God doesn’t want to share you with ANYTHING else. He wants all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength. God wants us to CHOOSE Him, to look to Him. God wants the 1st place position in our hearts and lives.
God gives us this choice.
He doesn’t force our devotion, but asks us to choose, as in Joshua 24:15: “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with ALL faithfulness. (Not partial, not some, but ALL faithfulness) Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped and serve the Lord. But, if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
God gives us this choice- are we going to live for Him or for ourselves? Are we going to serve God with all faithfulness or will we serve other gods? Are we going to let idols creep into that 1st place position in our hearts?
What is an idol?”
An idol is simply anything we place in that 1st place position over God. It’s what we give our passion, our time, our SELVES to FIRST.
What have we made first priority in our lives and hearts?
John tells us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols- from everything and anything that would take 1st place in your life.”
Lisa Bevere says, “An idol is what we give our strength TO or draw our strength from." She says "God will always shake away those idols because He wants us to get our life from Him, not the things that will always disappoint.”
Idols can be things like money, or material possessions, shopping, exercise, our
outward appearance, food, alcohol, admiration of friends, praise of man, work,
TV, or even other relationships.
Now you may be confused because you have to work and you really like chocolate! I have a wonderful husband that I am head over heals about, and five beautiful children whom I love and I spend a lot of time scrapbooking at times.
Are these idols?
These things are not wrong or evil in or of themselves! It’s when we make them a priority over our relationship with God, when we start loving them above loving God. I love my kids, but I love my God even more!
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What keeps you going through the day?
What are your thoughts on throughout the day?
What do find yourself thinking about and talking about?
You see, I am first grounded in a relationship with my Savior- head over heals in love with Him FIRST, and then, He spills so much love into my heart that it overflows into all these areas of my life.
Jesus teaches us in Mat. 6:24 that “no one can serve 2 masters.” It is impossible. Jesus says, “You will either hate the one or love the other. You will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
You cannot serve both God and work.
You cannot serve both God and food.
You cannot serve both God and the praise of man.
You cannot serve both God and shopping.
You cannot serve both God and anger.
You cannot serve both God and activities.
Father God, we love You! May You always take FIRST place in our hearts, minds, and time!
13 thoughts shared....:
Amen, preach on sweet friend.
That is a great picture with that scripture!!!!
Amen -- I'm in agreement with your prayer.
Bless you!
Beth
Great WFW post with a powerful message!
Powerful verse and thoughts to keep our mind focused on our priorities. May we always be rooted and grounded in Him and keep Him as our First Love!
Tracy, thank you so much for this great teaching on idols. I love Lisa Bevere's quote. Must check her out. Does she have a book on this topic? I pray that nothing ever takes priority over God in my life. Great pic & Scripture, as well as devotional for today! Happy WFW!
GREAT post! I had to move my computer to a different part of the house because I realized it was taking too much of a priority in my life. You are right... ANYTHING can become an idol.
Tracy, may you continue in your rich pursuit of our amazing God!
We'd love for you to check out John & Lisa Bevere's blog.
www.MessengerInternational.blogspot.com - the ministry sharing life-transforming truth
www.PearlAlliance.blogspot.com - the outreach fighting human trafficking
Blessings!
Perfect scripture for the picture! Great post my friend. Blessings,
Wow, this was great Tracy!! Thanks for sharing, lots to think about.
Have a blessed day♥
Two FABULOUS devos in one day! How do you do it....????:)
Your WFW was great! We HAVE to stop trying to separate our live in the world and our relationship with HIM...we CAN'T have both...wow...
loved it...always a blessing!
lori
This is nice. It reminds me of a comment our five-year-old daughter made to our 8-month-old today before going out to play in the snow.
She says, "I love you Jazzie. But I love God and Jesus first more than you."
From a five-year-old...
smooches,
Larie
What a great explanation. Loved this WFW.
how true! Great explanation Tracy!
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