Fallen idols: Monday Message

Gideon asked the angel, “If God is with us, why has all this happened?” (Judges 6:12). As we face trouble at work, hurtful relationships, or even routine irritations and inconveniences, we might ask God the same question. Sometimes life is hard and God’s promises seem distant. We ask God “why?!”

God’s answered Gideon with an invitation to get rid of idols. Like the rest of Israel, Gideon and his family were not totally surrendered to the LORD God. In Judges 6:25-27 Gideon tears down his family’s idols to Baal and Asherah. Gideon renews his commitment to the LORD.

Perhaps today is a good time to smash an idol distracting your full-on devotion to God. Yesterday in worship we did so by symbolically crushing a dixie cup. You might do the same right now by crumpling a sheet of paper while praying, “Lord, I surrender to you completely. Let me find my strength for today in you alone.”

If you missed this weekend’s message you can listen to it here.

Join us for worship this weekend as we consider the story of Jonah’s call as our series, When God Calls continues.

Eat Up!

People everywhere are watching what they eat. It’s part of a growing awareness that what we eat impacts our bodies and our health. Even fast-food giant McDonald’s is in the game offering a wider variety of wholesome choices and providing nutritional information next to menu items.

What’s true of our bodies is true of our souls.

When God calls Ezekiel, he tells the prophet to “eat this book” (Ezekiel 3:1 The Message translation). Ezekiel ate, and it was “as sweet as honey” (Ezekiel 3:1). The book of Ezekiel is full of wild visions which convey important truths. I doubt Ezekiel actually took a knife and fork to the Torah Scroll. However, the description underscores an important truth: We need the Scripture to feed a healthy soul. In her message this weekend, Pastor Katrina cited Eugene Peterson’s cereal box analogy. Peterson says, we can read all the nutritional information on a cereal box but until we’ve digested what’s inside, the box of cereal does us no good.

What is your soul munching on this Monday? Take a time-out now to reflect on some Scripture (try Psalm 23). Ask God to help you savor its truth and feed your inner self.

Our post-Easter series, “When God Calls,” continues this Mother’s Day weekend with the call of Gideon. Have you ever doubted God’s favor or presence in your life? Do you feel like life is just a daily game of survival? If so, God’s message to Gideon is a message for you! I look forward to worshipping and learning with you this weekend.