Idolatry
The challenging New Testament letter of 1 John ends with the poignant summation to “keep yourself from idols” (5:21). While our minds may revert to flannel graph images of bearded ancients bowing down to metallic statues, it is important to recognize that “idolatry” from a biblical perspective is a competing devotion to any priority that supplants, challenges or threatens our commitment and allegiance to God.
While we don’t encounter our friends and coworkers prostrate before golden images, we can’t help but see the myriad of alluring pursuits that work to squeeze out the supremacy of Christ in everyday life. So perhaps now more than ever we must be vigilant to “keep ourselves from idols.”
Let’s make sure that Jesus and his Lordship come first and everything else is a distant second.
Idolatry
The challenging New Testament letter of 1 John ends with the poignant summation to “keep yourself from idols” (5:21). While our minds may revert to flannel graph images of…
Suffering and Openness
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Shine Your Light
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Anxiety
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That Uncomfortable Feeling
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Earthly Jobs
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Exchanging Our Expletives
Words reveal the heart. Jesus said, “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Mt. 12:34). In our culture, expletives—words blurted in moments of frustration, shock, or excitement—often expose what fills a person’s heart. While many Christians avoid crude and obscene language, there is a more subtle problem we must face: the misuse …
Perspectives on the Unseen
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A Simple Cure
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Reading the Whole Bible
Reading through the Bible, from cover to cover, on a regular basis is a critically important discipline for a healthy Christian life. With that said, it is important to distinguish this from reading for study…