Who are your gods?

But where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them come, if they can save you, in your time of trouble; for you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah. ~ Jeremiah 2:28 


We are all partisans in the perennial human rebellion against God. We revel in our personal sovereignty and unbridled freedom. ~ UCC Pastor Richard Floyd 


 "Where are your gods that you made for yourself?"  

Here it is as if God is taunting through Jeremiah the people of Judah. They just hadn't learned, and Jeremiah had some bad news for them. Israel had already fallen to the Assyrians, and now the Southern Kingdom, Judah, was going to follow a similar path.

The people of Judah had a problem with idols, and I'm sure you've noticed that while we might not be building golden calfs anymore these days, an idol can come in many forms.

Martin Luther had this to say about idols: what your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god.

 And I've got to say, I've done some clinging to some things in my day that Luther probably would make note of!

"Where are the gods that you made for yourself?"

 Is it money? Is it your personal sovereignty or freedom, as Richard Floyd says? Is it the Philadelphia Eagles? Is a political figure? Is it even your family?

God is the creator, and wants us to take part in the ongoing life and creation happening in the world. In the ongoing building of community and relationship and love of neighbor.

 But every now and then, something we create or believe or possess becomes every bit as much of an idol as the ones built by the Judeans.
God of the universe, help my heart to cling to you and you along.  Remind me always that you are the God of my heart and on you I can depend.  Amen.

Thoughts for engagement:

- What DOES your heart cling to? What are the gods you've made for yourself?
- How do they get in the way of relationship and community and love of neighbor?





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