We are not pagans who worship idols... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

You have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in his hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
Daniel 5:23

This verse may make us wonder. We are not pagans who worship idols made from all kinds of material. But does the last part apply to us? Have we glorified God as He deserves? We set great store by our abilities. We praise our technology and exploit the comforts it has provided for us. Every true or supposed success is heralded with pride. In every field of science, sport, and social life trumpeting what has been achieved and expects to be achieved never ends. Are these things not idols? And where is the one true God?

We have largely forgotten that we are creatures of our omnipotent God and are therefore responsible to and dependent on Him. There is One who stands over our life and knows all our ways. Yet we fail to honour Him; indeed, we lead our life as though He did not exist!

In Daniel's day God drew attention to Himself through a mysterious hand that wrote on the wall (ch. 5:25-28). Today He reveals Himself clearly through the Bible, in which He shows Himself to be a Saviour wishing to rescue the lost. In contrast to idols, both ancient and modern, our living God takes great interest in every individual. He loves us and wants us to be happy, both now on earth and for all eternity. He wants to save us from eternal perdition and lead us on His pathway. We can trust His love, for He gave His own Son for us.

Today's reading: Jeremiah 17:12-27 · Luke 23:26-38