It's rising up all around!

Sometimes we can look at the Bible and see stories that we think are outdated...we don't live like that anymore, right? Well, I present, for your consideration, Isaiah 44:13-17:

The craftsman stretches out his rule, he marks one out with chalk; he fashions it with a plane, he marks it out with the compass, and makes it like the figure of a man, according to the beauty of a man, that it may remain in the house. He hews down cedars for himself, and takes the cypress and the oak; he secures it for himself among the trees of the forest. He plants a pine, and the rain nourishes it. Then it shall be for a man to burn, for he will take some of it and warm himself; yes, he kindles it and bakes bread; he makes it a carved image, and falls down to it. He burns half of it in the fire; with this half he eats meat; he roasts a roast, and is satisfied. He even warms himself and says, "Ah! I am warm, I have seen the fire." And the rest of it he makes into a god, his carved image. He falls down before it and worships it, prays to it and says, "Deliver me, for you are my god."

What are the things we carve out for ourselves, bring us warmth and satisfaction, and then bow down and worship them? It may not be so obvious in our lives; most of us aren't woodworkers or silversmiths by profession, wielding the instruments of the trade to create something that suits our fancy. But...what do we rely on to bring us warmth and satisfaction, to bring us peace and security? Do we realize that if we don't consider the One who blesses us with every heavenly blessing, and forget to worship the One from whom all goodness, righteousness and beauty flow? 

Instead, let us consider Psalm 72:18-19:

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory!

Let's be a part of the glorious congregation, where the anthem of the Lord's renown is rising up! Holy is the Lord! The earth is full of His great glory! Let us worship, not the works of our own hands, but the One who gave us hands to build, wisdom to create and lips to praise Him now and evermore!