do not yield to them or listen to them. Show them no pity. Do not spare them or shield them. Deuteronomy 13:8

Giving in to what others desire occurs on a regular basis. The world will present something that is not good in an enticing, pleasing way to get everyone to follow along.

The one doing the enticing is often those who are closest to the person, a close friend or family member. Since they are so close, many will go along with whatever is being presented, whether it is good or bad, rather than reject the push and go a different direction.

Moses told the people that if even a family member was to try to get them to worship a false god, they were not to yield to them nor spare them in any way with no pity.

In America most people do not directly worship a false ‘god’, but they do worship many different things. Idolizing a job, a position, possessions, social status, a person, or something else above God are all ways of worshipping an idol.

Family members and close friends are the ones who will put the greatest pressure upon a believer to worship something false. Quietly they will live in sin and strive to draw the believer into the same sin behind closed doors and often in the name of love or freedom.

Believers must be willing to take a strong stand against anyone who tries to lead them astray away from God. There should be no yielding or listening being done.

Although Moses told the people to put them to death, the believer should not put them to death, but to flee from them as though they were dead. Instead of following another into sin, the believer must run to God and worship Him alone.

There will be times in your life when either family members or close friends will try to get you to worship some false idol in your life. Pressure will be put upon you to follow the ways of the world, some of which may even appear to be good.

You must make a strong stand against all pressure to engage in false worship, even if it means to count the person as dead. Ignore them and flee from all push to sin against God by worshipping a false idol.

Worship the Lord your God and Him alone.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will open your eyes to those who are trying to lead you to false worship; that God will give you strength to resist worshipping false idols; and that you will worship the Lord your God alone.