Kill Your Idols

by Web Admin, Mar 10 2023

Today's Devotional By:  S. Presson

Today's Devotional Scriptures:  Jeremiah 44:2-6

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Once I saw a popular singer on an awards program on TV. He was wearing a t-shirt that said, “Kill your idols”. I was intrigued enough to watch him and wonder what he was saying with that shirt. That is, until he turned around. The back of his shirt had a traditional portrait of a crucified Jesus Christ. He was in effect calling Jesus an idol.

Unfortunately, many Christians also have a skewed, idealized definition of idols. We only see idols like those mentioned in the Old Testament or those in the movie “The Ten Commandments” where Moses, played by Charlton Heston, descends from Mount Sinai to find the Israelites worshipping a golden calf and in righteous anger, hurls the tablets at the golden calf and destroys it.

When God gave Moses the Commandments, He said:

"Do not worship any other gods besides me.” Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish. You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! (Exodus 20:3-5 NLT)

An idol is any person, object or activity you give a higher priority in your life than a relationship with God. An idol can be your home, your job, a vehicle, a relationship, or even your family. An idol can be a pet, a computer, or what you look at on that computer. An idol can be alcohol, drugs, sex, or any sin. An idol can be the work you do for the Lord that consumes all your energy and time. God says He’s a jealous God. He wants our time and attention.

Look at this:

"This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You saw what I did to Jerusalem and to all the towns of Judah. They now lie in ruins, and no one lives in them. Because of all their wickedness, my anger rose high against them. They burned incense and worshiped other gods – gods that neither they nor you nor any of your ancestors have ever known. "Again and again I sent my servants, the prophets, to plead with them, 'Don't do these horrible things that I hate so much.' But my people would not listen or turn back from their wicked ways. They kept right on burning incense to these gods. And so my fury boiled over and fell like fire on the towns of Judah and into the streets of Jerusalem, and now they are a desolate ruin.” (Jeremiah 44:2-6 NLT)

But the people of Jerusalem and Judah would not listen or pay any attention. They would not stop the wickedness they were doing nor quit sacrificing to other gods. - Jeremiah 44:5

This is God’s anger against HIS PEOPLE. The prophets warned them but they refused to listen. Today, just as in those days, righteous men and women are saying, turn back to God! Destroy the idols. Put away the things that are hindering a righteous walk with God. Repent of putting others before the Creator of the universe!

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Credits & Acknowledgements to:cbn.com