Prayer: Father, am I guilty of doing similar things in my life as the Hebrew people of Jerusalem? Have I worshipped non-deities which have offended You? May I never be guilty of placing something above You. Amen.
Reading: Ezekiel 8 key: vs. 14-15 “He brought me to the door of the gate of Adonai’s House, which was toward the north. Behold, the women sat there weeping for Tammuz. He said to me, “Have you seen this, son of man? You will again see even greater abominations than these.” TLV
Attention: On August 21, 1964, the English band The Beatles performed a concert in the Seattle, WA Colosseum. Over 14,000 adoring fans packed the Seattle Center venue. Many teen-age girls swooning over the British icons.
Ezekiel was asked to look from an elevated position, so he could see what Adonai was observing. The men were facing the east with their backs to Jerusalem. God was exposing the evils which were provoking Him. His people were being seduced by non-living gods.
I looked up Tammuz. God said the women were weeping for Tammuz, the “Sumerian god of vegetation (pg. 1556 The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary).” Can you imagine, trading your worship of the true and living God for a non-living deity?
What do Americans trade for a relationship with Adonai? At various times of the year, one can predict where people’s attention is going to be drawn. We just had a national, annual event in March which is defined as “Madness.” In February each year, we give our attention to another sporting event. Every day, millions access their online horoscopes. Internationally, millions worship gods other than Adonai. We have even added holidays which give heed to astrological deities and/or worship creation.
God requires His followers to worship Him only. As followers, we need to return to an exclusive relationship with Him. We have compromised our relationship with God by thinking we can play with the fire of the world and not get burned.
Action: I choose to give my focus, my heart, my all to Adonai.
Yield: I choose to submit to the worship of Adonai, only.
Engage: I choose to engage with the Spirit in worshipping Adonai.
Relationship: I choose to live in intimate, holy, obedient worship of Adonai.
Prayer: Father, may I give You first and only place in my heart, mind, and soul. Amen.
Memory Verse: Colossians 1:18 “He is the head of the body, His community. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead— so that He might come to have first place in all things.”
Music Video: CityAlight—Only A Holy God https://youtu.be/7HSdeeCm8_g?si=3ZSXo_dh8b8fborL
Remember, “Abide in Yeshua, today!”