The Choice

"But if you refuse to serve the LORD,

then choose today whom you will serve.

Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served

beyond the Euphrates?

Or will it be the gods of the Amorites 

in whose land you now live?

But as for me and my family,

we will serve the LORD."

Joshua 24:15 NLT

It was a horrible choice to face.  The young Polish mother was sent to Auschwitz concentration camp with her two young children.  Upon arrival, she was forced to choose whether it would be her son or her daughter who would be killed in the gas chambers.  Only one would be allowed to live, and in their cruelty, the Nazi guards compelled the mother to elect who would survive.

While my decision is not as heart-wrenching as this one depicted in the 1982 movie, "Sophie's Choice," I do have a clear choice to make.  In the same way that Joshua presented a choice to the people of Israel as to who they would serve, the Lord their God or the foreign gods, I have a similar decision to make.  I must be careful, though, not to do as the Israelites did:  They claimed to choose God, but also stubbornly clung to their old gods.  Joseph warned them to let go or God would turn from them and do them harm (v 20).

I must take this warning to heart and avoid giving my preference lip service.  When asked, "Whom today will I serve?", the answer I give must be sincere.

Foreign gods

He was nothing if not ambitious.  He felt pretty secure in his efforts, certain that his self-discipline in following the law would save him.  Still, he couldn't be sure.  So, the young man asked the Teacher as he passed through town.

"What is it I need to do to be saved?"

Jesus answered, "Well, if you insist on being saved by what you do, the requirement is this: Continually and perfectly follow the commandments."

"I'm in good standing, then, because all my life I have followed the commands you specified."

"Well then, if you truly want spiritual maturity, here is what you must do: Sell all you have and follow me."

This was a choice the wealthy young man was unwilling to make so he went away that day with a heavy heart.  The rich young ruler, while zealous in his quest to earn his way to heaven, didn't treasure Jesus enough to choose Him above all else (Paraphrased from Matthew 19:16-22).

I am not so different from this young man;  there is so much I value more than Jesus.  It could be worldly success which seems so important, my own self-interests that constantly stay before me, the pursuit of enough money to pay my bills and have a little left over to feel secure in the future, the hobbies or pastimes which are said to be healthy and beneficial; I am constantly faced with idols that I willingly worship.

In order to put away these captivating gods, I will need to purposefully turn away from them.  This means I could have to change my career goals so they line up more closely with God's plan for my life (Proverbs 3:5-6). I may also need to do a daily inventory of my heart, asking God to show me what is honoring to Him and what is simply there to motivate me to please myself (Psalm 139:23-24). 

While it is commendable to live in a fiscally responsible way, if I am looking to money to provide for my needs, I must instead rely on my heavenly Father who knows how to perfectly supply what is required for my life (Matthew 6:31-33).  It might also be necessary for me to ask of what I am unwilling to let go, no matter how good these pursuits might seem (Proverbs 14:12). Anything that gets between me and God, holds more weight than Him, or demands more attention than does the Lord is an idol. 

If I am to make the choice to follow Jesus, it is only an authentic choice if I put away any other gods.

The Lord our God

Amateur wrestling does not allow any maneuver that could cause bodily harm, whether intentional or not.  This includes full nelsons, forceful trips, headlocks, pulling a thumb or less than four fingers, or anything that restricts breathing or circulation.  The rules are there to protect the competitors and make sure everyone has the same chance to win.

A contest that excludes these kind of prohibitions is called a "no-holds-barred match."  As you can imagine, anything goes in these kind of bouts.  While I am not here to promote wrestling, or any other sport for that matter, there is a mindset found in this kind of competition that I can take on in my own walk with Jesus.

Instead of prohibiting certain acts of service, or proclaiming specific areas of my life as off-limits to God, a no-holds-barred approach would give Him complete access.  This means I would be willing to let God have His way in my life, letting Him choose my footsteps instead of me trying to be in control of my own destiny. While this kind of submission is not something that happens overnight, if He is Lord, I will see more of a desire to let Him lead as time goes by.

