handicapped...

“Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them." Psalm 115:4-8

My mind was completely blown away whenever I read this. I will do my best to explain.

As I read this I began to look at my life. God showed me how whenever I begin to start trusting in the things of this world I basically become handicapped in my service to Him. How so? Well, whenever I start trusting in things that don't matter, my life starts to revolve around things that don’t matter. Therefore I start spending my time and life on things that, well, don’t matter. I start to become like them… “Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.” Here are some examples:
1) I become disobedient to speaking truths that He wants me to speak…" they have mouths but do not speak"
2) I become blind to opportunities that He places before me and cannot see what He is trying to show me in His word…"eyes, but do not see"
3) I don’t hear Him speak like I once did…"ears, but do not hear"
4) I can't sense (or “smell”) evil very well…"noses, but do not smell"
5) I'm not serving like I should…"they have hands, but do not feel"
6) I'm not obedient in going the places He wants me to go (aka I’m lazy)…"they have feet but do not walk"
7) And I don't share what Christ's been doing in my life…"they do not make a sound in their throats"

Webster’s Dictionary defines the word idol this way… 1. An image of a god, used as an object of worship   2. Any object of ardent or excessive devotion or admiration…

What are the things in your life that are taking your devotion and admiration away from Christ? What are you allowing to handicap your service to the Lord?

"...and the two shall become one flesh."

Funny title, right? Trust me; I was as confused as you are right now whenever the Lord allowed me to read Mark 10:1-12 and Ephesians 5 in my quiet time today. Both of these passages have something in common... they both contain the famous "wedding verses"..."Therefore a man shall leave is father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become on flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate."    We've all heard theses verses before, right? Well, I was very confused as to why the Lord took me to two different passages that contained these verses. As I began to think and pray about it, the Lord spoke and told me that this should be said of him and me!  Let me show you....
"Therefore, Hannah will leave everything that she has ever known and will hold fast to Christ alone, and they will become one flesh. So they are no longer two but one flesh. What God has joined together let nothing ever separate!"

Whenever we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, and surrender everything to Him, we become one with Him! Are we living as if we are one with Christ?   Are you willing to tell the Lord, "I am willing to leave everything and hold fast to You and only You!"  Trust Him! Take Him at His word!  
                 "…deny yourself and take up your cross daily and follow Him." (Luke 9:23)