Sometimes the many warnings against idolatry in the Bible can seem rather quaint or even ridiculous to us.  After all, it just seems incredulous that God's people would be tempted to forsake him and instead bow down to hunks of wood, stone, or metal.  

However, the fact that the first two of the Ten Commandments are prohibitions against idolatry should grab our attention.  Even in the New Testament, Paul and John remind their people about the danger of idols.

The subtle power of idols in our culture today is that they are largely invisible.  They have names like success, pleasure, competence, acceptance, and security.  These are not bad things in and of themselves, but they have a sneaky way of moving into hearts and trying to occupy the place that only God was meant to.  

Lent is the perfect time to examine the idols of our hearts and look for ways that we might break their power in our lives by turning to God.  Jeremiah lamented that the sins of his people were twofold: that they had forsaken God and attempted to find meaning apart from him. (Jeremiah 2:13)

He is the source of running water, who offers to quench or spiritual thirst.  May we turn towards him and away from our broken cisterns during this season of reflection.