#habakkuk 3:17-18

[thebeautyofscripture]

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

#bible #scripture #beauty #nature #outdoors #desert #wilderness #rainbow #sun #heat #joy #god #bible verse #habakkuk #habakkuk 3:17-18

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

Christian Joy a Duty

17 When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls,

18 I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! — Habakkuk 3:17-18 | New English Translation (NET Bible) NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved. Cross References: Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 12:4; Joel 1:10; Joel 1:12; Joel 1:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

#Habakkuk rejoices #Lord #God #exult #salvation #Habakkuk 3:17-18 #Book of Habakkuk #Old Testament #NET Bible #New English Translation Bible #Biblical Studies Press L.L.C.

[bojackson54]

Habakkuk Tells us to Rejoice When Things Fall Apart. Really?

Habakkuk Tells us to Rejoice When Things Fall Apart. Really?

Habakkuk seemed to have it backwards. He tells us to rejoice in failure. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV) Certainly the events over the last…

View On WordPress

#Daily devotional #Habakkuk #Habakkuk 3:17-18 #joy #Romans 8:28 #Winston Churchill

[girlbloggercher]

how to read the Bible

this is in order!

1. John

2. Mark

3. Matthew

4. Luke

5. Genesis

6. Exodus

7. Leviticus

8. Numbers

9. Dueteronomy

10. Romans

11. Galatians

12. Colossians

13. Proverbs

14. Ecclesiastes

15. Job

16. 1 Peter

17. 1 Corinthians

18. 2 Corinthians

19. Ephesians

20. Philippians

21. 1 Thessalonians

22. 2 Thessalonians

23. 1 Timothy

24. 2 Timothy

25. James

26. 2 Peter

27. 1 John

28. 2 John

29. 3 John

30. Jude

31. Psalms

32. Joshua

33. Judges

34. 1 Samuel

35. 2 Samuel

36. 1 Kings

37. 2 Kings

38. 1 Chronicles

39. 2 Chronicles

40. Ezra

41. Nehemiah

42. Jeremiah

43. Lamentations

44. Ezekiel

45. Joel

46. Amos

47. Obadiah

48. Nahum

49. Habakkuk

50. Zephaniah

51. Haggai

52. Zechariah

53. Malachi

54. Micah

55. Hosea

56. Luke

57. Esther

58. Jonah

59. Song of Solomon

60. Acts

61. Titus

62. Philemon

63. Hebrew

64. Isaiah

65. Daniel

66. Revelation

#that girl #wonyoungism #clean girl #glow up #coquette #health and wellness #christianity

[mother-lee]

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

#scripture #habakkuk #old testament #writing #god loves you

[hiswordsarekisses]

“The book of Habakkuk contains a passage you can cling to when the bottom falls out of everything. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my savior” (Habakkuk 3:17-18.)

I know of a missionary who has labored for twenty-five years with very few people responding to the gospel. Yet he clings to this passage in Habakkuk and finds comfort and encouragement.

I think also of a mother who reared two children in a godly home. When they came of age, both daughters decided to follow the ways of the world. This praying woman continues to trust in the Lord.

I know a man who spent the greater part of his life working for a large corporation. After twenty-five years of faithful service, he was fired without notice. Eventually, he also lost his home and his savings, but not his peace of mind.

Joy is not a matter of good fortune and pleasant circumstances. Joy is a decision, and God is the focus.

Christian, what are your disappointments? What circumstances have gone wrong for you and are sapping your joy? I challenge you to memorize the passage from Habakkuk and claim it each morning.

Finding our joy in the Lord is a matter of will–a decision we can make because of the love and faithfulness of God.”

‘Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ Nehemiah 8:10

~ Leroy Eims

[freebiblestudies]

Line Upon Line Lesson 007: Get on the Boat!

Genesis 7:1 - Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.”

Many people think God commanded Noah to build the ark solely to save the animals and his own family.  However, this is actually not true.

Let’s read together Ezekiel 14:14-20; Habakkuk 2:4; and Hebrews 11:6-7.

Noah was considered righteous by God because Noah believed in God. Noah demonstrated His faith in God through his obedience to God’s commands. Noah built the ark even though there was no evidence or prior history of floods in the world.

Note that the Bible clearly states Noah could not save anyone else with his righteousness.  This means Noah’s wife, his three sons, and their wives each had an individual faith in God. They also believed in God and were obedient to His words.

Let’s read together Psalm 142:7; Isaiah 42:6-7; 1 Peter 3:18-20; and 2 Peter 2:5.

The Bible described Noah as a preacher of righteousness. God used Noah to deliver a message of repentance. Noah wasn’t just building the ark for one hundred and twenty years. He was warning the entire world about God’s judgment and the impending flood.

Let’s read together Deuteronomy 30:19-20;  Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27; and Ephesians 4:17-32.

In essence, Noah’s message was, “Repent now and get on the boat! If you do not, you will be destroyed by the coming flood!  This is the only way you can be saved!”

Unfortunately, no one listened to Noah. Their hearts were so set on sin, the Holy Spirit could not reach them.  God wanted to save them all, but they chose not to be saved.

Let’s read together Acts 4:10-12.

God gives us all the same choice today that He gave the people of the Antediluvian age. Repent now and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. There is no other way to be saved. Will you choose Jesus?

#bible study #Genesis 7:1 #Noah's ark #line upon line

[waitingforminjae]

obsessed w this uber religious flop i found poking around on kprofiles whose fav bible verse is habakkuk 3:17-18, about how even if everything fails i will still rejoice in the lord

#i didn't even know that WAS a book in the bible #like every third fact is abt him being like. insanely christian. his stage name is peter jaskjdkfkjhjgfjkghkghjkl #m: kpop

[biblegumchewontheword]

Books of the Bible

Here is a detailed list of the 66 books of the Bible, divided by the Old and New Testaments, along with their divisions and categories:

**Old Testament:**

**Pentateuch (5 books):**

1. Genesis

2. Exodus

3. Leviticus

4. Numbers

5. Deuteronomy

**Historical Books (12 books):**

6. Joshua

7. Judges

8. Ruth

9. 1 Samuel

10. 2 Samuel

11. 1 Kings

12. 2 Kings

13. 1 Chronicles

14. 2 Chronicles

15. Ezra

16. Nehemiah

17. Esther

**Poetry/Wisdom Books (5 books):**

18. Job

19. Psalms

20. Proverbs

21. Ecclesiastes

22. Song of Solomon

**Major Prophets (5 books):**

23. Isaiah

24. Jeremiah

25. Lamentations

26. Ezekiel

27. Daniel

**Minor Prophets (12 books):**

28. Hosea

29. Joel

30. Amos

31. Obadiah

32. Jonah

33. Micah

34. Nahum

35. Habakkuk

36. Zephaniah

37. Haggai

38. Zechariah

39. Malachi

**New Testament:**

**Gospels (4 books):**

40. Matthew

41. Mark

42. Luke

43. John

**History (1 book):**

44. Acts

**Pauline Epistles (13 books):**

45. Romans

46. 1 Corinthians

47. 2 Corinthians

48. Galatians

49. Ephesians

50. Philippians

51. Colossians

52. 1 Thessalonians

53. 2 Thessalonians

54. 1 Timothy

55. 2 Timothy

56. Titus

57. Philemon

**General Epistles (8 books):**

58. Hebrews

59. James

60. 1 Peter

61. 2 Peter

62. 1 John

63. 2 John

64. 3 John

65. Jude

**Apocalyptic (1 book):**

66. Revelation

This list represents the traditional order and grouping of the books of the Bible in most Christian denominations.

These are the 66 books that make up the Bible.

Title: The Significance of Each Book of the Bible

Introduction:

The Bible is a collection of 66 books that together form the inspired Word of God. Each book has its own unique message, themes, and significance that contribute to the overall story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Let's explore the importance of each book of the Bible.

