Seventh-Day Adventist Devotional For Children: “The Cancer Of Idolatry”

*DAILY BREAD – A DEVOTIONAL FOR CHILDREN*

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries

*THEME: I WILL GO*

Friday , April 22, 2022

*Topic: THE CANCER OF IDOLATRY*

_In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judges 18:1)._

Judges chapter 18 narrates how idolatry crept from one small household to an entire tribe – the tribe of Dan. Indeed, how great a matter does a little fire kindle!
The story starts like this, “ In those days there was no king in Israel: and the tribe of the Dan sought them an inheritance to dwell in.” This happened when the Israelite got into Canaan and were required to conquer the cities they will inherit. Now here we are told, that Danites sent five spies to bring them an account of the place, who, on their way, got acquainted with Micah’s priest who assured them of God’s protection. Now Micah practiced idolatry, he had graven images, house of gods and a priest who he hired for his household. When the spies got to Laish, a city in Canaan they saw carefree and lawless people who didn’t have a magistrate in their land to guide and correct them.
The spies brought an encouraging report and the tribe of Dan went to conquer Laish. On their way, they stole Micah’s gods and priest. After they conquered Laish, so they set up for themselves Micah’s carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh( Judges 18:31).
God’s word says “my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children (Hosea 4:6)].
Idolatry is the sin of giving worship or reverence to anything other than God. This sin spreads fast like cancer, it starts when we are ignorant or when we do not acknowledge God in our lives. Unlike the Danites who had no king, we need God and Godly people in our lives to lead us rightly. And concerning His laws, he said “So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people (Deuteronomy 4:6).”

*SONG*
The great physician now is near,
The sympathizing Jesus;
He speaks, the drooping heart to cheer,
O hear the voice of Jesus!
*Refrain*
Sweetest note in seraph song,
Sweetest name on mortal tongue,
Sweetest Carol ever sung
Jesus, blessed Jesus

*PRAYER*
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, I thank you for your leadings, please forgive my foolish ways and reclothe me in my mind in purer life and strengthen me to choose you above everything in my life in Jesus name I pray, Amen.