Exposing Hidden Idols…Part 4
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: Exposing Hidden Idols”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
I had this idol exposed a few weeks ago.
Our nation watched the chaos and tragedy of our withdrawal from Afghanistan. Without much resistance, the Taliban, known terrorists and ones who gave safe haven to Osama bin Laden, took over the country, drove our people out of the US Embassy and created fear for all who were Americans or sympathetic to America. As well they are known to persecute Christians and eliminate anyone who would stand opposed to their radical version of Islam.
I had a Jonah moment.
It wasn’t a noble calling to go preach to the city of Kabul (I am sure I would have done just like Jonah and run the other way). It was simply an invitation to pray for the Taliban and their conversion. I found a prayer online that was well-written and decided to use it in worship on Sunday. As I read through it, the last set of petitions were for the conversion of the Taliban.
What?!? Pray for people who sought the death of Christians? People who hate westerners and Americans with a passion? People who are brutal to their enemies and show no mercy to those who would oppose them?
Why would I pray for THEM?
It wasn’t because I couldn’t. In fact I felt it was the “right” pastor thing to do. Afterall, Jesus taught, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, … (Matthew 5:44).”
It wasn’t because they didn’t need Jesus…they do.
If I am honest with my heart, I didn’t think they deserved grace. I didn’t want to risk the chance that God’s grace would actually change a heart and I would spend an eternity in heaven with a member of the Taliban.
This was my Jonah moment. Jonah knew God was gracious. He knew there was a good chance that if the people of Ninevah were called to repent, that they actually would. Jonah wanted the destruction of Ninevah, not the salvation of the people. So when God spared them, he was angry. He thought he deserved God’s grace more than they did (and remember he had just experienced grace by a large fish swallowing him before he drowned!).
That is true of me. My sinful heart struggles with the idol of superiority. It wants to think that I deserve grace more than someone else. It wants to think that in someway I am better for God’s kingdom than someone else. It wants to think that I can make the determination who gets God’s grace and who doesn’t. It wants to think that I can bring judgment on people and keep them outside of heaven.
But I can’t. It’s all a lie of my sinful heart to think that in some way I am superior to others, somehow I deserve God’s grace more than someone else.
I don’t. You don’t.
Here’s the truth that reorients our heart:
Romans 3:22 There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
God wants ALL to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth…ALL. Period.
It’s that heart of God that included me in grace. It’s that heart of God that includes everyone in grace. So if he will make his grace available to all as he did to me, I will do the same.
Apply: Is there an individual or group of individuals that you hope suffer the wrath of God? Take time today to pray for their conversion and that they would know and experience God’s grace.
Prayer: Lord, forgive me for my idols of superiority that lead me to think that I deserve your grace more than someone else. Transform my heart to be like yours that desires and works toward the salvation of all people through your grace. AMEN.
Exposing Hidden Idols…Part 3
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: Exposing Hidden Idols”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
We all have traditions.
We put up a Christmas tree with all the chrisoms (the beaded ornaments often found on church trees).
We sing “A Mighty Fortress” on Reformation Sunday (closest Sunday to October 31) (we’re Lutheran after all!)
We put colored cloths on the altar called paraments.
Sometimes traditions can become very meaningful for individuals. They serve a purpose to encourage and build up one’s faith. This is a good thing.
But remember, an idol is something that is a good thing that becomes an ultimate thing.
When traditions become ultimate things, they become idols…even religious traditions.
Each of the three things listed above became a challenge to one’s connection to their church when they didn’t happen. When the practice of a tradition becomes more important than the heart of faith behind the tradition, it has become an idol.
Religiosity and traditions become an idol when we hold on to the traditions of men tighter than the teachings of Christ.
Jesus had to correct this thinking in his day. In fact, many of the “traditions” that the people of his day were following were ones that God had told them to do. Certainly there were others that were man made, but more than likely started with good intention to honor God in some way. The problem? People were more interested in doing the ACTIONS than having a God-fearing HEART. Here’s what Jesus said:
Mark 7:5 So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?”
