Meditation for July 20 from Pastor Karen

Here is Pastor Karen's devotion today:

Good morning!

What is an idol?

Presbyterians come from a long tradition of Christians who shun “idols”—in reaction to the standard religion of the Middle Ages that was a mix of Christianity and many pagan religions that honored images, statues, good luck charms, and superstitious rituals to ward off evil spirits or appease angry gods.

An idol was something that was prayed to, sacrificed to, loved and/or worshiped—in place of the one true God. An idol can be anything that is loved more than the Lord.

An idol is not to be confused with a sacred symbol or sacrament, such as the bread and wine used in the Lord’s Supper or the sign of the empty cross to proclaim the message of our risen Savior.

The ancient Israelites valued stones as signs of what God had done for them and to indicate places where they encountered the Lord through a divine revelation or vision. They didn’t worship the stones. Stones were placed to help people remember the Lord’s goodness and care for them, such as when Jacob raised a stone in the wilderness after His comforting dream of angels going up and down a ladder. “Surely the Lord is in this place!” he declared.

These stones could be compared to the memorial plaques we find beside roads as we travel around the States, marking the historical importance of a place. They were valuable teaching tools, except that these stones were always about God and His faithfulness—and not simply about the achievements of human beings, as are most memorials we encounter in our everyday lives.

In today’s Joshua reading, when the people of Israel camped in Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho before the battle, Joshua erected 12 stones the people had brought with them from the river Jordan.

And Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘When your children ask their parents in time to come, “What do these stones mean?” then you shall let your children know, “Israel crossed over the Jordan here on dry ground.” For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we crossed over, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, and so that you may fear the Lord your God for ever.’”

The Israelites’ enemies heard the story of the stones and God’s miraculous provision—and this is how Israel won the battle against them, without lifting a sword. It was truly a spiritual battle:

“When all the kings of the Amorites beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts failed, and there was no longer any spirit in them, because of the Israelites.”

The people of Jericho also heard the story of the powerful Israelite God, and the fight went out of them, as well, so that Israel easily conquered the land that the Lord had promised them.

Are there symbols you encounter daily that remind you of God’s goodness? A church you pass by on your way to town or to your job? The bells ringing before worship on Sunday morning? Your Bible on a bedside table? Or a cross you wear on a chain?

Remember that it is not the symbol that protects you from evil. It is the Lord who is always with you, caring for you. He has done great things for His people in the past.

And He will continue to do great things for you—if you trust in Him.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we worship your holy name! Our eyes have not seen your glory; nor can our minds imagine it. But we believe You are the Only One True God, the one who rescued the Israelites from captivity and the One who sent Your Only Son, Jesus Christ, to the world when we could not follow the 10 commandments and make ourselves holy enough to be with You. Reveal your presence and faithfulness to us today through everyday things. Let us see your works and your goodness in this land through people and natural scenes of beauty—a corn stalk or bean plant growing in a field; a river snaking through a valley; a bird chirping its joy; and a cloud moving slowly across the sky. Lord, bring us rain to revive our land and sustain the lives of humans, animals, and plants. Thank you for being with us and for loving us when we have done nothing to earn your love. In Christ we pray. Amen.

Today’s readings are Joshua 4:19-5:1,10-15; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 26:17-25;
and Psalm 31.

Blessings in Christ!

Pastor Karen

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