Eyes Wide Open

Words of Preparation for Sunday, April 29 in reference to Acts 17:16-21

The God who sent the Messiah is still the Holy One of Israel, a jealous deity without rivals, an exclusive lover who tolerates no competition – money, sex, philosophical ideals, institutions – who fiercely judges all idols made by hands or minds of men. -William Willimon, Acts

It seems today that it stings a bit to speak of a jealous God who “fiercely judges…” as if God actually cares how we order our lives and our priorities. This is the place where following Christ becomes difficult. If you look at the 10 commandments, it is impossible to break commandments 2-10 without also breaking the first one. We generally learn the hard way on this one, just like the Israelites who were reminded in Exodus 20:

I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth…

Apart from Sanjaya on American Idol (Sanjaya fans, you need help), what else do we worship? Human approval? Education? Technology? Even our families? The default answer to the idolatry question is usually money. But even the love of money demonstrates the idolatry of trusting something or someone other than God for our daily bread. It’s pretty easy to fall into the trap of thinking we need more than what God provides to be complete, to be fulfilled. The reality remains that these things, all containing virtue, sneak their way into 1st place in our hearts on any given day.

O Lord, may we have the courage lay down our idols and embrace all that You are; for You are more than enough.

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