BE VERY CAREFUL

Today's reading: Judges 7-11

"Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown. But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for Gideon and his family." Judges 8:27 NLT

Gideon, I believe, had the best of intentions.

He had accumulated spoils from the various conquests God had granted him victory over, and used those bits of gold to build a monument to God's faithfulness, dependability and love for His people.

That reminder would have served a great purpose--had it's purpose stayed intact.

You see, like God's people today, the people of Gideon's time chose to begin worshiping the gift rather than the Giver.

The healing instead of the Healer.

The salvation story instead of the Savior.

The blessing instead of the Blesser.

It can happen to all of us. We take our eyes off of God for a brief moment and our hearts waver.

Our focus catches the sight of something new and shiny and ours hearts follow its gaze.

Our worship quickly turns from One that cannot be seen, touched or inhaled, towards something tangible, touchable, that can be held in our hands.

This morning I'm challenged to watch what I'm worshiping.