Read: Psalm. 81:1, 10-16
I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.
Psalm 81:10
Constantly, in scripture and in our lives, God calls us to turn away from other gods, false idols, or the temptation “to follow our own counsels” (v. 12). But God doesn’t just say “come back!” Very often, as in the verse above, God will remind us of something great God did. We are reminded that God brought the Hebrews “out of the land of Egypt,” or in other places of God’s mighty works of creation and the raising of Christ from the dead.
A self-centered life can cause us to think mostly about what we have done or to constantly obsess over the places in our lives that God doesn’t seem to have acted or hasn’t acted in the way we wanted. Through narratives, poetry, law, and exhortation, scripture shows us who God is. The story is always about God. Turning from idols isn’t just about repentance, it is also a chance to be part of a greater story. By worshipping God and God alone we become truly invested in the story of creation, liberation, and resurrection. What could be better? God’s call here is to further invest ourselves in scripture, and to let the God shown there guide our own stories.
Prayer: God of liberation, keep us from idols and from our own counsels. Challenge us with your word, that we might remember your mighty acts and walk with justice according to your will. Through Jesus Christ who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever, Amen.
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