RTW 2023

This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies:‍“I am the First and the Last;there is no other God.‍Who is like me?‍Let him step forward and prove to you his power.‍Let him do as I have done since ancient times‍when I established a people and explained its future.‍Do not tremble; do not be afraid.‍Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago?‍You are my witnesses—is there any other God?‍No! There is no other Rock—not one!”‍How foolish are those who manufacture idols.‍These prized objects are really worthless.‍The people who worship idols don’t know this,‍so they are all put to shame.‍Who but a fool would make his own god—‍an idol that cannot help him one bit?‍All who worship idols will be disgraced‍along with all these craftsmen—mere humans—‍who claim they can make a god.‍They may all stand together,‍but they will stand in terror and shame.‍The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool,‍pounding and shaping it with all his might.‍His work makes him hungry and weak.‍It makes him thirsty and faint.‍Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood‍and draws a pattern on it.‍He works with chisel and plane‍and carves it into a human figure.‍He gives it human beauty‍and puts it in a little shrine.‍He cuts down cedars;‍he selects the cypress and the oak;‍he plants the pine in the forest‍to be nourished by the rain.‍Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire.‍With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.‍Then—yes, it’s true—he takes the rest of it‍and makes himself a god to worship!‍He makes an idol‍and bows down in front of it!‍He burns part of the tree to roast his meat‍and to keep himself warm.‍He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.”‍Then he takes what’s left‍and makes his god: a carved idol!‍He falls down in front of it,‍worshiping and praying to it.‍“Rescue me!” he says.“You are my god!”‍Such stupidity and ignorance!‍Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see.‍Their minds are shut, and they cannot think.‍The person who made the idol never stops to reflect,‍“Why, it’s just a block of wood!‍I burned half of it for heat‍and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat.‍How can the rest of it be a god?‍Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?”‍The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes.‍He trusts something that can’t help him at all.‍Yet he cannot bring himself to ask,‍“Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

‍Isaiah 44:6-20

Let all the world look to me for salvation!For I am God; there is no other.I have sworn by my own name;I have spoken the truth,and I will never go back on my word:Every knee will bend to me,and every tongue will declare allegiance to me.”The people will declare,“The LORD is the source of all my righteousness and strength.”And all who were angry with himwill come to him and be ashamed.In the LORD all the generations of Israel will be justified,and in him they will boast.

Isaiah 45:22-25

• We all worship something.
• We think it is silly to bow down to statues of gold.
• We pursue relationships.
• We pursue status.
• We pursue money.
• We pursue work.
• What we think about most reflects who or what we worship.
• Anything other than the pursuit of God leaves us dissatisfied.
• It leaves us broken and wounded.
• We were created to worship God alone.
• The Fall caused worship to be distorted.
• Scripture tells us we move towards worship of created things rather than the Creator.
• Though humanity turned away from God, He is faithful to His people.
• His plan remained: redeeming His people and turning their hearts back to Him.
• Through Jesus, the one true Worshiper, we can all become true worshipers again.
• There is coming a day when God will fully restore the earth and all of God’s people will worship God, and God alone.

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At the end of my days here on earth, may I look back and see no wasted days or wasted nights in worship of anything other than the One that is Worthy of all worship!!!