6 He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “ ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’
8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.”
When God reorients our hearts, we care more about the commands and words of God more than the traditions of men. Outward activity without inward conformity is idolatry of traditions of men.
God is ALWAYS interested in the heart first. Out of the heart that “fears, loves, and trusts” in God above all things, come all activities that are honoring to God. Traditions may be part of this, but we must never let the traditions of mankind overshadow the teachings of our heavenly Father.
Apply: What traditions of your faith have great value to you? What do they mean? Why do you do them? Under what circumstance would you let go of them?
Prayer: Lord, while I love tradition in my life, never let the traditions we have developed overshadow the truth and teaching you have given to us. AMEN.
Exposing Hidden Idols…Part 2
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: Exposing Hidden Idols”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
These three definitions of “moral” from Merriam Webster Dictionary are interesting:
- : concerning or relating to what is right and wrong in human behavior
- : based on what you think is right and good
- : considered right and good by most people : agreeing with a standard of right behavior
Why does this intrigue me? Why does it help to understand why agreeing on what is “moral” is challenging?
Because morality by the standard of this definition is either defined by “ME” or by the “MAJORITY”.
So, if I don’t think something is right, I feel no obligation to act in that way.
If the majority of people think something is right, and I don’t, I am perceived as immoral for acting differently.
The challenge with the lack of an objective standard of morality, is that morality is constantly shifting. If I can convince a majority of people something is moral, I feel empowered to shame those who don’t. The ones who can claim the “moral high ground” can look down on those who disagree or act differently. However, often those on the moral high ground succumb to blindness to their moral failures. They champion the one area they are doing well and condemn as judgmental those who would point out a moral failure, claiming the accuser has no right to impose their standard of morality on them.
Morality will always be a confusion as along as it is subjective and not objective.
That’s why God in his love for mankind, codified the moral code for the world in the 10 commandments. He outlined not just for Israel, but for all people what morality was. He outlined in ten statements what love for God and love for people entailed.
As a Christ-follower this is always our standard of morality. Let me caution and encourage you.
First the caution: Don’t make morality your idol.
What do I mean? Don’t allow the outward obedience of the law over shadow a humble heart before God’s law. When outward obedience or morality become the ultimate thing, it is easy to claim the moral high ground and look down on everyone else. Jesus taught against this:
Luke 18:9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Remember: Morality becomes an idol when it leads us to overlook our sins and look down on other sinners.
Now the encouragement. Remember, while you may be doing better at one area of Christian morality than another person, you aren’t comparing yourself to others, you are comparing yourself to God. When that happens, this truth from Romans 3 shows up:
Romans 3:22 There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Always remember, only God can claim the moral high ground. Yet even in that position, he chose to extend grace to you. You stand right with God only because God chose to make things right with you. He covered all your immorality (sin) with the perfect morality of Jesus Christ.
Never forget this. We all need God’s grace!
Always live it. No matter what the world proposes as “moral” God ALWAYS has the moral high ground. Follow his objective standard. No matter how good you think you are doing, remember you live under the umbrella of God’s forgiving, saving grace!
Apply: What area of morality do you do well at? Are you tempted to look down on others who don’t do that well? How does grace reorient your heart and motivation for living for Jesus?
Prayer: Lord thank you for Jesus, my perfect substitute when I sin and act immorally. Lead me to pray always like the tax collector, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.” Lead me to live always in view of your mercy as a living sacrifice to you! AMEN.
Exposing Hidden Idols…Part 1
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: Exposing Hidden Idols”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
Have you ever had a surgery?
Most of us have had some sort of surgery or know someone who did. Some surgeries are “routine” others are response to trauma or disease. No matter what the reason, we desire the surgeon to do his work with accuracy and precision. While we are under anesthesia, they work, along with their team, to cut out, fix, or repair bones, tissues and organs to give your body the best chance of healing properly.
Have you ever had spiritual surgery?
