Our verse for the day is found within a prophecy of the overthrow and destruction of Babylon by the Medes. In the midst of this prophecy the prophet Jeremiah breaks out in a declaration of God’s attributes. It is as though Jeremiah is suddenly overtaken with a sense of awe and wonder about how great God is. This is a natural thing for someone who is being used by God. When we are serving and God’s Spirit is working in us or through us, if our heart is right, we will break out in praise or adoration of God. It is almost as if we can’t help ourselves, we must say something about how amazing God is or we will burst.

In today’s verse, after seeing how great God is, Jeremiah turns back and declares to us what he sees as he examines mankind. Compared to God all men are foolish and have no knowledge. Mankind seems to take great pride in its accomplishments. We marvel at the feats of people who are greater than we are in one area of life or another. We are enthralled with the abilities of great athletes, artists, or musicians. We stand in awe of the enormous things people have built.

This verse is proven true when we promote these things of man to a place of worship in our lives. We attribute to them some life or power that we think they might give to us, only to be disgraced because they have no life or power and all the energy that we have focused them is wasted and useless.

We might think that we are immune from idol worship in modern America, but we are actually guiltier of it than many of the less civilized countries of the world. We disguise our idol worship with Madison Avenue, Wall Street or social media, but we still foolishly worship things that have no life or power. Where your focus is gives you a clue of what is important to you. We know this is true because when we are in our greatest need, they have nothing to offer us.

Only God is worthy of our worship. Only Jesus can give life. Only the Holy Spirit can provide the power we need to live this life well. If we give any of the focus or worship that should go to God to lifeless things, we will be disgraced and we will find ourselves empty and powerless.

The more that I get to know God, the more I realize how little I actually know Him. The more I grow in my knowledge of God, the more I realize how much greater He is than I am. As I look at the things God has done, the things of man begin to pale in comparison. It is ultimate foolishness to focus on or worship anything man could make rather than worshipping the God who made man. Jesus, show us those things we have put in Your rightful place in our hearts and minds and then help us to put them where they belong.