Why You Must Flee From Idolatry

Daily Devotional – Monday, May 2, 2022
Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV)

Ancient Corinth was renowned for idolatry. Corinthians worshipped Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, as well as Egyptian deities.

In Acts 18, Paul preached in Corinth and established a church. Unfortunately, some professed Christians practiced idolatry and immorality. This unholy marriage of Christian and pagan practices resulted in deep divisions among believers.

My Beloved, Flee From Idolatry

Consequently, Apostle Paul wrote two powerful letters to warn, teach and encourage the Corinthian Christians. One of his key admonitions was, “…my beloved, flee from idolatry.”
(1 Corinthians 10:14).

The temptation to revert to idol worship was high in the cosmopolitan city where Christianity was a minority religion, hence the warning.

We flee when our lives are in danger. Idolatry may appear to be an innocent practice but it has deadly consequences. It pulls us away from God, the Source of life and places the creature on the throne of the Creator.

Modern Idols to Flee From

Unlike the Corinthian Christians, modern Christians do not bow to metallic, earthen or wooden gods. Our idols are not physical but they remain as deadly as the ones in Corinth.

The following words appeared in Today in the Word, on June 14, 1989:
“Though we do not face a pantheon of false gods … we face pressures from a pantheon of false values–materialism, love of leisure, sensuality, worship of self, security, and many others. … What is the object of our affections, our efforts, and our attention? Where does the majority of our time go? On what do we spend the greatest amount of our resources?

Beloved, which idol do you need to flee from today?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, please reveal to me the gods I need to flee from.