This is Jesus speaking after an un-named disciple admired the temple. Jesus responded in a way that disciple were not expecting. He told them that this particular temple would be destroyed and He went on to give them a brief view of the end times.

This chapter gives us the final speech of the first Christian martyr, Stephen, who used his last moments on earth to give one of the best evangelistic speeches in our Bible. Stephen told anyone who cared to listen a brief history of his people, the Jewish nation, Israel.

The apostle Paul travelled further as a missionary than any one else in the Bible. Paul was very vocal about what was good and not so good in the places he visited. Many films and documentaries have been made about his journeys, studying the history of the places he visited.

Many towns and cities all across the world have statues of people who have done exceptional service to the community, and the statues mark their contribution to society. The emphasis in the verse today is that a statue can become an idol and draw our worship away from Father God.

This could be a depressing study if we allowed it to be, but instead the hope and prayer is that it will be a challenge to everyone to consider how much we value things; ourselves, our own work, or our possessions, more than we value our relationship with Father God.

Praise God that He did not reject Israel forever. His Word tells us He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. That is what we must be in our relationships! The world would be a much better place if we all were slow to anger and quick to forgive!

These verses sound as though the prophet is accusing God of neglect! This chapter of Isaiah begins with real joy and encouragement, but when the prophet reflected on the depth of sin of God's people he was not happy, and even suggested that God should never forgive them

These past few years have made many of us think about what is important to us. I am not saying we have made idols of ourselves, but for many there has been a realisation of how me-centred we are. How we satisfy our own needs without really thinking about it.

It is easy to idolise things;- our possessions, (especially if they are heirlooms) or people, (our children, or partners, film stars). It is also possible to idolise ourselves, believing we are right about everything, and going our own way, no matter what others say.

The Israelites had no idea how much they needed to learn before they would be ready for the promised land, they did not recognise what was right and wrong in the eyes of God, and one problem led to another.