TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!” 1 Kings 18:39
Read: 1 Kings 18:26-39
Listen: 1 Kings 18
TODAY’S MESSAGE
The epic showdown reaches a fever pitch. Four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal dance and shout around their altar for an entire day. Baal will prove to be a true god if he sends fire to consume their sacrifice. In desperation, the prophets resort to cutting themselves to show their deep devotion. Yet Baal remains silent. Elijah calls the people forth and repairs the altar to the one true God. He drenches the altar in water and then calls on God to reveal himself so that the people know he is God alone. Fire from heaven consumes the sacrifice and altar. The people fall down and confess the Lord is God.
Counterfeit gods eventually fail us and cannot meet our bottomless pit of desire and need. While the things we turn to might be good, they are unreliable. Beauty fades and shifts with society’s perception. Careers eventually end, whether by retirement or downsizing. Children grow up, move out and make their own decisions. Technology continually changes, outdating the most popular social media platforms and the best phones. Popularity has to be maintained and can be lost in an instant. Experiences end and leave us scheming for the next thrill or getaway.
We can easily take something good and turn it into God. God is the only one who can fill the hole in our hearts. When he reveals something good we’ve elevated above him, our response should be to express gratitude to him for that good gift and then confess that we’ve made it something he never intended for us. God exposes counterfeit gods to draw us back to himself and renew our faith and trust in him alone.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Confess any good thing you rely on instead of God. Offer gratitude for that good gift and ask God to help you keep it in its proper place. “God, I confess that I have often relied on ____________________ instead of turning to you. Thank you for this good gift in my life. Help me recognize it as a gift from you, but not something that can fulfill my deepest needs. I desire to place my trust in you alone.”
2022 BIBLE MEMORY PRACTICE
Develop spiritual roots and tap in the power of God’s word by memorizing monthly a Bible verse!
PHILIPPIANS 1:6
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