When I say I love God wholeheartedly but refuse to let go of the hurt a friend has caused, I am placing that area of my life off-limits to God.  If I say I will follow Jesus with everything I have, except if it means sacrificing my own welfare and comfort, then my proclamation is not sincere.  While I may mean it when I say that Jesus is Lord of my life, I can't make that claim sincerely if I'm angry about the suffering that sometimes is necessary for my sanctification. Thankfully, God leads us deeper and deeper into full and complete surrender as we grow in our relationship with Him.  

If I am to make the choice to follow Jesus, it is only an authentic choice if I submit more and more to Him as the days go on.

It is easy to say I will serve the Lord this day, but the choice I make is really made with my actions, not my words.  If it is to be a real choice, I will turn away from anything that distracts from the Lord, and I will wholeheartedly serve Him, taking a no-holds-barred approach. While I may not perfectly live this out as Jesus did, my desire to do so is what matters to God. In these ways, the choice I make will be apparent to anyone who is watching me live my life as they see the indwelling Spirit of God at work in me.

As I begin this day, it is my prayer that the choice I make will honor God.

When do I say I want Jesus to be Lord, but withhold certain areas of my life from Him?

How am I worshiping idols in the way I spend my time?   


Originally published on March 11, 2014

The Delusion of Idols

"The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

made by human hands.

They have mouths, but cannot speak,

eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear,

nor is there breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them,

and so will all who trust in them."

Psalm 135:15-18

Relationships.  Success.  Romantic love.  Sex.  Power.  Money.  Financial Security.  Comfort.  Adventure.  Education.  Materialism.  Science.  Food.  Self-fulfillment.  Self.  There are many idols which mankind worships.  It's easy to get my priorities off, to place my trust in something or someone other than God, to give away God's rightful place at the center of my attentions.  

While I'm quick to wander away from my First Love, I am only deluding myself when I do (Revelation 2:4).

Impotent.  Whatever basket in which I place my eggs will one day bust wide open, spilling all my hopes and dreams onto the floor in a sticky mess.  Anything in which I lean on, putting my confidence in, is created.  Everything that has ever been made receives its power from its Creator.  Nothing in all of existence, then, has any power unto itself except for God.  Therefore, I am trusting in an impotent object whenever I have faith in anything or anyone other than the Almighty; a risky proposition, wouldn't you agree?

Yet I often go there, believing scientific findings hold the answers to my deepest questions, or medical research is my hope for healing, or my best shot at a meaningful life will come once I attain that diploma.  We all pin our hopes on something that is unable to deliver, that was never meant to carry us through, that can't do all that we want it to do.  Only God is able to do more than we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).  Only God has the power I need.

Anything other than God will let me down because it is impotent to generate the change I need, the love I crave, the security I seek.

Useless.  A carved image made by man's hands sits on the altar.  It may have eyes, but they're only for looks.  It might have a mouth, but no words every emerge from it.  I can see ears formed on the side of its head, but it never gives any indication that it hears me.  I can pour my heart out, crying tears of desperation before it, but it will never respond.  I'm better off confiding in my dog; at least he will act like he cares.

While I have never placed my hope in an idol made of wood or stone, I have trusted in things that will never be able to help me.  I hear the common sense that comes from television personalities and I try to imagine in vain how they might respond if I were able to seek their advice (1 Corinthians 3:19).  Or I cry my eyes out over a sink of suds, feeling a sense of relief but never finding the peace I need (Philippians 4:6-7).  Or I spend hours researching answers on the Internet, but never seem to find anything that will truly help me (James 1:5).  All on which I pin my hopes is useless.

Looking for help in anything other than God is an exercise in futility because even if it promises the answers I need, its assurances are empty and useless, like the eyes, mouth and ears carved on a wooden idol.

