Check out what I read today...

"The idols of the nations are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell. And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them." ~ Psalm 135:15-18

I was so struck by the part of verse 15 that says that idols are shaped by human hands. When we make idols, we're shaping the god that we want. We make the god that we're most comfortable with. Let's face it, the TRUE God can be really uncomfortable! He asks us to do things that are Hard. Plus he wants to come in and totally take over our lives. Sometimes it's tough to really let him do that.

So when God gets too tough we turn to our idols. Ones that won't speak unless we want them to. Ones that won't see or hear anything we do. Why is is that we're so willing to settle for less? I think it's partly because we don't want to let God change us. We're scared that he's going to ask us to do something that we don't want to. Or that he'll ask us to give up something that we desperately think we need. Surrendering ourselves to God means letting go of our rights. And that's not easy.

Verse 18 is a little scary..."And those who make idols are just like them, as are all who trust in them." It sounds like dealing with idols will make you numb. Before you know it you'll have eyes that don't see, and ears that don't hear...It'll become easier and easier to ignore the voice of God, and the needs of the world around you.