Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

March 5
Thursday


IDOLS IN
THE HEART

READ:
Ezekiel 14:1-8
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Son of man, these men
heave set up their idols
in their hearts.
__Ezekiel 14:3
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When my husband and I first went out as missionaries, I recall being concerned about the growth of materialism in our society. It never crossed my mind that I myself could be materialistic. After all, hadn't we gone overseas with almost nothing? Weren't we choosing to live in a shabbily furnished, rundown apartment? I thought materialism couldn't touch us.

Nonetheless, feelings of discontent gradually began to take root in my heart. Before long I was craving hungrily after nice things and secretly feeling resentful over not having them.

Then one day God's Spirit opened my eyes with a disturbing insight: Materialism isn't necessarily having things; it can also be craving them. There I stood--guilty of materialism! God had exposed my discontent for what it was--and idol in my heart! That day as I repented of this subtle sin, God recaptured my heart as His rightful throne. Needless to say, a deep contentment followed, based not on things but on Him.

In Ezekiel's day, God dealt thoroughly with this kind of secret idolatry. His throne on earth has always been in the hearts of His people. That's why we must rid our heart of anything that destroys our contentment with Him. __Joanie Yoder
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````````````````````The dearest idol I have known,```````````````
`````````````````````````Whate'er that idol be,``````````````````
```````````````````Help me to tear it from Thy throne`````````````
```````````````````And worship only Thee. __Cowper`````````````
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An idol is anything
that takes the place of God.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Ezekiel 14:1-8***********

1 Now some of the elders
of Israel came to me and sat
before me. 2 And the word
of the LORD came to me,
saying, 3 "Son of man, these
men have set up their idols
in their hearts, and put
before them that which
causes them to stumble into
iniquity. Should I let Myself
be inquired of at all by
them? 4 Therefore speak to
them, and say to them,
'Thus says the Lord God:
"Everyone of the house of
Israel who sets up his idols
in his heart, and puts before
him what causes him to
stumble into iniquity, and
then comes to the prophet, I
the LORD will answer him
who comes, according to
the multitude of his idols,

5 that i may seize the house
of Israel by their heart,
because they are all
estranged from Me by their
idols." '

6 "Therefore say to the
house of Israel, 'Thus says
the Lord God: "Repent,
turn away from your idols,
and turn your faces away
from all your abominations.

7 For anyone of the house
of Israel, or of the strangers
who dwell in Israel, who
separates himself from Me
and sets up his idols in his
heart and puts before him
what causes him to stumble
into iniquity, then comes to
a prophet to inquire of him
concerning Me, I the LORD
will answer him by Myself.

8 I will set My face against
that man and make him a
sign and a proverb, and I
will cut him off from the
midst of My people. Then
you shall know that I am
the LORD." ' "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The practice of idolatry was an ongoing struggle for the people of
Israel in the Old Testament. Continual lapses into worship of Baal
and other false gods resulted in God's discipline, as the people were
taken into captivity by surrounding nations. __Bill Crowder

[Dora]

Amen

Seeking my own heart for resentment over not receiving something I want or wanted.