Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
You and I are not the point of this life, and I know we don’t like to think that. The truth of the matter is, we are not the center of the universe.
I know we love to be in control. We love to call the shots. If we’re believers, we have to ask ourselves the question, who is on the throne of our lives? In fact, I ask myself that question all the time: Who is ruling my life? When I made Jesus the Lord of my life—the word Lord means master—that means I am no longer in control. Jesus is.
Who is On the Throne?
What I love about our verse today is Isaiah’s writing, and he talks about how the people of God were under heavy oppression. They were under pagan rulers that oppressed them, and they were fighting for their allegiance. I love how honestly he says, “O LORD our God, others have ruled us.” There was a moment when others had ruled them. Then he says this: “But You alone are the one we worship.”
What We Love Is What We Worship
Let’s make this very practical. In our day and age, there’s going to be things that are pulling at us, fighting for our allegiance and for our attention. At the end of the day, what we love is what we worship.
All of us have things that are fighting for our attention in our lives. Sometimes they’re not bad things, but they can become idols in our lives. When Isaiah says, “But You alone are the one we worship,” I asked myself a question: What is worship? The word worship means to ascribe worth and value to something or someone.
Think about that. When I say, God, You’re worthy, I’m not saying, God, You’re worthless. If something’s worthless, it’s not worthy of worship. Only God is worthy. We must ask ourselves the question, what are we worshiping? It’s not are we worshiping. No. Each and every person is worshiping something or someone. Who are we worshiping? What do we wake up and think about all the time? That often reveals what we worship.
Strip Me of My Idols
Sometimes it’s what we can’t let go. In my life, I’ve learned that control can be one of my biggest idols, even sports, when I can’t seem to rest from it. If I can’t rest from it, that still shows that I worship that thing.
I would encourage you—and I ask myself this all the time when I pray—I ask the Lord, burn and strip me of my idols, because I want You to be the lover of my soul. My question to you today is simple: Who or what are you worshiping?