My guess is you have never called up your pastor and asked, “I’m having problems with my soul. Can I schedule a surgery for my soul next week?”
I know in almost 25 years of ministry I have never received such a call or email (Maybe I will now!)
Surgery isn’t fun. While you know it is for your good, generally we avoid it as much as possible.
Maybe that’s why we avoid surgery on our soul.
Surgery on our soul isn’t done by the hand of a medically trained physician or even a seminary trained pastor, it is done by the Spirit of God himself, using the scalpel of God’s Word of truth.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
With precision finer than surgical steel, the double-edged sword of the Spirit divides things that seem almost indivisible…soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The Spirit of God works with such precision that he cuts and works where we would probably not think to look, the thoughts and attitudes of our heart.
We might work to change outward behavior, as other people see that. But, thinking that no one else can know, our thoughts and attitudes remain to ourselves…or so we think.
But they don’t. Any thought or attitude that does not conform to the heart of God, the truth of his Word, or produce the fruit of the Spirit is one that has to be identified, cut out and replaced with a thought or attitude produced by the Spirit of God.
And that’s what we invite him to do this week: Perform spiritual surgery on our thoughts and attitudes that expose the hidden idols of our heart and conform our hearts to thoughts and attitudes only God’s truth can produce.
Apply: What area of your life are you aware that could use some spiritual surgery to cut out the disease of sin and its impact on your soul and replace it with God’s truth. Perhaps journal God’s work on your heart as his Word exposes the hidden idols with in and fills them with the fullness of his truth.
Prayer: Spirit of God, as painful as it is sometime, we welcome the spiritual surgery you perform on our hearts. We trust your precision to cut out what is diseased by sin and heal it with the power of your Word of Truth. AMEN.
The Weakness of Power…Part 5
Devotions this week based on the Message: “Counterfeit Gods: The Weakness of Power”
(NOTE: This sermon series and devotional series is based on a book by Tim Keller entitled, Counterfeit Gods.
You may choose to download or purchase the book as a supplement to your worship and devotional emails.)
He had all the power. He wanted all the glory.
After all he was the king.
He was the most powerful king of his day. He had an army to back him up and a ruthless judgment against those who would rise against him or displease him.
So why would a dream unsettle him? A dream he couldn’t even remember?
Because it challenged his power and disputed his glory.
He was the head of gold, but eventually a boulder cut out of the mountain would crush not only the head of gold, but the chest of silver, the thighs of bronze, the legs of iron and the feet of iron and clay mixture.
So what?
Each material represented a kingdom, although weaker, that would overthrow the one above it, until the boulder would crush them all.
How do we know?
Daniel was given the power to interpret the dream of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar was going to kill all the wisemen in the land, including the Jewish wise men taken captive from Babylon, because a) they couldn’t interpret the dream he had because b) they couldn’t tell the King the dream he had. (afterall, who could do that?)
Daniel 2:9-11 So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.” 10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
What the other wisemen couldn’t do, Daniel could because the God of all power was with him. Here’s what he said to King Nebuchadnezzar:
Daniel 2:27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come.
The result?
Daniel 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
When Nebuchadnezzar was confronted with the power of God who was more powerful than he, he had to fall in humility before the Lord. Two other times he acknowledges the Lord…
…after throwing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the firery furnace and they survive:
Daniel 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
…after a period of insanity:
Daniel 4:36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
The God of all power and glory humbled a powerful king who wanted all the glory for himself so he could see the God of all power and glory and realize all the power and glory of the Babylonian kingdom paled in comparison to the power and glory of God.
It’s true for us too. All the power and glory of our “kingdom” we seek to build for ourselves is a far distant second to the POWER and the GLORY God has. So seek his power and give him glory and you will find the strength of God’s Power and give HIM the glory he deserves!
Apply: What is your “kingdom” that you think you have power and control over? Describe what you feel when you humbly acknowledge the power you think you have pales in comparison to the power God has.
Prayer: Father, YOURS is the kingdom AND the power AND the glory, forever and ever. Amen