Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. Acts 19:26
False advertisements can be found everywhere. There are scammers who are pushing fake services or products aiming to get people’s money. Police and other authorities are often telling people to be aware of these false advertisers and turn away from them, they do not want people to be taken advantage of and have money stolen from them.
Luke records in Acts that Demetrius, a maker of false gods, gathered the men of the city to tell them that Paul was persuading many people to turn away from the gods that are made with hands.
The world abounds with false gods everywhere one looks. Some are physical ones, that are made to look like some god, while others are physical and non-physical things that take all of a person’s time, money and attention. People feel that these gods are what makes them successful and on the right path for true life.
Even though people may feel successful with their false gods, those gods are leading them to death and destruction in the end. They are made with the hands of people and are not alive.
Believers are ones whose eyes have been opened to what false gods really are and have turned away from them to serve the One and only true living God–Jesus. Knowing the true God, believers need to go out and share Him with others. They need to work at turning people’s hearts from the false gods to the true God.
As one does this, the world will be upset and try to stop the believer, but the believer must continue the work of God as His witness.
At some point in your life, you have probably been warned about false advertisements. You also followed some false gods before you became a believer. Just as authorities have warned you about the scammers, you must be willing to warn others about false gods. Speak God’s word with authority and persuade people that they do not need those false gods in their lives, while turning yourself from any false gods in your own life. Help people to turn from the death false gods bring and turn their hearts to Jesus.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal any false gods in your own life; that you will warn others of false gods; that you will persuade others to flee false gods and follow Jesus; and that many will turn their hearts towards Jesus.
Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash
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