Our scripture this morning is Leviticus 26:1-2 (NET).
You must not make for yourselves idols, so you must not set up for yourselves a carved image or a pillar, and you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down before it, for I am the Lord your God. You must keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
Again God repeats guidance from the Ten Commandments: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is on the earth beneath or that is in the water below” (Exodus 20:4). God wants us to understand clearly our relationship with Him. We can’t be His people if we put something other than God on the throne. We might think the idea of “graven images” as the focus of our lives sounds silly, but what are our graven images? Money, power, prestige…anything that keeps our focus away from Him is an idol in our lives. In Matthew 24:2 Jesus tells them regarding the temple “Do you see all these things? I tell you the truth, not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!” An idol or a temple we construct is no longer needed, God has sent His Spirit to dwell in us as His holy temple.
Gracious God, in Your mercy You continue to offer us Your presence and the free gift of salvation through Jesus. Strengthen us in faith and send us to share the Good News everywhere. Amen.
