19th. February. 2022. Daily Devotion.
4 ‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. Exodus 20:4
It is disturbing to realize how good we are at making idols. We can make them out of any physical thing. We can even create them out of thin air. For example, we can claim to be righteous based on our political views. We can worship a sports franchise. We can devote our lives to the service of a corporation. Such idols are also known as ideologies, or “isms.” Our ability to create such gods is unlimited. Anything that we attach our ultimate desire to, whether physical or conceptual, can be an idol, a god.
But these idols are not the Lord God, the one who delivered Israel from Egypt, the one who freed us from our slavery to sin. Only this God moves through history with his people. This is the one who created us. We cannot and must not create another.
God, forgive us. You are the only one. You are our Creator, our Saviour, and our friend. Help us to remove all idols from our lives and serve you only. Amen.
Holy Spirit of God, source of knowledge and creator of fellowship; Open our minds to recognise the truth and our hearts to welcome it, that in company together we may learn your will and be strengthened to obey it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ~ Basil Naylor
From the throne of your glory, O Lord, send forth your wisdom to live in our hearts, to be at work in our lives and to speak in our conscience; that our thoughts, words and actions may be according to your will and reveal your glory; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Aelred of Rievaulx (c.1109-1167)
God of the wild places and margins, give us the grace to honour those who are different.
God of the dispossessed and empty, give us humility to value in others the things we lack.
God of the spiritually poor and cynical, give us the self-awareness to avoid arrogance.
God of the aggressive and defensive, give us the courage and patience to love unconditionally
God of ourselves, give us the tenderness to see ourselves as you see us.
Amen.
Prayer from Japan
God our Father, Creator of the world, please help us to love one another. Make nations friendly with other nations; make all of us love one another like brothers and sisters. Help us to do our part to bring peace in the world and happiness to all people. Amen