December 15
Micah 1:1-4:13; Revelation 6:1-17; Psalm 134:1-3; Proverbs 30:1-4
People can often be superstitious. They watch their favorite sports team wearing the same shirt and sitting in the same chair as they did the week before, thinking that will provide victory. In Romania, many people will walk into a church on Sunday mornings and immediately walk out but believe that God will now bless them. These strange ideas are not new.
Micah points out the sins of Judah and says in 1:5, “What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?” Part of their sin was having transformed their religious places and ceremonies into things that ceased to be about God. They continued many of the practices but lost the heart behind them. They continued worship services but ceased to worship God. They had transformed activities that were supposed to be about God into superstitious rituals. Similarly, the prophets, seers, and diviners had long since stopped hearing from God but instead told the people what made them feel good. Truth was traded for feel-good nonsense.
Revelation 6 describes the destiny of those who oppose God whether in outright rebellion or superstitious, superficial religion. They will find themselves reaping the judgment and wrath of God. Following God may lead to suffering, persecution, or even death, but it grants us eternal life. So, let us rip off everything that is keeping us from closeness with God and learn to embrace the true praise described in Psalm 134.
Father God, help me to pursue you and praise you alone. Help me to repent of superficial, superstitious religion in my life and replace it with loving and praising you. Amen.
Question: Where do you see superficial, superstitious religion replacing an authentic relationship with God in your life?
People can often be superstitious. They watch their favorite sports team wearing the same shirt and sitting in the same chair as they did the week before, thinking that will provide victory. In Romania, many people will walk into a church on Sunday mornings and immediately walk out but believe that God will now bless them. These strange ideas are not new.
Micah points out the sins of Judah and says in 1:5, “What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem?” Part of their sin was having transformed their religious places and ceremonies into things that ceased to be about God. They continued many of the practices but lost the heart behind them. They continued worship services but ceased to worship God. They had transformed activities that were supposed to be about God into superstitious rituals. Similarly, the prophets, seers, and diviners had long since stopped hearing from God but instead told the people what made them feel good. Truth was traded for feel-good nonsense.
Revelation 6 describes the destiny of those who oppose God whether in outright rebellion or superstitious, superficial religion. They will find themselves reaping the judgment and wrath of God. Following God may lead to suffering, persecution, or even death, but it grants us eternal life. So, let us rip off everything that is keeping us from closeness with God and learn to embrace the true praise described in Psalm 134.
Father God, help me to pursue you and praise you alone. Help me to repent of superficial, superstitious religion in my life and replace it with loving and praising you. Amen.
Question: Where do you see superficial, superstitious religion replacing an authentic relationship with God in your life?
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1January 2January 3January 4January 5January 6January 7January 8January 9January 10January 11January 12January 13January 14January 15January 16January 17January 18January 19January 20January 21January 22January 23January 24January 25January 26January 27January 28January 29January 30January 31
2024
June
Categories
no categories
No Comments