Focus

Take a few minutes to push the “pause” button on whatever is going on around you and be still with God.

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Read

Psalm 115:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.

Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Our God is in the heavens;
he does whatever he pleases.

Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.

They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.

They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.

They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
they make no sound in their throats.

Those who make them are like them;
so are all who trust in them.

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Reflect

“What people revere, they resemble, either for ruin or restoration.” Those are the words of the Orthodox Presbyterian minister and theologian, G.K. Beale.

I believe Beale has the right idea. We become what we behold. The things that we love and the decisions that we make in terms of how we act are directly by who or what is sitting on the throne of our hearts. The Apostle Paul explains this in another way when he says in Romans 6:16 when he tells us that all of us are slaves, but some of us are slaves of sin leading to death and some of are slaves of obedience leading to righteousness. There’s no middle ground. The trajectory of how we live our lives is determined by who our master is.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul tells us that when we turn to the Lord it’s almost as if we’re looking in a mirror at the image of Christ and we are in the process of being transformed into that image “from glory to glory” and this transformation is “from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

So, what does all this have to do with our text in Psalm 115? Look back up at 115:5-7 and notice all the qualities of the idols that are being made – they don’t have a voice, they don’t have a will, they can’t interact with the world around them, and then notice how all of this culminates in verse 8 – “Those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.” (Ps. 115:8, CSB)

If you want to have a voice, if you want to have sight, if you want to be able to hear God’s voice, then don’t invest in anything that would take those things away from you. Look to Christ and be transformed into His image.

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Pray

Almighty and Everlasting God, today I commit my thoughts, my actions, and my will to You. Allow me to have a voice so that I may speak to your glory. Allow my eyes to be opened so that I may see You at work in the world, and open my ears so that I may hear Your voice calling to me today. In the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

Go with God!