Thoughts for another day

June 9, 2009.

Today's verse: Jer. 2:11. Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

In the days before Christ, particularly the period of the Kings prior to the exile, the people of Israel did many evil things to provoke God. The most obnoxious thing they did was to worship the gods that some of the pagan people, living with them worshipped and follow their customs. They took our God for granted and did as they wished, primarily because they felt that God would not take it seriously as He loved them and His covenant was there with them. But God did take it very seriously because He is a Holy God and has no space for anything impure. They therefore had to bear the consequences.

But our fair and just God didn’t do anything without warning them of the disastrous consequences of their behavior. Yet, they didn’t heed the warnings He sent through the prophets. One can imagine, the pain God underwent when the people He loved and did so much for worshipped idols and no gods. Our verse today, brings out the pain in His heart as He mentions how the Jews changed the glory they possessed in Him for duds and that which would do them no good.

It’s not very different today. We may not have idols in our lives, but we have things we idolize for e.g. wealth and riches or children or ambition, etc. These become our gods whom we worship and to whom we give our whole lives, lock, stock and barrel. I’ve noticed even among us Christians that we have no room or time for God in our lives and we live projecting this. You can imagine what God must be thinking. Think, He who is so benevolent and majestic and such a great provider is shunned and ignored! What is your situation today? Do you give Him, pride of place in your heart or is He someone you go to only when in trouble, expecting Him to help you? It’s time we took our God as seriously as He wants us to and forge pleasant and reverent atmospheres so that His kingdom begins on earth.