Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalm 89; Genesis 49:1-28; I Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Mark 7:24-37
Today’s Writer: Juliann Walton
1 Corinthians 10:14 tells us to “flee from all idolatry.” That sounds so Old Testament. This is the 21st century. Surely we don’t have any golden calves in our homes. We can read the Old Testament and wonder how the Israelites could have deceived themselves with objects of wood and stone.
Yet God still gives us the same message today: “flee from all idolatry.” Our idols today are much more subtle. They can sneak up on us without our even noticing. The entire advertising industry bombards us incessantly with messages of what we REALLY need to have a better, happier and more satisfying life.
What are idols?
- Anything we put before God
- Anything that stands between God and us
- Anything we depend upon for personal identity, meaning and security
- Anything we believe that we cannot live without
I once heard somewhere that idolatry is spiritual adultery: breaking our commitment to God in order to love something else.
Our present culture entices us to embrace a multitude of idols: wealth, good looks, pleasure, comfort, the approval of others, security, problem-free living, and the list goes on. We don’t set out with the intent of worshipping these things, but by the amount of time we devote to them, they can grow into “gods” that ultimately control our thoughts and energies.
As this Lenten season continues to unfold, I ask God to reveal to me those things of this world that I am allowing to entice me away from Him, the one true God. And I ask Him to help me to “dethrone” those false “gods” that I have allowed into my life.
Image by Justin Brown. Used by permission (via Creative Commons).
Thanks Juliann—-we sometimes only worry about the most common idols—but unaware that anything–we put before turning to God is a idol–I pray I will learn to put God –second to nothing
Amen sister.
In John Roop’s class yesterday he reminded us that Adam & Eve had everything they needed, but were tempted to WANT something else. So much of our society/economy is about people pursuing WANTS–the idols you listed.
I had such a great time at Bible Study. I’m so glad we are studying part II of Acts. Part I was so much fun and it’s great to get into it again. It’s fun to dsicuss the characters and what life was like for them and the transforming experiences they had. Thanks for the great food and thought provoking insights! Looking forward to next month!