Blessed are The Merciful - Habitudes #5

Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Pastor Thad Spring

[Original Message: September 30, 2007]

 

 Habititudes #5 - Blessed are The Merciful [36:01m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Question: “Who shapes a god and casts an idol, which can profit him nothing?” (Isaiah 44:10)

Answer: I do. At least that’s what I think I do. I read this passage this morning and started to think about what an idol maker does. He/she takes something ordinary; wood, plastic, metal and shapes it into something that he/she becomes dependent on. Isaiah describes idol makers who build places in their homes for the idols; little shrines. The idol maker worships or serves the idol and hopes that it will do something amazing for them.

My television is made of plastic and metal. My coffee maker is made of plastic and glass. My car is made of both as well. My deck is made of wood. My cool new jacuzzi bathtub is made of plastic. Yet, I was putting hope in the television yesterday that football might be able to take away some of the stress. I was dreaming that the tub last night would relax my muscles and relieve the anxiety. I was depending on the caffeine this morning to bring me to life. I’m not sure these have become idols for me, but certainly the possibility exists that I might be depending on them for the things that only God can provide.

Look around your house when you get a chance today. What are you counting on your kitchen table to provide. How about that computer in the corner. Have you decorated around it to provide secrecy for when you spend time alone playing games online? What about the bedroom? Who is it a shrine to? How about that vehicle in the garage? Do you take care of it as though you couldn’t live without it? We all have things in our lives that we depend on and count on to get us through the day. But those things were made by human hands. These “things” are a gift from God and not gods themselves.

Your eyes might behold many things this week, but has your heart made them into an idol for you to worship or do you see it as an instrument from God to serve him? Be careful that you don’t idol-eyes the “things” around you. There is still only one God.

Blessed are those who Hunger

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Pastor Thad Spring

[Original Message: September 23, 2007]

 

 Habititudes #4 - Blessed are Those Who Hunger [33:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)

Habitudes #3 - Blessed are the Meek

Matthew 5:5

Pastor Thad Spring

[Original Message: September 16, 2007]

 

 Habititudes #3 - Blessed are the Meek [28:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)

Habitudes #2 - Blessed are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4

Pastor Thad Spring

[Original Message: September 9, 2007]

 

 Habititudes #2 - Blessed are Those Who Mourn [41:05m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1)

Habitudes #1- Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:1-3

Pastor Thad Spring

[Original Message: Sep 2, 2007]

 

 Habititudes #1 - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit [38:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download