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- Oct 26, 2007
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Furthermore He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations." Ezekiel 8:6 NKJV
We modern Christians would never set up an idol at church, right? We’d never be like the Jews of Ezekiel’s day, erecting an “idol that provokes to jealousy” in the temple (Ezekiel 8:3)…or burning incense before animal images on the temple walls (vv. 9-11)…or bowing ourselves in worship to the rising sun (v.16). That stuff was crazy then, and it would be just as crazy now.
But…
If idolatry is giving any person or thing more prominence than God in our lives, we should take this account in Ezekiel as a word of warning. We may think we live in more sophisticated times, but Satan is working just as hard to distract us as he did those ancient Jews. And idolatry can creep even into our modern worship experience.
Let’s be careful never to view church as a place social advancement. Let’s resist every temptation to envy or judge our fellow congregants. May we never emphasize the style of our church over its substance. May we always enter the sanctuary having prayed for a laser-like focus on God Himself.
Just imagine if every member of your church had that focus. Sound good? It starts with you.
Prayer: Father, may my heart and mind completely Yours.
We modern Christians would never set up an idol at church, right? We’d never be like the Jews of Ezekiel’s day, erecting an “idol that provokes to jealousy” in the temple (Ezekiel 8:3)…or burning incense before animal images on the temple walls (vv. 9-11)…or bowing ourselves in worship to the rising sun (v.16). That stuff was crazy then, and it would be just as crazy now.
But…
If idolatry is giving any person or thing more prominence than God in our lives, we should take this account in Ezekiel as a word of warning. We may think we live in more sophisticated times, but Satan is working just as hard to distract us as he did those ancient Jews. And idolatry can creep even into our modern worship experience.
Let’s be careful never to view church as a place social advancement. Let’s resist every temptation to envy or judge our fellow congregants. May we never emphasize the style of our church over its substance. May we always enter the sanctuary having prayed for a laser-like focus on God Himself.
Just imagine if every member of your church had that focus. Sound good? It starts with you.
Prayer: Father, may my heart and mind completely Yours.
