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When we talk about idolatry immediately we tend to think, this topic is not for me. I’m a disciple I don’t worship idols. But we need to think today, about whom do we put first in our lives.
For example: family, job, worldly friends, boy friend, girl friends, money, and possessions. We need to keep our priorities right and straight.
God must come first, your spouse. second, your children third, and others fourth. With proper priorities there is room for all of them.
Philippians 2:5-8
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Jesus left his heavenly home to come to the missionary field of this earth. One of the harshest rebukes recorded in the Bible is in Mark 8:33.
Mark 8:33
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Jesus is telling his disciples that he will suffer and must die, and Peter tries to stand in the way of this happening. “Out of my sight Satan! You do not have in mind the things of God, but of man.” Jesus’ mind was filled with spiritual vision. But on the other hand Peter’s feelings became his Idol.
Has your feeling become your idol? Do you listen to your feelings more than what God feels?
Let’s look into some things, how people tend to put other feelings first in their life.
1. I’m different; I need a lot of sleep.
2. Life is too busy.
3. I’m just a young Christian, please excuse me.
4. I’m an older, Christian please excuse me.
5. No one understands me. I am a special case:
6. I just don’t hear my alarm clock in the morning.
7. I used to be a lot worse.
8. Children need sleep, I cannot come.
Jesus said daily, but he didn’t say how many times a day.
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
If you are more dependent on these explanations, than you are on God, you will always find a reason why you cannot put God first.
Conclusion
Matthew 22:37-38
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
What is the most important thing in your life today?
What is that Idol in your life that stops you from God?
Let’s decide to put God always as No.1 in our lives.
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