Today's Devotion - Jonah 2:8
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs. (NIV)
8They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (King James Version)
8 "People who worship useless idols
give up their loyalty to you. (New Century Version)
8 Those who cling to worthless idols
forsake faithful love, (Holman Christian Standard Version)
Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds,
walk away from their only true love. (The Message Version)
8 Those who worship false gods
turn their backs on all God’s mercies. (New Living Translation)
taken from www.biblegateway.com
It's amazing to see how different versions of the Bible translate the same passage. The way this verse is interpreted can have a very different impact on us.
For instance, is there a difference between worshipping a false idol and clinging to one? And even the terms idol and god could be perceived differently. Worshipping an idol seems like much less of an attachment than clinging to a god, yet it doesn't matter which way you interpret it, the result is the same.
Let's see if I can put that into terms of today's world. Worship can be seen by the way we spend our time. Think of the pre-teen girls trying to 'be' Hannah Montana, copying her clothing, way of speaking, and activities. They spend a lot of their time thinking about, watching, and emulating her every move. A similar example might be related to sports -- people who spend a lot of time watching the games, memorizing statistics, and arguing about what actions the coaches should take to improve the teams.
On the other hand, clinging to a false god indicates to me that you are placing your hope in something that can't help. Those who desperately try to increase their financial situation through gambling or get rich quick schemes -- they 'know' that just increasing their bank account will resolve all of their problems. Others place their hope in certain people. "If I could just get him (or her) to love me, everything will be ok." They focus all of their attention on that thing they believe will resolve all the problems in their lives.
In the end, though, it doesn't really matter how we interpret this passage -- the result is the same. We voluntarily walk away from the good things (be it love, mercy, or grace depending on the version you choose) that God intends for us to have.
Are there things that are pulling you down to the bottom of the sea, wrapping your head in sea weed just like Jonah? The answer is pretty clear -- if we worship and cling to the true God, he can save us in miraculous ways. And we'll receive the reward of grace, mercy, and love in amounts we can hardly imagine.
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