ESOCS Devotional 22 May 2024 – The Foolishness of Idolatry
MEMORY VERSE: “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools; and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” Romans 1:22-23 KJV
TEXT: ROMANS 1:17-32
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
Sin dates back to Eden, leading to the fall of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:13). Following from that great fall, sin has enslaved the entire human race, thereby bringing death as its wages. Humans tainted with sinful stains are subject to God’s anger and punishment. Ironically, even in the heart of the forgiven child of God, sin can bring about intense personal struggle.
However, the worst of all sinful acts appears to be the wisdom of the foolish, who, though knowing of God’s existence, glorify Him not. They rather go ahead to create a god after their own imaginations (v 23; 1 Kings 12:28). Moreover, when men reject the authority of God, there is a tendency to allow their lives to digress into wicked behaviours, including the sin of idolatry (2 Kings 17:15; Jeremiah 2:5, Ephesians 4:17).
God allows them to wallow in their foolishness (v 22). Such is the denunciation by the Holy Spirit of all those philosophers who would trust in their own wisdom and knowledge, as opposed to being guided by the wisdom and knowledge of God (Jeremiah 10:14, 23; 1 Corinthians 1:20-25). The Psalmist, in Psalm 14:1, had also long ago emphasized that the one who says there is no God is a fool. This is probably because such people cannot objectively comprehend from the things which exist, that there is a creator and designer of them all. What an unfortunate state of affairs.
It is the spirit of idolatry that lures men into creating a god after their own image (Deuteronomy 4:16-19; Psalm 106:20; Isaiah 40:18-19). It follows therefore that when men seek to be religious in a manner that justifies the actions of their lives, they will tend to organize a religion that conforms to their own behaviour. This will then lead them to create a god that agrees with the performance of their proposed religion.
Any religion that is not driven and directed by the word of God, is a false religion because it is humanly invented, and organized after the desires of men. Take heed to yourselves.
- Idolatry extends beyond the worship of wood and stone. Do you agree?
- Lord God of heaven and earth, give me the grace and discipline to worship you alone – the only true God.
Further Reading: Exodus 12:14-127; 2 Kings 3:1-17; Mark 6:1-6
ESOCS Devotional 22 May 2024
