Daily Devotional – Friday, January 12, 2024
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)
As the apostle to the gentiles, Paul faced a unique challenge. The Romans and Greeks he preached to were polytheists. Idols represented pagan gods. The landscape in many cities and rural areas was littered with carvings of various deities.
Eschew Idol Worship
It was, therefore, not easy to tell such people to believe in the one and only true God. Even those who believed were constantly drawn to worship idols, thanks to the powerful influence of their family, neighbors, and friends.
The apostle, knowing too well that idolatry would corrupt the morals of the new believers in Corinth and lead them away from God, warned, “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” (1 Corinthians 10:14). They were not to walk away from idol worship. They were to flee from it.
Contemporary Idolization
In modern society, it is rare to find a Christian worshipping an idol, but this does not mean the practice is dead. Idolatry continues, albeit in disguise. Ideally, there is nothing special about a piece of wood, marble, or stone. It has no divine qualities, nor does it have life.
What is repulsive to God in idol worship is ascribing the glory, honor, and power due to Him to another entity. Therefore, any object, person, or idea that takes our love, affection, and loyalty from God and takes His place in our lives is an idol.
Flee From Idolatry
If Paul were writing to us today, which idols would he warn us to flee from? Would it be close friends, some religious leaders, politicians, social media, celebrities, alcoholism, drugs, or any other thing that prevents us from obeying God?
Complete this sentence: “…stops me from obeying God.” Whatever you fill in that dash is your idol. The first two commandments unequivocally prohibit idol worship. Your salvation and safety are in heeding Paul’s warning to flee from idolatry.
Prayer
Almighty God, reveal to me the idols in my life and empower me to flee from them.
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Lord help me identify the idols in my life and get out of them through your Devine intervention.
Amen, Paul. There are subtle idols we must identify and ger rid of.