Transformational.  It occurs without fail.  No matter how hard I may try to resist, I am unable to stop it from happening.  Even if I have the best intentions, I'll soon find myself where I never wanted to be.  Idols have a way of sucking me into their world and before I know it, I'll resemble them in some way, kind of like how dogs and their masters end up looking alike.

I become like what I worship.  Whatever I adore or look up to will influence me in ways I don't even realize.  If I want to become more cold-hearted, I need look no further than technology where the latest and greatest is always sought and there is never a thought to the human behind the device.  If it's temporary satisfaction I desire, I can place sex and sensual pleasures on a pedestal, and I'll find myself always wanting more.  If it's emptiness and a feeling of meaningless is what I want, I can place my hopes in modern science where I'm nothing more than an accident, here completely by chance. 

Since I become like whatever I look up to, worshiping anything other than God will lead me to become more and more like the world that is headed toward destruction.

There are a million places where I can place my faith.  When I trust in anything besides God, I will find such an idol to be impotent to help me, useless in every way, and transformational in it's influence.  Therefore, I would be wise to make it my intention to keep God at the center of my vision, pinning all my hopes on Him.  He will never let me down: In Him there are no delusions.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with all of my heart.

When do I find myself becoming someone I never wanted to be, not realizing that I am simply being influenced by whatever it is I'm revering as the next best thing.

How am I fooling myself into believing I don't have an idol problem?

  

Open Up!

"Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!

O Israel, if you would but listen to me!

There shall be no strange god among you;

you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

I am the LORD your God,

who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide,

and I will fill it."

Psalm 81:8-10 ESV

We as a people can be frustrating.  We, like the Israelites, claim to follow God, but then we wander off, pinning our hopes on something other than the One who brings true fulfillment and meaning.

When I go off like this, God misses me, longing for a close bond with me.  He chastises me, disciplining me as a way to draw me back to Him, saying, "I have so much I want to give you, why will you not receive?  Why do you stubbornly resist my advances?"  He never stops pursuing me, reminding me of all I could have from Him, all the acts of His mighty hand that I have experienced.  He does not give up on me; He passionately desires my whole heart!

If I would open my mouth, He would fill it with such goodness; blessing beyond compare!

Love.  When I hear the word, "love," I get a picture of human love in my mind.  I think of a parent's love for a child which sometimes pushes her beyond her own capabilities in an effort to help her succeed.  Or the love of a man for a woman which smothers her, not allowing her to become the woman she was created to be.  Or the love of a woman for a man which is dependent upon him for her feelings of worth and well-being.  Or the love between two humans which is strong at one moment then fades in another.  This inferior love is far below what God has in mind when He speaks of love.

The kind of love I can expect from God is powerful.  It is grand; its scope being beyond my ability to fathom (Ephesians 3:18-19). This love is part of His character, not just an action He shows or a deed He does.  Love is who He is (1 John 4:8).  Therefore, this love does not change, waxing and waning according to my performance or attitude at the time:  God's love is constant.  It also is not dependent upon me at all, but absolute and unrestricted.  Therefore, this love cannot be lost (Romans 8:38-39).  This is the kind of love that cannot be constrained or limited.  In it's character, it is meant to flow freely to me and then out to others.  It is a sign that I belong to Him (1 John 4:7). 

This is the kind of love my heart desires, and this is the kind of love God is waiting with which to fill me.

Grace.  I want good things in life, but deep down, I feel like I don't deserve them.  I mess up despite how hard I try to do right.  I fail time and time again regardless of how much effort I put into following God's ways.  It seems like for every step forward I take, I end up going backwards three.  Life can be like running in loose sand; lots of effort with little progress made.

What I need to grasp is God's gracious character.  His grace gives me what I don't deserve.  His grace is all about lavish goodness flowing into my life apart from my ability to earn it.  It's God's favor upon me despite my failure to earn it.  Grace offers forgiveness where there is no virtue, kindness when I deserve wrath, abundance even though my actions earned lack (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 3:24).

God is waiting to pour out His grace in my life until it is overflowing in abundance.

