Keep Yourselves From Idols

This is a direct quote from 1 John 5:20. It is simple and direct. It means what it says. There is nothing more to dig for here. The ESV study bible states "this means keep yourselves from trusting, obeying, revering, and following--that is, in effect, worshiping--anyone or anything other than God himself, and his Son Jesus Christ." The Christian life would be so easy if I did this. If I always had my eyes on Him. If I always treasured Him above everything. If I were always living in a manner and attitude that showed that I worshipped the one true God alone. If... Everyone talks about idols. Actually, the talk can be pretty casual. God obliterated people for idolatry. He also demonstrated great patience and grace with idolaters. But ultimately and finally, it will not be tolerated on any level because there is no level other than Himself. He is God. I am not. And I am the biggest problem I have. It took nothing more than a 2 year old to prove it. (http://www.monergismbooks.com/ESV-Study-Bibles-p-1-c-709.html)

Two year olds are the center of their universe. They want what they want, when they want it and have no shame in letting everyone know it. When you add to this sickness or discomfort a two year old can be impossible to please. I have found that when I am trying to please a two year old, I am also keenly aware that I am not happy because I'm not getting or doing what I want and ultimately I want what I want. Hence, the two year old and the 37 year old act very much alike.

I am a lousy excuse for a god. I can do nothing on my own. I have no power to add a single second to my life or accomplish anything worthwhile when it's all said and done. I have no control. This is painfully obvious to me now, but yet I still struggle with self worship. What does all of this mean? Worshiping God alone and thinking on Him and His attributes allows me to escape the "woe is me" trap and the "I deserve a break" mentality. If I get real honest about what I deserve, I get very uncomfortable and ashamed. Every good gift is from above. What do I have that I did not receive? Nothing. The Christian life would be easy if I did not allow myself to compete for the worship due Him alone. I exist only for His glory. I do not exist for my own means and end. Every single breath of every single day is His to give or take and I have no control over that. My pity parties are pathetic and my selfishness is loathsome.

See the picture on this entry. Does she look like something to be worshipped? Does she look sovereign or holy? She is a sad object of worship. Worshiping her will not make me happy and will get me absolutely nowhere. O most Holy God, may I die to self that I may worship You and know the joy that comes only from being in Your presence. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Amber

Breathed Out By God

Follow this thought with me. When
God made me a Christian, I was not to rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The power of God is found in His word. The ultimate expression of His Word is Jesus Christ. If I have really seen Him and looked at Him and know Him as He is made known to me through the Scriptures, then I know God. My faith in the Living God came from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. All the promises of God throughout all of Scripture find their YES in Him. Therefore, when I read His word, I am hearing from Him, I am seeing His heart, I am given all that I can handle of His wisdom and His mind. His word will stand forever. He alone gives salvation by His grace and for His glory. All of this amazing, life changing, earth shattering truth comes together on the cross and through the resurrection. He has backed up every single word with the cross and the resurrection. When Immanuel prayed for me before taking the Wrath of God in my place, He prayed that I would be sanctified in the truth. His word is TRUTH. I wasn't near death in my sins when Christ made me alive. I was DEAD in my sins. Christ, by His grace and for His glory made my ALIVE. When I hold my Bible in my hands, when I read the words printed there, I am as close to Him here on this earth as I can possibly be. When I read His words and ask Him to teach me His truth, He will. He does.

As I consider His word and His grace and His power I think of those who were completely satisfied in Christ because they knew what they had in Christ. I think of Tyndale who risked his life to translate the Bible into common language so the common plow boy could understand it. I think of the Ten Boom sisters who risked their lives to carry a new testament into the gates of hell so that they could share the Light in the great darkness to which they were led. I think of the nameless Vietnamese soldier who asked for latrine duty so that he could find and save the pages of the book of Romans that his Captain was using for toilet paper because he was holding on to hope. I think of Gladys Aylward who was overwhelmed that the God of Nehemiah was also her God, and the if Nehemiah could rely on the word of God for life, so then could she. I also think of the hundreds of Chinese Christians who have met in secret together to hear the word of God read so that they could then memorize it because they were not permitted to have a Bible. This cloud of witnesses knows what they have in Christ and in His word.

Jesus said that knowing the truth is what sets me free. He is the way, the TRUTH and the life and I will not come to the Father by any other means. There is no other truth. There aren't two truths or extra truths. He is truth. His truth has been life to so many like these I mentioned. They weren't looking for comfort in this life. They weren't asking for new cars or a good day on wall street. They clung to Him for life, whether that meant here or in Heaven. God said His grace is sufficient for me. He didn't say that about anything else. Only His grace. Therefore the most loving and saving thing He can do for me is to always keep His truth before me whatever that takes. If by my life and circumstances, He shows me my complete dependence and need for Him and His grace, then I have been blessed beyond measure. If He is constantly showing me that my treasure is in Heaven, then I will have no ties that bind me here. If I am not satisfied in a Savior who took the wrath of God in my place and has made me His heir, then I am to be most pitied and most likely to be in the misery of discontent all of my days constantly looking for that little extra something that will make it all better. I have the Spirit of the Living God dwelling in me! I have eternal life! I have forgiveness of sin! I have the very word of God to hold and to read. May I do so daily with a thankful heart and with the great expectation that He will speak to me on every page until I see the living Word face to face!
Amber