Lesson Points:

1. The Old Testament:

- Genesis: The book of beginnings, detailing creation, the fall, and the establishment of God's covenant with His people.

- Exodus: The story of the Israelites' liberation from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai.

- Psalms: A collection of songs and prayers that express a range of human emotions and provide a guide for worship.

- Proverbs: Wisdom literature that offers practical advice for living a righteous and wise life.

- Isaiah: Prophecies about the coming Messiah and God's plan of salvation.

2. The New Testament:

- Matthew: Emphasizes Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the establishment of the kingdom of God.

- Acts: Chronicles the early spread of the Gospel and the growth of the early church.

- Romans: Explains the doctrine of justification by faith and the implications of salvation through Christ.

- Corinthians: Addresses issues within the church and provides practical guidance for Christian living.

- Revelation: Offers apocalyptic visions of the end times, the victory of Christ, and the establishment of the new heaven and earth.

3. Themes and Messages:

- Each book of the Bible contributes to the overarching themes of God's love, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation for all humanity.

- Together, these books provide a complete narrative of God's work in the world and His plan for His people.

Application:

- Take time to explore and study each book of the Bible, seeking to understand its unique message and significance.

- Reflect on how the themes and stories in the Bible can impact your own life and faith journey.

- Consider how the teachings and examples in the Bible can shape your beliefs and actions as a follower of Christ.

Conclusion:

The books of the Bible are not just separate entities but are interconnected parts of the larger story of God's redemption and love for humanity. Each book has its own importance and contributes to the overall message of God's plan for salvation. May we approach the study of the Bible with reverence and openness to the wisdom and guidance it offers for our lives.

#biblegum #Books of the Bible #bible study #bible scripture #Bible lessons

[kevinharrispastor]

God is Holy

By Kevin is pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church, a suburb of Wollongong, NSW.

God is holy.

Habakkuk 1:13 says,‘Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity...”

Ezekiel 18:4 states, ‘. . . the soul that sinneth, it shall die.’ Why? Because God is absolutely holy!

Exodus 34:7 declares that God ‘. . . will by no means clear the guilty...’ There is only one reason God does not overlook our sin – He is holy!

Zechariah 8:17 says, ‘And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.’ Hatred against sin is part of what it is to be holy.

Do you know that God is holy?Psalm 113:5-6 asks,‘Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,  Whohumbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!’

God is incredibly holy!

Many of God’s choice servants were confronted with a holy God at the beginning of their ministries.    

Moses encountered a holy God when he came across a burning bush one day.  God said in Exodus 3:5 ‘. . . Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.’

One day, the Lord Jesus performed a miracle that astounded Peter so much that we read in Luke 5:8,‘When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.’

And in Isaiah chapter six, Isaiah stands before a thrice-holy God and trembles. 

God’s holiness is the one characteristic above all of God’s other attributes that the angels of heaven choose to exclaim over!  He’s holy!

God is so holy that when Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered strange fire, God immediately struck them dead.

He is so holy that when the Israelites murmured and complained, God wouldn’t overlook it. Thousands were destroyed in judgment from the Lord.

He is so holy that in the book of Joshuawhen Achan disobeyed God and stole, he was stoned to death.

He is so holy that when Ananias and Sapphira lied in Acts chapter 5, God struck them dead.

I believe we need a fresh picture of the holiness of God in our city of Wollongong and in the nation of Australia.  If we could just get a good understanding of God’s holiness, it would dramatically reduce the pleasure we find in wickedness.

God said in Psalm 50:21,‘These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.’

When I see that God is not sinful like me, but that He hates sin, and when I realise that I will stand before Him someday in judgment for my sin, I’ll be careful how I live. 

You see, sin will not go unpunished.

Let me illustrate it with Australia’s justice system.  It is the responsibility of our nation’s courts to pursue justice, not to be merciful.

Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘I could never live in a country that would build places to punish people — some for the rest of their lives — just because they raped a girl and murdered her’?  Not very likely!  It is obvious that a government is within its bounds when it dispenses justice.  ‘You do the crime, you do the time,’ is a saying almost everyone agrees with.

What many people do not understand, however, is that God is perfectly just in sending those who break His laws to a place of punishment.  Yet a popular argument for those who deny the God of the Bible is that a loving God would never punish anyone in hell.   God has a system of justice too, and it is of the purest form.  He has a set of guidelines that must be obeyed.  If they aren’t followed exactly, punishment eventually results.  And since none of us is perfect, we all deserve that punishment.

But God is not a God of justice only.  We can be pardoned from our sin because Christ paid our debt when He died on the cross.  By receiving Him as our Saviour, we escape eternal punishment because Christ has already been punished for us. 

God’s holiness demands justice, but He also offers mercy.  That’s a loving God in action.

Let’s bow before Him, worshipping Him for being both holy and merciful.

Kevin is pastor of the Illawarra Community Baptist Church in Dapto, located approximately 15 minutes south of Wollongong, NSW.

#Kevin is pastor of Illawarra Community Baptist Church #kevin harris Dapto

[apesoformythoughts]

Apropos of that quote by Maritain, a couple of nights ago my mom was listening to a political talk show, and I caught something that almost made me despair. Then I made the connection and told my mom that things will keep on going down the drain so that our only option will be to become like the three youths in the fiery furnace, praising God while the world burns.

And today I saw these verses:

Though the fig tree does not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. [Habakkuk 3:17-18]

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

17 Aunque la higuera no eche brotes, Ni haya fruto en las viñas; Aunque falte el producto del olivo, Y los campos no produzcan alimento; Aunque falten las ovejas del redil, Y no haya vacas en los establos,

18 Con todo yo me alegraré en el Señor, Me regocijaré en el Dios de mi salvación.

(17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.) — Habakkuk 3:17-18 | Nueva Biblia de las Américas (NBLA) Nueva Biblia de las Américas (NBLA) is an accurate and faithful Spanish translation from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages. Published by The Lockman Foundation. Cross References: Exodus 15:1-2; Job 13:15; Jeremiah 5:17; Jeremiah 12:4; Joel 1:10; Luke 1:47; Romans 5:2-3; Philippians 4:4; 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

#Habakkuk 3:17-18 #Book of Habakkuk #Lord #God #salvation #rejoicing #Old Testament #Nueva Biblia de las Américas #NBLA #The Lockman Foundation

[coptorthodox]

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

#coptorthodox #bibleverse #bible #bibleversedaily #dailyverse #coptic #orthodox @coptorthodox #joy #iwillrejoice #iwillrejoiceinthelord #iwilljoyinthegodofmysalvation #habakkuk #habakkuk3 #habakkuk31718 #habakkuk3v17to18

[christianhomemaker]

For even if the fig tree doesn’t blossom,

and no fruit is on the vines,

even if the olive tree fails to produce,

and the fields yield no food at all,

even if the sheep vanish from the sheep pen,

and there are no cows in the stalls;

still, I will rejoice in Adonai,

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3: 17-18

#God #Adonai #Jesus #Yeshua #Holy Spirit #bible verses #christian living

[drwilfredwaterson]

Earthquakes in Various Places: 3:18 Houston. 3:18 Houston. Habakkuk 1:2 How long, O Lord, shall I cry out And You not listen, Shall I shout to You, "Violence!" And You not save?