Hope.  Without Him, I have nothing to look forward to.  Apart from Him, there is no expectation that things will be okay.  On my own, I can't honestly say that life will get better, that it will turn out for the good in the end, that there is anything beyond what I experience in the here and now.  If I don't have Jesus, I have no hope (1 Peter 1:3-4).

Through Christ, I can have an expectation for something better to come.  This is not all there is, and I was made for more than just survival.  I was created to thrive in the abundance of His love, and this is why Jesus came; to offer such fullness of life (John 10:10).  If things are bad right now, hope spurs me on with the thought that He came to give me a rich and satisfying life, not a measly existence filled with struggle and lack of purpose. 

Since He is always at work I can maintain a positive attitude based on the expectation that He is at work on my behalf, even if I don't detect it.   Furthermore, I need not fear the end, because in reality it is only the beginning.  The best is yet to come (John 14:1-3).  I have a future (Jeremiah 29:11)!

In Christ I have the hope that spurs me on to greater things, if I would only open myself up to receiving it.

I admit that I am stubbornly resisting God's work in my life.  Even though He desires to lavish His love, grace and hope upon me, I often fail to receive.  It is my desire that I let go of everything that holds me back, and simply open my mouth to accept His goodness.  When I do, I will find that He will fill me until it overflows in abundance.  Let me open up to Him!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will stop resisting God's work in my life and simply let Him give what He wants to give me.

How am I clamming up in the face of such a generous God?

When do I stick to my measly existence, refusing to even consider the abundance God is offering?

          

A Thorn in my Side

"'For your part,

you were not to make any covenants with the people

living in this land;

instead, you were to destroy their altars.

But you disobeyed my command.

Why did you do this?

So now I declare that I will no longer drive out

the people living in your land.

They will be thorns in your sides,

and their gods will be a constant temptation to you.'"

Judges 2:2-3 NLT

Every time I put my walking shoes on, something sharp would poke me in the arch of the foot.  Instead of taking the time to investigate the source of the pain, however, I rushed through my morning walk, eager to move on to the next part of my day.  Consequently, I developed a sore where the irritating little prickle stuck me each time I took a step.  

The only solution to relieve the pain that came with walking and to allow my foot to heal was to take the time necessary and attention needed to remove the culprit from my shoe.  As I examined my shoe, running my finger along its inside surface, I located the cause:  A tiny yet sharp thorn that had somehow worked itself into the fabric of my footwear.  

In the same way that my inattention to the problem of the thorn in my shoe was a constant source of irritation to me, that which I fail to crucify on the cross can become a thorn in my side and a snare to me. (Galatians 5:24)

Temptation

It was God's intention that His people remain pure.  Knowing how easily His image bearers are swayed, His plan included the necessity for the people of Israel to live separately from the people who dwelled nearby.  

Instead, the Israelites failed to drive out the indigenous people.  Their altars still stood, their pagan ways threatened to taint the ways the Lord had taught them to live and their daughters were a constant lure for the young men of Israel. (Judges 1:19-36)  In short, their unwillingness to take God at His word threatened their relationship with Him.

Similarly, my unwillingness to root sin out of my life threatens my relationship with God. (James 1:14-15) The more I entertain a fleshly thought, desire or craving, the more power it holds in my life.  Soon, I'll find myself giving into the temptation and living as if I have no Savior.  (Romans 6:12-14)

Therefore, I must take sin seriously, realizing it's insidious nature and never allowing it to take root in my heart.  When I become aware of my proclivity for gossip, then, I must turn away from my fleshly desire to share information about others.  Surrendering my natural tendencies to Christ gives me the power to only speak what will build others up.

Instead of giving in to my innate craving for sensual pleasures, I must remind myself of the richness of living in tandem with a God who provides for all my needs.  That which promises satisfaction outside of Him never delivers.  

As a replacement for worry that eats away at the peace that trusting in Jesus supplies, I can dedicate each anxious thought to the God who has all the resources necessary to lovingly care for me.

