Not Scared of Scarecrows
Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 10:1-16
"Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols ... can do no harm nor can they do any good." Jeremiah 10:5
Throughout history, people have depended on various gods to make them happy and successful. Anytime something good happened, the gods were smiling. Whenever disaster came, the gods were angry. People agonized, prayed, and even sacrificed their children to keep the gods happy. All that religion has been a waste of time and emotion. "The LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King." Everything else is just a scarecrow. The holy Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit reigns supreme.
When we know that one great God created and controls all things, we are set free from superstition. Horoscopes are a hoax. The number 13 is harmless (so don't worry that today is the thirteenth). Various tribal gods are garbage. "They can do no harm nor can they do any good." Their charms cannot help their worshipers. Their curses cannot hurt God's people. Many people who once feared gods, spirits, and witchcraft have been freed from fear by knowing the true Lord.
Jesus is real, and he will judge the world and save all who believe in him. Faith in Jesus restores us to true worship and liberates us from false hopes and foolish fears. We take the true God seriously above all else. When we revere "the true God ... the living God, the eternal King," we stop fearing scarecrows.
"No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power." We honor you, and we thank you for freeing us from superstition through our Savior, Jesus. Amen.
About the author — David Feddes
Dr. David Feddes is pastor of Family of Faith Church and provost of Christian Leaders Institute, which supports mentor-based ministry training through online courses. David is also adjunct missiologist for Crossroad Bible Institute, which provides biblical distance education to more than 40,000 people in prison. Previously he served as broadcast minister for the Back to God radio program, reaching people in more than fifty countries. David earned his Ph.D. in intercultural studies from Trinity International University, Deerfield, IL. He and his wife, Wendy, have nine children (one in heaven).
Start your day with quick daily devotions.
See God's love, power, presence, and purpose in your life every day!