What will you do to fit in? Would you do whatever it took? Nothing at all? Would you sin? Worship idols?
As a Christian –a follower of Jesus Christ- most of us would say no. If all our neighbors were creating wooden idols to put in our homes we would not run out and create one to worship.
But that is what Judah did. Judah, God’s chosen people became like the nations around her. She didn’t want to be different, she thought “maybe they have something I don’t.” Maybe Judah thought the other nations would like her better if she worshipped the other idols.
Even after God said don’t learn the ways of the nation for the customs of the people are a delusion. They cut idols from wood, they decorate them, nail them down so they don’t fall. They can’t walk and must be carried! They can not speak and the can do no harm or good. (see Jer 10:2-5) Judah still went out and adopted the ways of those around her to the point that she was no longer different from them. Judah became a nation of many idols – a treacherous nation of harlotry. (Jer 3:8-13)
We read this and wonder how could God’s chosen people chase after other gods? How can Judah forsake the One true God. And yet are we any different?
What idols do you worship? The god of self? Wealth and prosperity? The god of_____ (you fill in the blank)? Are you any different from the world in your ideas, or life styles? What about the movies you watch, place you go or the things you desire to have?
Have you become more like the world than God? Do you pursue the values of the world? Have you compromised your way of thinking to fit in better with the world? Have you compromised your behavior?
How we act is important to God. God requires obedience, there is no compromise. We are to live holy lives set apart for service to God. We are in a covenant relationship with God. We are not compromise with the world.
James 4:4 says “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world it hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
Search my heart, God, forgive me for allowing anything to come between my relationship with you. Remove any idols that I may have allowed in my heart. God I want to be a woman that hungers and thirst after you alone. Amen
Author: Sharon Brobst
Sharon’s driving passion is to help other women know the truth and be set free by that truth. Through her writing, teaching and speaking you can’t help but catch her passion for God and His word. She has served as a chairperson of the development team of The Women’s Center Lehigh Valley and as the Women’s Ministry Leader for 5 years. Currently she is between ministries waiting on the Lord to direct, in the mean time she is teaching 1 Peter this summer and looking forward to teaching on The Covenant in the fall. She has been married to her best friend Keith for the past 27 years. She is mother of two grown boys, along with two daughter-in-laws and three grandchildren. Sharon believes that the Word of God gives you everything you need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:2-3) You can visit her at www.sharonsquietreflections.com
