Kids Bible Devotional for July 11, 2024
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Focus Verse
1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. (KJV)
Jump Start
Three guesses. Who said this? “Let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
If you said Shadrach, you are correct. If you said Meshach, you are also correct. And if you said Abed-Nego, you are correct as well. The Bible said that Shadrach. Meshach, and Abed-Nego told Nebuchadnezzar that they would not bow down to his ninety-foot golden Barbie® doll for any reason. Okay, maybe Barbie had nothing to do with it, but what is true is that they refused to worship an idol, even if it cost them their lives.
Most people in North America will not worship a statue, but you don’t have to in order to be guilty of idolatry. Anything we put in front of God is an idol. In fact, anyone whom we worship and idolize like a celebrity, or an athlete, or a musician can be like a god – little G – to us. Only God – capital G – deserves our worship and adoration. Only He offers salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let’s keep Him high and lifted up.
In today’s devotion we learn that idolizing someone, even unintentionally, can often leave us disappointed.
Today's Devotion
Cole tossed his baseball gear into the back seat of his dad’s minivan.
“How was practice, son?” Dad asked, cranking the engine.
“It was…interesting,” Cole jumped into the front seat and pulled a baseball card from his pocket. “Look what I got today.”
Dad glanced over the card. “You got a baseball card signed by Carlos Bertolini, the All-Star pitcher? How did you come by that?”
“He came to today’s practice.”
His father quietly waited for Cole to give more details. “That’s it? Your favorite baseball player showed up to your Little League practice, gave you an autographed card, and that’s all you have to say?”
Cole sighed deeply. “Let’s just say he was not what I had expected.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“He only came because he had a news crew following him. As soon as he handed out the cards, he was gone. He didn’t say a word to anyone. It was obvious that he just did it for the PR.”
“I can see you’re frustrated, but what did you expect from a super star like Bertolini?”
Cole shrugged. “I guess more. You know I’ve been studying his pitches for a long time. I’ve been dreaming of meeting Bertolini one day, and maybe getting some pointers. I had it in my mind he would be this guy who wanted to help a kid. I guess I was wrong.”
“I actually think this is a great life lesson, son,” Dad said.
“You mean getting snubbed by people is supposed to teach me something?”
“No,” Dad said, chuckling. “That’s not what I meant. I meant that when you idolize someone by putting them on a pedestal, it’s likely you’re going to be disappointed. A person – no matter how talented or successful they may be – is just a person. Only God is worthy of our adoration.”
“I didn’t realize I had been doing that. Putting him on a pedestal, I mean,” Cole said. “I have been dreaming about meeting him for such a long time, I never stopped to think about what I was doing.”
“Aren’t you glad Jesus never disappoints?” Dad asked.
Cole ripped up the baseball card. “Bertolini may be famous and a really good pitcher, but he’s no savior. That position belongs to Jesus.”
“That’s right, son,” Dad backed the van out of the parking lot. “Now, how about a pizza? I think you deserve a treat after today.”
Wrap Up
“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.”
These are the words of David recorded in 1 Chronicles 29:11 after he donated the materials that his son Solomon would use to build the Temple.
If you have ever wondered why David was a man after God’s own heart, that verse should clear things up for you. David realized that only God deserves the highest honor and our deepest affection.
Go ahead. Let God know there is no one higher than Him in your life.
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