serving false gods

by

Joshua 24:16 Easy Made Promises

Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods!” Joshua 24:16

Promises are something that are easy to make, but more difficult to keep. Everyday people make many different promises in hundreds of different ways and then in a very short time break those promises.

Often promises are made in the hype and excitement of the moment, when everything is looking perfect with no difficulties. The more people involved, the easier they are to make. Then later, when difficulties arise, the promises are forgotten and broken out of convenience.

After conquering the land, Joshua reminds the Israelites of all that God had done and that he will still serve God. Then he challenges the people to serve God. The people promise to never forsake God and serve false gods.

In church settings or large group settings of groups of believers, it is common for challenges to serve God to be made. It is built up with excitement of choosing to serve God with one’s whole life and a push for commitment. Nearly everyone is quick to dedicate themselves to God.

Just like the Israelites, however, after leaving the church and meeting, people are back in the world and forget all about God. Focus is taken off of God and back on self, serving other gods of this world, pride, selfishness, alcohol, porn, money, and many other things.

The world will put pressure on the believer to forsake God and follow their false gods. Promises of pleasure and ease are made that will only bring about death and misery.

True believers will keep their focus upon God and remember their promises to serve Him alone. When temptation arises to cause them to forsake God, they will resist the devil and flee the temptation, rather than give in to it. They will not take their promise lightly.

Have you made a commitment to serve God and Him alone in your life? Do not allow the things and cares of this world distract you so that you forsake God and begin to serve the false, dead gods of this world.

Commit your whole life to God and seek His strength to fulfill that promise. God will give you everything you need to serve Him with all of your life. Trust in Him alone as you keep your promise to serve Him.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will commit your life to serving God alone; that God will give you strength to resist serving other false gods; and that God will fill you with His Holy Spirit to guide and direct your steps.

by

2 Chronicles 7:19 But if…

Hand agreement

“But if you turn away and forsake the decrees and commands I have given you and go off to serve other gods and worship them,” 2 Chronicles 7:19 

Contracts are common between businesses, businesses and people, and people and other people. Every contract has some type of clause in it that if one party or the other does not hold up to the agreement in the contract, there will be consequences.

The types of consequences can be very severe or very mild, but there will be a consequence. Every contract will be different in what the consequences are. They are there to protect both parties from anything going wrong. Pages and pages of clauses can be written into some contracts, while others only have one or two lines.

God had made a covenant with the Israelites, this was His contract with the people. As Solomon was following God and had built the temple, God told him that He would always be there and bless him and the nation of Israel. However, Solomon and the people would have to continue to follow Him. If they chose to not follow God, then there would be severe consequences and His hand of blessing would be removed. He would set out to destroy them.

Jesus had made a new covenant between God and mankind. He shed His blood to remove the consequence of sin. However, there is still a clause in following Jesus. One must follow and trust Him with all of his heart. It is a belief that Jesus does the saving and removing of sin, not works or self. It would also be that He would be God and God alone, no other gods were allowed to be followed.

If one chooses to begin to follow other gods or idols, God will remove His hand of blessing on that person. He will always love the person, but cannot have him in His presence, because of the sin in his life and refusal to follow Jesus.

You have a choice to make. Will you follow Jesus or will you follow some idol or false god?

As you follow and trust in Jesus with all of your life, God will pour out blessings upon you. However, if you choose to walk away and follow some idol or other god, He will pull back that favor and blessing.

Don’t be a statistic of walking away from God, but follow Him with all of your life. Don’t make God say ‘but if’.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will trust in Jesus alone for your salvation; that God will keep you close to Him; that you will turn from self and idols to God; and that you will know the blessings and favor of God in your life.

by

Deuteronomy 11:16 Be Careful

Be careful

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Deuteronomy 11:16

When traveling down a road on a longer trip, there are often many warning signs on the road. There are warnings of sharper curves, workmen on the road, speed limit changes, narrow roads or bridges, extra wide vehicles, low bridges, stop signs, crossing traffic, and many other warnings. These are placed on the road to help prevent an accident.

As a person travels down the road, he can be tempted to drive faster and ignore the warning signs. The temptation to follow what others are doing increases the desire to ignore the signs. Yet, those signs are there for a purpose, to keep the person safe from harm.

As the Israelites were getting ready to go into the new land of Canaan, they were warned about being careful of being enticed to follow false gods. The pressure to follow them would be great.

Traveling through this life has many different paths that people travel. All but one path leads to death and destruction. Only when a person follows the path laid out by Jesus, can a he gain life.

The world will throw everything it can towards the believer to get him to follow anyone or thing except Jesus. They try to make the false gods look good.

In today’s society, it not usually a physical idol that they worship, but other things or self. Currently, there are many that believe no matter what religious belief a person he has, he can still get to heaven. Or they push the idea Jesus is not real, and one can be anything he wants to be on his own, and it is acceptable.

The only way you, as a believer, can keep from falling for these false beliefs is to be careful and alert. You must keep a close eye on the path for warning signs that there is danger ahead. Being filled with God’s Holy Spirit will help you be careful not to be enticed into believing some false god. He will keep you on the path God has for you.

You must keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith, so that when the temptation to turn away from God comes, and it will, you will not be led astray. Be careful to follow God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength.

I pray today that you will know Jesus as your Savior; that you will not be led away from God to false beliefs; that the Holy Spirit will guide your steps in following Jesus; and that you will worship and serve God alone.