Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
I Corinthians 10:14
The Old Testament reveals the history of the Israelites when they worshipped Jehovah God and when they fell into worshipping other gods.
The Lord sent His prophets time and time again to warn the Israelites to turn from idolatry (worshipping other gods) and turn back to Him. When they were warned, the Israelites suffered the consequences of their idolatry and then turned back to God.
We read in Acts 19 that many of the people in Ephesus practiced idolatry in the form of sorcery. When a number of these people became believers in Jesus, they burned their magic scrolls, and the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power. (Acts 19: 20) The Bible clearly forbids believers to be involved in “occult” practices (Deuteronomy 18) because it damages our spiritual lives. We, like the people of Ephesus, must turn from idols and from practices that are contrary to the Word of God so that we will grow in faith and power. Occult practices block our spiritual development because they cause us to depend on false sources of power rather than on God, the true source of power. The reading of horoscopes and tarot cards, going to psychics, fortune-tellers, séances, and using Ouija boards may seem like innocent practices or even games, but they block our spiritual growth.
The Word of God teaches that just like the first century church, we must renounce and remove these things from our lives.
If you have sought supernatural power from any other source than the Holy Spirit, renounce those practices, even if they were done in innocence. If you have not engaged in any of those activities, ask the Lord to show you any other areas where you have worshipped anything above Him.
It is easy to fall into the idolatry of worshipping money, power, or idolizing people. The Lord is a jealous God; He seeks to have us worship Him alone.
You shall have no other gods before me. (Exodus 20:3) Take the time today to ensure that you have not put anything above your relationship with the Lord.
Heavenly Father,
Forgive me for worshipping (fill in the blank). I know that my heart has been crowded with other things that have taken Your place. Fill me with Your life-giving Presence as I worship You and You alone.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
