October 8

Jer. 10:1-11:23; Col. 3:18-4:18; Psalm 78:56-72; Prov. 24:28-29

Fall is finally here, even in southern California. I enjoy seeing pumpkins and pots of mums on porches. On my porch, alongside a pumpkin I have a funny scarecrow with a crooked smile sitting in a chair with his legs sticking out. He makes me smile.

And I thought of that silly scarecrow during this morning’s reading in The One Year Bible. Jeremiah likens the idols that Judah is worshipping to a scarecrow. “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good” (Jer. 10:5).

I wondered, what are the idols which I am tempted to worship? And what are the idols that the culture in which I live embraces? I believe that money is an idol in America and success seems to be one, too. And I even wondered about all the smart phones I see people using constantly—could this be a form of idol worship, putting our confidence in a phone and constantly paying attention to it?

The truth is that anything I put before worshipping the Lord God who made the heavens can be an idol in my life—even good things like having a comfortable home and exercising can turn into idols.

I like the thought that I do not have to fear idols—they have no power; they are worthless. I remember seeing idols for the first time when we visited Singapore. Our friends there invited us into their apartment and warned us that on the way we would see food set out before an idol, and an ugly idol, I might add. It seemed very strange and even eerie to me, then, though I have seen it many times since. Our friends warned us that the people in that apartment with the idol took it very seriously and that we should not make fun or laugh. But how silly it was to see food rotting in front of a useless idol. I was glad I had been warned not to laugh for I was very tempted!

Thank you, Lord, that You are real and true. You are, according to Jeremiah 10:16, “the Maker of all things…. The Lord Almighty is His Name.” Our God is not worshipped with rotting food; He is worshipped when we obey Him, when we turn away from useless idols that cannot give us eternal life.

Lord, may we be able to discern when we are tempted to waste our time and money on useless idols. May we be your obedient people, obeying even such words from You as “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord” (Col. 3:18-20).

We choose today to obey You and turn away from useless idols that are just silly scarecrows. Amen.

- Nell Sunukjian

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