TANAKH (Jewish Publication Society, Hebrew-English): Pages 1363, 1364, 1365, 1366, and 1367: Habakkuk 1:12 You, O Lord, are from everlasting; My holy God, You never die. O Lord, You have made them a subject of contention; O Rock, You have made them a cause for complaint. Habakkuk 1:13 You whose eyes are too pure to look upon evil, Who cannot countenance wrongdoing, Why do You countenance treachery, And stand by idle While the one in the wrong devours The one in the right? Habakkuk 1:14 You have made mankind like the fish of the sea, Like creeping things that have no ruler. Habakkuk 1:15 He has fished them all up with a line, Pulled them up in his trawl, And gathered them in his net. That is why he rejoices and is glad. Habakkuk 1:16 That is why he sacrifices to his trawl And makes offerings to his net; For through them his portion is rich And his nourishment fat. Habakkuk 1:17 Shall he then keep emptying his trawl, And slaying nations without pity? Habakkuk 2:1 I will stand on my watch, Take up my station at the post, And wait to see what He will say to me, What He will reply to my complaint. Habakkuk 2:2 The Lord answered me and said: Write the prophecy down, Inscribe it clearly on tablets, So that it can be read easily. Habakkuk 2:3 For there is yet a prophecy for a set term, A truthful witness for a time that will come. Even if it tarries, wait for it still; For it will surely come, without delay: Habakkuk 2:4 Lo, his spirit within him is puffed up, not upright, But the righteous man is rewarded with life For his fidelity. Habakkuk 2:5 How much less then shall the defiant go unpunished, The treacherous, arrogant man Who has made his maw as wide as Sheol, Who is as insatiable as Death, Who has harvested all the nations And gathered in all the peoples! Habakkuk 2:6 Surely all these shall pronounce a satire against him, A pointed epigram concerning him. They shall say: Ah, you who pile up what is not yours--How much longer?-- And make ever heavier your load of indebtedness! Habakkuk 2:7 Right suddenly will your creditors arise, And those who remind you will awake, And you will be despoiled by them. Habakkuk 2:8 Because you plundered many nations, All surviving peoples shall plunder you--For crimes against men and wrongs against lands, Against cities and all their inhabitants. Habakkuk 2:9 Ah, you who have acquired gains To the detriment of your own house, Who have destroyed many peoples In order to set your nest on high To escape disaster! Habakkuk 2:10 You who have plotted shame for your own house, And guilt for yourself; Habakkuk 2:11 For a stone shall cry out from the wall, And a rafter shall answer it from the woodwork. Habakkuk 2:12 Ah, you who have built a town with crime, And established a city with infamy, Habakkuk 2:13 So that peoples have had to toil for the fire, And nations to weary themselves for naught! Behold, it is from the Lord of Hosts: Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled With awe for the glory of the Lord As water covers the sea. Habakkuk 2:15 Ah, you who make others drink to intoxication As you pour out your wrath, In order to gaze upon their nakedness! Habakkuk 2:16 You shall be sated with shame Rather than glory: Drink in your turn and stagger! The cup in the right hand of the Lord Shall come around to you, And disgrace to your glory. Habakkuk 2:17 For the lawlessness against Lebanon shall cover you, The destruction of beasts shall overwhelm you--For crimes against men and wrongs against lands, Against cities and all their inhabitants. Habakkuk 2:18 What has the carved image availed, That he who fashioned it has carved it For an image and a false oracle--That he who fashioned his product has trusted in it, Making dumb idols? Habakkuk 2:19 Ah, you who say, "Wake up" to wood, "Awaken," to inert stone! Can that give an oracle? Why, it is encased in gold and silver, But there is no breath inside it. Habakkuk 2:20 But the Lord in His holy Abode--Be silent before Him all the earth!

Houston shooting: 1 killed, 2 injured at bar.

Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3:18 PM PDT.

Authorities are investigating after one person was killed and two others were injured at Hunter's Pub on South Post Oak near Willowbend Boulevard.

Earthquake: M 0.9 - 4.9 km (3.1 mi) WSW of Houston, Alaska, United States

2023-07-31 15:18:10 (3:18 PM UTC) 61.621°N 149.909°W 45.5 km depth

Near Houston Lake, Little Houston Lake, Trigger Lake, and Gunmetal Lake.

#christianity #holy bible #tanakh #conservatives #evangelicals #jesus christ #republicans #gop #earthquake #crime #gun violence #gun control #gun safety #gun laws #christian living #christian faith #peace #bible study #bible verse #bible scripture #Youtube

[in-christalone]

Hey there beloved. I'm concerned that you're allowing overwatch/junker queen to become an idol. An asherah pole, if you will. I know that idols are easy to get into and hard to leave-- I have a couple idols I struggle with too. But I know that God commands we cut down the asherah poles in our lives and flee from temptation. And when we don't, those idols continue to leak into our lives and poison our walks with God. Anyways. I hope you'll pray over it? And hopefully this doesn't come off as someone insensitive just saying things to say them. I want you to cling to God. To rely on Him to get rid of things that may cause you to stumble. Praying for you, lovely.