Allowing sin to dwell in my heart serves as a thorn that will constantly tempt me to succumb to it's power.

My Plan

I thought I had it all figured out.  I would earn my degree, start a career and live a life fulfilling all my dreams.  Unfortunately, I failed to consult the One who held the blueprint for my life.  If I had, I would have realized the better plan He had for me to dedicate my life to supporting my devoted husband and raising our four amazing daughters.

When I insist on making my own plans apart from God, I won't get to see His glorious purpose nor witness His awesome power at work.  As long as I hold the reigns to my life, driving in the direction I want to go, I'll miss out on the peace that comes in letting God choose for me.  As long as I think I have the wherewithal to create my own destiny, I'll fail to appreciate the purpose He has given me in Christ.  (Ephesians 2:10)  As long as I insist on doing things my way, I'll forego witnessing the work of His mighty Hand as He consistently makes a way where there is none.

Let's face it; my plan is puny in comparison to God's.  Since His ways are so much higher than mine, and His mind so far superior to what sits between my ears, I can expect great things to come from Him. (Isaiah 55:9)  When I trust Him enough to let Him have His way in my life, I will witness great and wondrous things.

I will see Him fill my empty gas tank through the thankful heart of a sister whose need had been met.  Or I will witness the way He takes what was good and transforms it into something even better.  Or I will observe the unexpected provision coming from a surprising source.

Insisting on following my own path will be a constant source of heartache as I miss out on the good God has planned for me.

Idols

There are some things that cannot be denied:  Jesus sits at the right hand of God Almighty. (Mark 16:19) He will judge all of mankind. (2 Timothy 4:1, John 5:22) In the end, every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. (Philippians 2:8-11)  Whether or not I acknowledge these truths and give Him the honor due in the here and now is up to me.

It is easy to let other people, things and pursuits creep in and take the place of Jesus as lord of my life.  Sometimes I give more regard to those I love than I do to the One who loves me perfectly. (Luke 14:26, Matthew 12:46-50) Other times I put my all into going after that which seems to give me fulfillment instead of finding all I need at the feet of Jesus. (John 4:14, Luke 10:38-42) Sometimes I spend more time learning how to become a better employee and thus gain a promotion than I do to acknowledging the truth that will lead to godly living.  (Titus 1:1)

When I live in such a way, I risk losing the blessing that comes with walking in tandem with His Spirit.  Instead of producing fruit that leads to godliness, (Galatians 5:22-23) I will find my life becoming a testimony to the results of living according to my sinful nature.  

The lust of my flesh will rule me, dissension and quarreling will follow me, and my own selfish ambition will lead me away from the path the Lord has prepared for me. (Galatians 5:19-20) Not surprisingly, I'll sense a pulling away from God that is really just me turning away from Him.

Denying the lordship of Christ in my life will result in a loss of the blessings God has stored up for me.  (Ephesians 1:3, Deuteronomy 11:26-28)

There is much I allow in my life that can turn into a thorn in my side and a snare to my life.  Instead of ignoring such dangers, I would be wise to remove temptation that leads to sin, resist the urge to make my own plans, and constantly be on the lookout for that which can become an idol.  In these ways I'll remove that which can lead me away from Christ and take advantage of the opportunity He's given me to crucify these dangers on the life-giving cross.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I will grasp hold of the indwelling power that Jesus gives me over sin.

When do I become comfortable with sin, entertaining temptation as if it were my friend?

How do I let things or people come between me and Jesus? 

   

Idols

"You shall not make for yourself an image

in the form of anything in heaven above

or on the earth beneath

or in the waters below.

You shall not bow down to them or worship them;

for I, the LORD your God,

am a jealous God,

punishing the children for the sin of the parents

to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,

but showing love to a thousand generations of those 

who love me and keep my commandments."

Exodus 20:4-6

She talked about praying to her ancestors.  In her home, the family set up an altar where they could practice the rituals of their religion and worship both Buddha and their ancestral spirits.  Our exchange student said that most families in Japan possess a similar altar, so much so that the creation of altars that fit into a family's unique decor has become big business.

