even protect itself and keep itself from being taken hostage? What a truly sad picture we have here of the hopelessness and helplessness of worshipping false gods. The graven image that was made could not offer salvation for itself or its creator. It could not heal or provide. It could not see, hear, or speak. It was essentially deaf, dumb, blind, and mute. Yet, what great sorrow befell Micah at the realization that his created god was now being taken away from him and neither he nor his god had the power to stop the invaders. In spite of all of that, Micah sought after his god as if it was the most valuable thing he possessed. He was even willing to challenge the Danites, until he realized that they were too strong (v. 22-26). This is the god he was willing to stand up for; a god who was not even capable of helping Micah have victory in this potential conflict. If Micah can be dedicated to such a god, how dedicated and surrendered should we be to an Almighty God? We have a God who is infinite. Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Our God is self-sufficient and does not need for us to take care of Him. In John 5:26 Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself”. God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and ever present at all times (Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 139:7-10). Is there any other who is as just, loving, gracious, merciful, forgiving, and as patient as our God? If we truly have an intimate relationship with Him in Christ Jesus, then we know that the answer to that question is, “There is no one like our God.” We can proclaim, as Moses did in Exodus 15:11, “Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?” If we believe and proclaim that there is no other god like our God, I want to ask a question. “Why are those who worship idols and false gods more dedicated to their powerless gods, than we are to our Almighty God?” “Why do they sacrifice so much to a god who gives them little to nothing, yet we sacrifice so little for a God who has given us all things?” Many have even given their lives for false gods and their false doctrines, and many Christians are not even willing to take up their cross, deny self, or even surrender their lives for God to use for His glory. Why is that? Have we allowed the gods of this world (money, material gain, status in society, or climbing the corporate ladder, etc.) to steal our worship from the only One who deserves it? How many of us can say that we are living as we have been admonished in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” If we claim that we are living out these verses, is it reflected in how often we pray, read and study God’s Word? Is it reflected in the way we serve God sacrificially, willing to give it all for the sake of His glory? Are we seeking after him with the kind of hunger and willingness to defend our faith as Micah was willing to do for his idol? Imagine what God could accomplish through us, and in us, if we were that dedicated to the God who gave His only begotten Son for us? I would venture to say that we would have the reputation of the early church, who turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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