February 11

Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36

Pray: Pray today that we will not find ourselves falling into the trap of reverting to our old ways when healthier habits have been fostered in our lives. If you have ever struggled with a addiction or bad habit, you know how easy it can be to “backslide” or relapse. Pray that you won’t find yourself on this slippery slope and pray that others do not as well. Let’s pray, in one voice, that we will keep to the path leading to God. 

Read: In 1980, the Isley Brothers had a chart-topping hit entitled, “Here We Go Again”. This song title is indicative of our reading from Exodus today as the Israelite people, even though they had seen the invisible God in action, find themselves reverted back to the desire for familiar gods that they could see and fashion into whatever image they desired. I wonder if things would have been different for the Israelites if they had the privilege of reading our Psalm today where it says, “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death and keeps them alive in times of famine.” And today we enter the courtroom, of sorts, where Jesus is condemned and read of Judas’ anguish over the choice he made for a mere 30 pieces of silver. 

Edify: The text today is rich with so many lessons for each of us. There is great drama in the trial and condemnation of Jesus. It’s also in these passages that Peter does the very thing that he said that he would never do. He denied Jesus… not once, not twice, but three times. He denied knowing or having anything to do with Him. Even with Jesus being mere feet away from him, Peter denied any association with the man he had spent the last three years with. If it was that easy for Petra, the Rock, to do it, then how much easier could it be for us? As followers of Christ, we will find ourselves in situations where we could easily deny our faith because of ease, but how much more powerful of a statement of faith is it for people to see you stand up for your beliefs in the midst of trials. 

Practice: Today, you are challenged to think about the idols in your life. Most people have them, we just don’t fashion them out of gold or silver or even wood today… money, sex, cars, houses, your children, notoriety at work, clothes, food…. Whatever yours may be… you are challenged to lay them down for the cause of Christ. May we spend our days focused on the God that saved us rather than the accumulation of stuff. May we lift high the God who created us rather than those things created by man.