"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH IDOLATRY"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH IDOLATRY"

1Cor 10:14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Some explanatory thoughts:

1. The word therefore, is an important word, and it's helpful to ask, what is it therefore?  In this case, it's there, because, it connects what Paul is saying with what he has been saying.

2. And, what he has been saying is that God is faithful to always provide a way of escape that we can bear up under temptations. See 1 Cor 10:13

3. Please notice, how God describes and calls His people. "My Beloved" This means, two things. First of all, God's people, are in fact, His people, He owns them, He has purchased them. They are no longer the people of darkness and the devil. But, they are, ( You ) are His person. You are one of God's people.

4. Secondly, God calls His people, "Beloved" which means, dearly beloved, well beloved, dear, well loved, esteemed, favorite, and worthy of love. That's how God sees You, if you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. You are "My Beloved" from God's perspective.

5. What is idolatry? Simply, put, it's the worship of false God's. While there really are no other god's but the one true living God, a man can and often does give something else, someone else, some desire, some goal, some material object, something besides God, God's place in his heart and life. That's what Idolatry is. It's making a replacement god, in your life, instead of having God in His right place. And, that is the number one priority in your life. To know Him, and to bring honor and glory to Him, to serve Him,     and to please Him, to follow Him, and not do your will, but His. That's not idolatry, that is the true Biblical Worship of the Living God.

6. Here's what do to with idolatry. Flee it. Two simple words, that mean so much. To flee in Scripture, means, to seek safety by flight. To shun, to avoid, especially vices. To be saved by flight, to escape safely out of danger, to vanish.

A prayer:

Lord, You are the one, and the only true and living God. We ask for forgiveness, for the times when we move away from focusing on You, and simply worshipping You as we ought. Thank You for the gift of repentance, we may need it this day, to turn away from what we have been "idolizing" and run to You, and let You have first place in our life. Idols can't speak, hear, or help. But, You hear us, You speak, and You can help us, You can heal us, You can guide us, You can forgive us, You can do for us what no one else could even come close to. In fact, there is no one who can do what You can do. It makes all the sense in the world to flee from idolatry. Please help us to do so day by day. Thank You Lord, in Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier