There is no contest for God.

Sorry folks. I completely forgot to post this week's reflection on time and I also forgot to record a video for it. The text is below. I considered doing a "From the Pastor's Bedroom" video version or maybe "From the Pastor's Backyard", but I figured no one wants the first option and there would be too much wind noise in the second. So I guess we'll kick it old school this week and go without a video. There will probably be no reflection next week as we're at camp for Children's Day and won't have a bulletin.

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Today's texts: 1 Kings 18:20-43; Psalm 96; Galatians 1:1-12; Luke 7:1-10

The story of the prophet Elijah taking on the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18: 16-39) is a real “fist-pumper”: Elijah seems the underdog, and we delight in his taunting of the prophets of Baal (“Is your god on holiday?”) and in God’s utter defeat of Baal in this “contest”.

This story speaks a truth which the Bible repeats over and over, but we forget again and again: our God is the only God. The other gods in the world are man-made creations, whether they are made of wood, stone, gold, steel, values, or ideas. This week’s Psalm says it well: “great is the Lord and most worth of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” There is ultimately no contest between God and the “gods” of this world.

Elijah challenges the people of Israel and us with this question: “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” We can’t have it both ways, we cannot serve more than one master. It just doesn’t work.

Yet we consistently try to slot God in next to (or after) all of our other priorities, as if he’s one valid choice among many. No--God asks that our entire lives be devoted to serving him, so that all our other priorities become second to him and directed to him in worship.

This coming week's readings: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 30; Galatians 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17