God in a Box

June 27, 2020

This week focused on the worship of idols and the fear of the LORD. We learned that a holy fear, a reverence for God, is a critical aspect of our personal faith. These passages invited us to worship and trust in God and God alone.

SCRIPTURE

Click her to read from Psalm 115:3-8

Study the passage using this Bible Study method.

REFLECTION

God in a Box

By Mary McGinnis

Over the past few months, I have led an online community of women through a book by Max Lucado titled, “Fearless – Imagine Your Life Without Fear.” Chapter 14, “The One Healthy Terror,” was life changing for me.

In this chapter, Max explores how in this topsy-turvy life, we like to put God in a box. Max says, “Box-sized gods. You’ll find them in the tight grip of people who prefer a god they can manage, control, and predict. In a world we can’t control, we need a god we can control.”

Isn’t that exactly what today’s reading is all about?  We all like to give our heart’s devotion to things we think we can control, the “gods of our own making.” It gives us comfort to trust in our own ability to make things go a certain way, to control our own outcomes, or our own ability to figure things out.

We love our “box-sized gods!” At least temporarily. Until we come to a place where we realize how frail and impotent, they truly are!

Let’s reflect on how ineffective and powerless our “box-sized gods” truly are. Take time to journal your reflections.  In one column list “My Box-Sized Gods” that you are often drawn to. Remember times when these have failed you (i.e. I did not get an answer, my troubles were not heard, etc).

Next, reflect upon, “Our God is in Heaven; He does ALL that HE pleases.” Psalm 115:3. In the other column, contrast how you might lean into trusting the amazingly, wondrous “One True, Almighty, Untamable God.”

My Box-Sized gods have:     The One True, Almighty, Untamable GOD!

Mouths but cannot speak.   The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; He                                                                utters His voice, the earth melts. Psalm 46:6

Eyes but do not see               "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I                                                        have not seen the Once who sees me."                                                                Genesis 16:13 NIV

Ears but do not hear               Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress,                                                      and He hears my voice. Psalm 55:17

Noses but do not smell          For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ (which                                                      ascends) to God. 2 Corinthians 2:15a

Hands that do not feel            Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here,                                                       and see my hands; and put out your hand and                                                         place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but                                                                 believe. John 20:27

Feet that do not walk               Because the Lord your God walks in the midst                                                        of your camp, to deliver you and to give up                                                               your  enemies before you. 
                                                           Deuteronomy 23:14

Throats that do not 

make a sound                           Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.                                                            For we do not know what to pray for as we                                                          ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes                                                                for us with groaning too deep for words.                                                                             Romans 8:26

PRAYER PRACTICE  Journaling. Reflect on the ways you are drawn into

idolatry. Consider the concept of the fear of the LORD we encountered this 

week? How is that showing up in your life?