Hello my friend, I too have realized it’s becoming an idol. What’s funny is just yesterday I checked a comment from my professor on an assignment that got full points on, [I usually don’t get full points on an assignment] 

The assignment was to create a lesson plan from a minor prophet passage, and I chose to do mine on Habakkuk 2:18-20

````````````

“Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman?    Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation;    he makes idols that cannot speak.  Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’    Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance?    It is covered with gold and silver;    there is no breath in it.”

The Lord is in his holy temple;

   let all the earth be silent before him.

``````````````

I’ll share what I wrote in my assignment that I turned in last week, it may be helpful to someone else out there.

╔═══════════════╗

The title of this lesson is a correction against idolatry to students. The prophet of Habakkuk was likely around the time of Jehoiakim's reign in 609 -598 BC. The most unique fact about the prophet Habakkuk is that this prophet does not always speak to the people, but speaks in dialogue with God.  

In Habakkuk 2:18-20 the prophet illustrates the dangers of idolatry in a poetic form. The Bible commentary mentions that the text opens with a question, vs. 18, " what profit is an idol" it's nothing but a makeshift figure that an individual crafted and then serves as their object of worship.

 Habakkuk is clear in his writing to display the audacity that is of worshiping something that a human has made with their own hands, vs. 19 "Woe to him who says to wood, Come to life! Or to lifeless stone, Wake up". The prophet is clear to indicate the helplessness that the idol displays, being nothing but an inanimate object and unable to offer any real help to the person praying to it. However, Habbakuk doesn't leave his message with only condemnation of idolatry, but with a hope that is set before the people, vs 20 "But the Lord is in His holy temple."

Within the Christian life, we may look at these passages and scoff, "I don't serve any idols, those people were foolish to worship inanimate objects." But woe to us if we think this way. In order to discern what an idol is in our lives, all we have to do is think about what would cause our hearts to stop if we lost it. Oftentimes this is a wallet [money] or a phone [entertainment]. 

Theologian and Reformation leader Martin Luther once said on the topic of idolatry, "Whatever your heart clings to and confides in, that is really your god, your functional savior. ” We would be fools to believe that the problem of idolatry isn't present in today's Christian lifestyle. An idol is what we give most of our time to, in saying that we don't have time to read our Bibles or for prayers, or for fellowship with another believer, what would this object be in your life? 

An idol is not just a handheld object, it can be a career or a person. Theologian Charles H. Spurgeon encourages his readers to redirect their priorities, “Nothing teaches us about the preciousness of the Creator as much as when we learn the emptiness of everything else.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 gives the Christian life an encouragement to remain faithful and be open to correction. 

The idols in our lives, if we desire to be close to Christ must be destroyed. The best practice we can take as children of God is to be more in prayer and Bible reading than on our phones or thinking of ourselves in our spending, to limit time on our devices, and go as far as to completely fast from worldly entertainment. The closer you are to Christ, you will then realize that these things are only a distraction to keep you from doing the work God has called you to.

Source:

Ronald Blue, “Habakkuk,”Links to an external site. in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1516."

Martin Luther in Luther’s Large Catechism: God’s Call to Repentance, Faith and Prayer trans. John Nicholas Lenker (Minneapolis: Luther Press, 1908) 44.

Spurgeon, C. H., and Alistair Begg. Morning and Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

╚═══════════════╝

In that moment that I re-read my assignment from just last week, I know it was God reminding me of my commitment to Him. 

As Dr. Sproul once said, “Not only are we sinners because we sin, but we also sin because we are sinners.”

It’s still a temptation, but I’m weaning off as of today. Thank you so much for checking in on me. I can tell just how much you care, and I appreciate your message.