ICS Daily Devotions
Do We Have Idols in Our Lives
In the Old Testament, God’s people either prospered or suffered under godly or ungodly kings respectively. Ungodly kings who strayed to worship other idols would suffer defeat and be overthrown by their enemies. However, godly kings would bring about victory, peace and prosperity and Jehoshaphat was such a king. Our God is a jealous, holy, just and righteous God who judges sin.
2 Chronicles 17:3-4 The Lord was with Jehoshaphat because he followed the ways of his father David before him. He did not consult the Baals but sought the God of his father and followed his commands rather than the practices of Israel.
Likewise, we as head of our household should walk closely with God as it will affect the lives of our family members. For the singles, their lives will be affected by the choices that they make. This is evident if we make choices that are contrary to what God’s Word teaches. We need to deal with things that hinder us from walking closely with God and learn to walk in accordance to His Word. We need to ask ourselves, “Do we have idols in our lives?”.
Not only do we have to ensure we do not have any moulded idols of worship in our lives and homes (Leviticus 19:4 ‘Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves moulded gods: I am the Lord your God) , we also should not have any moulded idols in our hearts (Colossians 3:5 So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).
Modern day idols may not be moulded images but can be something, someone or a heart issue that we hold dearly above God. Christians who have prayed the Sinner’s Prayer may not have released or chosen to break free from these practices/desires which can be idols in their lives. God should be our one and only choice. If we continue to allow sexual desires, fornication as a way of life, impurity and unholy desires to be part of our lives, then we will reap the consequences of them (Galatians 6:7-8). We should not open up a hole in God’s protective fence around us for the devil to create havoc in our lives.
Since we are new creations in Christ, we have been set free from the law of sin and death. We are able to deal with our flesh and yield to the empowerment of the Holy Spirit through the new creation to walk away and break free from what used to hold us in bondage! We have made the choice for Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour, so we should consecrate our lives to Him and live a sanctified life, having no idols in our lives. It will be much easier to fight against any challenges in our lives if there are no holes in the fence that God has built around us.
Sermon Series: Spiritual Habits 2020
