I know that as a parent I repeat myself often if it’s something I feel
strongly about or if it its something I want my children to carry into the
future with them. In an attempt to see just how strongly God feels about
idolatry, I did a search of the King James version for the following words:
Idols………………..……...95
times
Idol…………………………..12
times
Idolatry………………… 5 times
Carved Image……….. 2 times
Graven Image………. 26
times
The NIV references
‘idols’ 164 times.
These passages run
throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. God knows us in our humanness.
He knows that idols will be one of our greatest downfalls, but he is a jealous God,
and he will not tolerate our worship of these idols! As he did in the times of
Josiah, he gave the people over to their desires. He allowed them to worship
other gods because their hearts were hard. That did not mean however that it
was done without consequence.
This is still the
way God allows us to live our life here today. Our idolatry is killing our
families. It is setting a path of destruction for our children and
grandchildren.
Sure our idols don't take the form of a huge golden calf or an Asherah pole. But look around you… what is your focus? Your spouse, your children, your material possessions, sex, people pleasing, a job, or perhaps the subtle god of self.
God’s word clearly
says that the greatest commandment is to
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment." Matt. 22:37-38
We can’t love Him like that if our worship is divided among other gods! He must
be our main focus, our reason for being, our mainstay!
Dear Lord,
We confess that idolatry is a problem in our lives. It keeps us from being in right relationship with you. Tender our hearts to hear your voice above all others that vie for our attention. Teach us to keep our focus on you and to allow you to have your way in us.
In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen & Amen
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