DAILY READING
REFLECTION
How Will They Know?
by Judy Webb
“After that whole generation had been gathered to their ancestors, another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord and served the Baals. They forsook the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them. They aroused the Lord’s anger…” (vv. 10-12)
And here we go again, the vicious circle we humans are prone to practice. The cycle of disbelieving and disobeying God, only to be chastised, humbled to repentance and for a time, we revert to following God’s Word.
Do you find this to be true in your life also? Do you plod through seasons of doubt and mistrust and then something happens in life and once again you turn back to God and beg Him to show you the way back? It all boils down to how we allow idol worship to creep back into our lives. Maybe we don’t worship Baal, but we turn to social media for our entertainment, our self-grandiose devotion. Instead of looking up and all around us and taking our pleasure in all God has created, we keep our heads down and focused on things that don’t matter at all.
We neglect those we are called to love: our children, families and friends and heap attention on strangers. We idolize the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Why? They are strangers, outside our world. Why do we covet their lifestyles, their fame and fortune? Do we think they are better than us, have it easier than we do? In fact, they are most likely poorer than we as they have traded in their personal space, and their privacy, for expensive celebrity status.
Previous verses we have studied in this series remind us to keep telling the story of God’s saving nature. The story of our rescue from slavery and His redeeming work on our behalf. Think back on a time you were lost and cried out to God for help. How did that help arrive? Have you shared that story to your family, your friends and neighbors who need to hear it? There is power in your testimony, and if you don’t tell them, how will they know of God’s amazing love?
PRAYER
Lord,
It is true, if we don't tell them, they might never know your love, your grace, and your forgiveness. Our stories, the testimonies you have given us must be shared with others. We all have stories of seasons in our own lives when You reached down and plucked us out of the path of danger, of evil. Tell those stories to your children and your friends and neighbors so they might know of Your amazing love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
JUDY WEBB
I have been a member of UALC for 26 years and have been writing devotions for this site for about 17 of them. Writing is my passion. As retired staff I still love everything about UALC and its members including my small group.
Verse 10 was so convicting as I find so much to talk about with other people. And yet God has done so much for me.- And for many people I know and so how will people know? how will the next generation know if I am not - We are not- sharing as we go?