Let’s Talk About Idolatry

✨Days of Awe #2 of 10 – Idolatry✨

“They know about God, but they don't honor him or even thank him. Their thoughts are useless, and their stupid minds are in the dark. They claim to be wise, but they are fools. They don't worship the glorious and eternal God. Instead, they worship idols…” Romans 1:21-23 (CEV)

Speaking of sexual sin—which God often links to idolatry—Let’s be honest: as Americans, we really have a big problem.

Anything we put before God is an idol, so that covers a lot of territory: Accumulation, addiction, money, and the adoration of and dependence on people above God.

God doesn’t like it one bit. Not just because He won’t abide rivals, but because He knows that abiding in Him is where we will be most satisfied, safe, and serene.

He doesn’t need our worship—but He deserves it. He loves and longs for us. In Him all else dims.

Let’s start with American idols: family, friends, celebrities, sports figures, and…ahem…paychecks, pastors, and politicians who get unqualified adoration, with salaries that could sustain a small city for years.

Truth: Any substitute for God—whether wealth, people, or success—becomes a serpent that coils around the heart, cutting off the flow of true life in Him.

God has a way of shattering our idols or stripping them from our desperate grip. He does this not to hurt us, but to free us.

Prince Charming who turns out to be a snake. The six-figure job that costs your dignity. The booze that kills your liver. The trophy wife who tarnishes. The leader who levels the lower class while erecting monuments to self.

I always think of those ridiculous Israelites, freed from slavery to a malevolent narcissist, who moments after Moses left to get the Ten Commandments from Papa Dios, liquidated their assets and made a golden calf.

Trading God—or even Moses—for cattle bling? Absurd. But we’re not only similar—we’re exactly the same.

Speaking of Commandments: “no idols” is number two.

HOW SERIOUS IS THIS MATTER TO GOD?

Don’t even eat with idolaters. Cast them out of church. (1 Corinthians 5:11–13, NLT)

WHAT IF GOD MEANS IT?

✦ No two masters. (Matthew 6:24, NLT)

✦ Worship God alone. (Matthew 4:10, NLT)

✦ Flee from idols. (1 Corinthians 10:14, NLT)

✦ Greed is idolatry. (Colossians 3:5, NLT)

✦ Keep away from substitutes. (1 John 5:21, NLT)

PRACTICE:

Who or what are you idolizing?

PRAYER:

Lord, have mercy on us for our idolatry. Turn our hearts away from worthless things and teach us to serve the living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). All who worship idols are disgraced… but I trust in the Lord (Psalm 31:6; 97:7).You are exceedingly and abundantly sufficient for me. Amen. Thank You. I love you. 💖

DIG DEEPER:

https://www.openbible.info/topics/idolatry