Thurs., 8/16/12 Devotion (Jer. 44:18)

Today's encouragement comes from Jeremiah 44:18, where we read these words:

"But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."

A major reason people commit idolatry is because of a serious mis-understanding of the source of blessing. Jeremiah had condemned this idolatrous worship of Ishtar, "the queen of heaven"--but the people wouldn't risk the truth of the prophet's words, as over against an al-leged stock of provision (coming from the worship of the false god-dess).

It is always wiser for us to choose to worship the true God (through Christ alone), and to get by with hardly anything, and end up in heav-en--than to commit idolatry, have our "needs" met, and end up in hell.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The happiness of angels as well as of men consists very much in beholding the glory of God." --Jonathan Ed-wards, in his sermon, "The Wisdom of God"]