Idol worship is popular in many Asian countries where numerous gods are venerated.  While I think I'm exempt from this commandment because I don't bow down to any carved images, I do revere much that is merely a part of creation.

Nature

I want to do my part to save Mother Earth.

I only buy organic foods and will never consume anything processed.

We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint.

I feel whole when I'm out in nature.

When I look up at the night sky, I feel big because my atoms came from those stars.

These are all things I recently read or overheard someone say.  They all reveal a level of nature worship, whether it be simply loving nature a little more than is healthy, or revering it to the point of seeing it as our source of life.  Either way, I must be careful not to fall into the same trap.  While I enjoy nature and living things, my devotion and respect for it can become an end in itself.  In other words, my love for the created can easily overshadow my adoration for the Creator.

When I start to prefer going on a hike in order to regain my sense of balance or feeling of well-being, I might need to examine my motivation and make sure I'm not expecting nature to do what God is meant to do.

When my desire to save the earth becomes more important than God's commandment to share the story of salvation with the lost, I might need to take a look at my priorities.

When my enjoyment of creation no longer turns my attention toward the Creator, I might need to perform a heart-check to see where my devotion lies.

There is nothing wrong with buying organic, reducing my carbon footprint or enjoying nature, but if these pursuits take up more time and attention than I give to God, I have an idol problem.  If I put more faith in nature than in God to give me what I need, I have an idol problem.

Nature can easily become an idol which I revere more than I realize.

Science

We live in a scientific age.  We are proud of the advances that have been made in technology, physics and medicine.  There is nothing that cannot be explained with science.  

I have always loved science, but there are limits to its power. While I can use it to explain how God's creation functions, I must be careful not to turn to it for answers before I go to God.  As the One who made all things, only He knows the ins and outs of all of His creation.  (Psalm 139)

As an example, the first thing I am prone to do when facing a health issue is to call the doctor or consult a medical reference.  What if I instead did as James suggested and asked for prayers from those who trust God as the Great Physician?  (James 5:14-16)

As more evidence that I sometimes worship science, how often do I try to explain away the impossible like when our microwave started working again after a period of disrepair?  Or when our dog's airway suddenly opened after a prayer of desperation when he collapsed while choking on a piece of rawhide?  Or when my friend miraculously was delivered from multiple sclerosis?

When I go to science for an explanation, answer or help without first turning to God for understanding and support, I am venerating science, elevating it to a position of god.

Science can easily become an idol which I revere more than I realize.

Sport

Every waking moment that was not devoted to completing necessary tasks was spent improving my condition.  My attention was constantly focused on increasing my knowledge about the sport.  When I wasn't training or learning, I was strategizing ways to enhance my workouts.  There was no doubt that bodybuilding was an obsession for me.

Recreation, sport and exercise can be healthy and beneficial, but when it becomes such a passion, I better stop and take stock.  There is also a risk that I become caught up in other activities such as dating, crafting or gardening to such a point of fixation that it dominates my thoughts and spare time.  

If I look to an activity to relieve stress in my life yet never release my heavy burden into the hands of the One who is meant to carry my load, I may consider that I have elevated the recreation to the place of an idol.

If I focus more on a hobby than I do on God's Word, desiring to learn more about it but rarely wanting the same when it comes to the Lord, I may consider that I have elevated the hobby to the place of an idol.

If I prefer investing my time in the sport, choosing it above worshiping God, then I may consider that I have elevated sport to the place of an idol.

Anything or anyone can become an idol.  Since God made a point to specify that I am to resist worshiping anything other than Him, I would be wise to take careful stock of my life on a regular basis.  My heart can quickly be stolen away by nature, science and sport, among other things.  Therefore, I had best make it my goal to keep the Lord at the center of my life.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can be sensitive to how my heart can lead me astray.

When have I been caught up with an obsession?

How can I keep things and people in their proper place?