Related
Discover purpose in your life

Are there idols or addictions in your life?

“Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry” (1 Corinthians 10:14).

It is a word we hear often… in athletics, entertainment and there is even a television show dedicated to it. I refer to the word “idol.” The dictionary defines it as an image used as an object of worship, a false god, or one that is adored, often blindly or excessively.

Any object that becomes a focus of our lives can become our idol. Some things we may think are spiritually neutral really are not. Even things morally neutral, like our career, a sport or any passion other than for God can be our idol. Anything can become demonic when it gains first place in our life.

What is gaining first place in your life? If it is anything other than Jesus then you need to run from it, for it can lead you into dangerous territory. We are a fool to play with temptation, as none of us are strong enough to overcome sin on our own.

God wants to be first place in my life and that requires me to not let anything, even though good in its own right, to get between God and me. How serious are we to make God first? Are we willing to lay down our lives and good fortunes to lead our enemies to Christ? Do I do what is best for me rather than what is best for others?

How do I demonstrate that God is first in my life? I do it by being where I can best serve to the glory of God and I am closest to Jesus when I am selflessly serving others. Worshiping God is vertical. Serving others is horizontal.

Paul had some good advice to the Philippians when he said: “Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another. I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. Don’t do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves, and look out for one another’s interests, not just for your own.”

Be careful of what you focus on, because your focus becomes your idol. Focus on having the mind of Christ and do as he would do and see what joy comes into your life. Idols are often soon forgotten, but life with Christ is forever.

Questions: Are there idols in your life? Do you do what is best for you rather than what is best for others?

For the past 50 years Josh McDowell has traveled the world, talking with people from every culture and background. He has written or co-authored over 120 books and led many people to put their trust in the life-saving faith of Jesus Christ. Throughout this time, he recognized what he believes is the biggest problem which is prevalent in every culture: How people perceive themselves.

In this series of videos, Josh explores how we should build our self image. In this video, Josh says:

“As a nonbeliever when I set out to write “Evidence that Demands a Verdict” against the Christian faith to refute it, there was one, once I became convinced the Bible was true, then I started to consider its message. And I read something exciting in the book of Exodus, now think of that, something exciting in the book of Exodus!”

This is part 13 of 15. Watch part 14 of this series: Remind yourself you are a child of God

Related:
Want To Get Involved?

Related:
Want To Be Involved?

In Galatians 5:16-21, Paul has listed sinful desires: passions and pleasures that are against God’s law. He tells us to stop living according to those passions and pleasures. This whole series of studies looked at the new passions and pleasures God gives us in their stead: the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul concludes his list of the fruit of the Spirit with an affirmation, an exuberant, joyful shout: against such things, there is no law! Our life as a Christian can be filled with pleasure and passion: lawful, good, healthy pleasure and passion.

Jesus said it this way:
“I have come that you might have life, and might have it abundantly!” John 10:10, paraphrased

The theme of law is a major theme in Scripture. We find the first mention of law in Genesis 2:15-17. A study of this introduction of law is fascinating. Read Genesis 1 to 3 several times, slowly, and reflectively. Then, answer the following questions.

What is love? Is it definable? Is it a feeling? A passion? Is love always romantic?

Passions and feelings can be fickle; they can change. So, where do you look for a  love that lasts?

* in a bar
* in a friend
* in a marriage
* in a father or mother
* in a boyfriend or girlfriend?

Is it found…

* in status
* in things
* in money
* in a career
* in notoriety
* in possessions
* in power or position?

Where is this love?

If you’re looking for love in the people or things in the above lists, you’re looking in all the wrong places. You must first look inward. If you have no love within you, you will not be able to give love to another.

Do you yearn for that special love, the kind of love that believes in you, nurtures you, encourages you, supports you, comforts you, is always there for you? Do you wonder if this elusive, unchanging, lasting-forever-kind-of-love exists? It does exist.  This love comes in the person of Jesus Christ.

You love yourself and others, you find that perfect love, when you give your heart to Jesus. He loves you. Have you loved Him back? The disciple John wrote in one of his letters, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NKJV)

You have been loved with an everlasting, all-sacrificing, all-forgiving, unconditional, perfect love. You are beloved. Cherished. To die for. Jesus says to you, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16a, NKJV)

You are the one He loves; He gave His life for you. “This is My body which is given for you.” (Luke 22:19 NKJV)

The apostle Paul wrote, “Long before [God] laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love,” (Eph. 1:4a, The Message). When you know this kind of precious love, you will begin to truly love yourself and others. Your love life will be in order.

So, what or whom do you love? If I asked you to answer, without thinking, what you love the most, what would be your immediate response? Your boyfriend or girlfriend, your spouse, your children, your car, your bank account, your physical appearance, your iPod, your cell phone?

Jesus asks you, “Do you love Me more than these others?” (John 21:15, TLB)

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.” (1 John 4:16-17a NLT)

May you know this perfect love.

Experience Pure Love and Forgiveness

Please open your Bible and read:
(Colossians 1:28 – 29)

What activities embarrass you? Maybe you feel uncomfortable singing in public or your face turns red when you are caught mumbling to yourself. Does talking about Jesus embarrass you? Staying quiet may seem safer than risking ridicule or being seen as a fanatic.

Unfortunately, silent believers waste their lives. We receive so many good things from God – forgiveness, healing, answers to prayer, and the Holy Spirit’s presence. The list could go on and on. Our favorite subject should be Jesus Christ and His transforming salvation.

The apostle Paul spoke freely of his great sin before redemption. (Acts 26:12 – 18) He was a church persecutor transformed into Christ?s missionary by God’?s grace. Nothing within Paul was worth saving, and he knew it. Consequently, the man never stopped publicly praising and proclaiming the Lord’s love.

Even with the magnitude of Paul’s sins, he received no greater measure of grace than any of us. We may have lived a moral life before receiving salvation, but sin still separated us from God. Believers sometimes neglect that truth and forget Jesus? transforming power. Then we find ourselves too embarrassed or uncomfortable to share about the great change He made in our lives.

Question: Do you have a passion to proclaim Him? If not, what does inspire passion in you?

About the Author: Charles Stanley

Take action: Explore the meaning of the Advent season through our interactive online study series Advent Journeys.

You said it: This week Em shared on the Don’t be a “Lukewarm” Christian women’s devotional, saying “Pls lift up a prayer for me. I feel like I face attack when I am physically weary. Please pray for protection with me, that I would stand strong in the truth of the Lord, & not give the enemy a foothold in any area of my life.” Read the rest of the comments on Don’t be a “Lukewarm” Christian, and join the conversation on Devotional for Men and Devotional for Women, each updated daily!

Blog: Involving your Friends in Christmas
You might ask: How does the approaching Christmas season make you feel? Anxious? Stressed? Worried? Sad? If so, Power to Change offers several articles on the subject that you can share with non-Christian friends who might be feeling this way: Read more

Devotional: Secret of a Rubber Band
My heart cries out to be increasingly intimately acquainted with Jesus. As one author wrote, “to sift the days for symbols and scan the sunsets for meaning … (to) enter into the being of life, alert to transcendences in ordinary things.” Read more

Coming up next week: One of the topics of our upcoming online chats is “Healthy Habits for the Holidays” Join us in the chat room November 29th 2009 @ 9:00pm EST for this chat, and check our full chat calendar for other upcoming topics.