OUR DAILY BREAD             Sunday, Aug. 27, 1995     
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READ:  Deuteronomy 4:15-31 
 
                 
                  UNSEEN MAJESTY 
 
          "You shall not make for yourself  
                  a carved image." 
 
                                -- Exodus 20:4 
 
The Encyclopedia Britannica describes Marcus  
Terentius Varro (116-27 BC) as "Rome's greatest  
scholar."  He wrote more than 600 books on many  
subjects.  Among his writings is this statement:   
"They who first introduced images of the gods  
removed fear and added error." 
 
This profound statement helps us understand why  
Moses reminded Israel at Sinai, "You saw no form  
when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the  
midst of the fire" (Dt. 4:15).  It also underscores  
the reason behind God's command prohibiting any  
physical representations of Him. 
 
We cannot love and serve the Lord in an acceptable  
manner unless we have an accurate understanding of 
His character.  Any physical portrayal, however, 
whether with pictures, icons, or statues, distorts 
our perception of His true character and lessens 
a healthy respect for His awesome holiness and  
power. 
 
If Rome's greatest secular scholar, guided only 
by the light of nature and reason, could see the 
dangers of misrepresenting deity, how much  
more should we who have special revelation care- 
fully attend to every word God has spoken. 
 
Let's ask the Lord to instill in us a healthy 
respect of Him and help us grow in our knowledge 
of His character. 
                                -- Dennis J. De Haan 
 
        Immortal, invisible, God only wise, 
      In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, 
  Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, 
  Almighty, victorious -- Thy great name we praise. 
 
                                -- Smith 
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             THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
-------------------------------------------- 
           God made us in His image; 
        don't try to make Him in yours. 
-------------------------------------------- 
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  Jeremiah 30-32

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