Exodus 20:4a Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image

Publicist are all about creating and maintaining image. That is their job. I am not about to attack those who look upon those images. That isn’t the point for this devotional.

The focus of this verse has always been about the idol, has it not? What I would like to focus on is the creator of the image, the publicist. After all we are trying to sell product here and one should not blame the product for the ad campaign. The product isn’t the one selling you a bill of goods are they? Isn’t the product good enough to stand on its own merit?

OK, so we do not have a publicist we have hired. Do we do that job ourselves? Have we created an image with our own hands? Are we trying to put on a face because we know what we really are and we are afraid that no one will like us? Either way, from a publicist or self-promoted, the real you is going to start acting out. Public figures have their image destroyed on television and in print. The rest of us do it in front of friends and family. For all of us, there is only one solution.

Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

It is if the crafting of our image is not done by human hands, but by the power the Holy Spirit according to the will of God. True satisfaction is found in knowing who you are in Christ.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

As I pick up my cup of coffee and take a sip, I do so without much thought of what it takes to make the connection between will and action. I just do it.

Ever had a stroke or been close to someone who has suffered a stroke? It becomes painfully clear that there is a great deal more than just will in any act. Connections are broken and if one is lucky parts of the brain that are not damaged can be trained to take up the slack where there is loss.

Have you ever been fortunate enough to have your memory stirred to recall scripture with relevant understanding when reading devotional? Does the Holy Spirit bring to mind other scripture to enhance your reading? Does He draw connections for you between the Word and life events? Does He comfort, exhort, correct or instruct you in anyway?

Does He still do that or as with a stroke patient do you find force of will is no longer enough? Have you given up trying to reestablish the connection between will and act? Faith is the connection between the will of God and the life we live. The just shall live by faith. Hear the scripture? Found an address for it in your memory? Is there still a spark of connection the Holy Spirit is trying to exercise?

2 Peter 3:1b I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

A pure mind will help you remember His words.