Backing Up Words With Actions

They cried out to the LORD for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.” . . .

Judges 10:10, 15-16

Sometimes it takes more than words to convince others of a change of heart. Words have to be backed up with action. The Israelites were in such a situation with God. Again and again, they had adopted the gods of the pagan nations around them. God grew angry with the Israelites, allowing their pagan neighbors to attack them. So when the Israelites cried out to God for deliverance, they realized that they had to back up their prayers of repentance with action. They had to tear down their idols and begin serving the Lord. Then God “was grieved by their misery.”

Search your heart for the idols in your life—the temporal things to which you sacrifice your time and money. Tear them down and affirm your allegiance to God alone.

• Dear Lord, I have sinned. Punish me as you see fit, only rescue me today . . .