Hello dear friends! This week's Psalms of Discipleship comes with a sobering reminder of how easy it can be to wander away from the Lord. No, I'm not referring to "losing" one's salvation; but I am making the case that we sure can lose our intimacy with Him when our worship of Him becomes compromised. It is a slippery slope of how our worship becomes focused upon other things and other people instead of the Lord. The Bible calls this idolatry or false worship.
The Psalmist reminds us of the choice we all must make often: will we trust in the things we can see or in a God we must see by faith? May we all discover a new passion to give Him our worship; the worship that is due Him.
Seeking to forsake my idols and instead fall in love with Him.
Denny
PS. Thanks to all of you who have ordered your copy of Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace. If you would like to have a devotional book that also serves as a spiritual life journal as well as a unique 21 point Bible study and personal assessment on grace, my newest book is now available for purchase. For more information, follow this link to the Psalms of Discipleship: Growing in Grace facebook page.
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Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #38
Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life
Key Scripture: Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. Psalm 20:7
Core Value: Worship
No matter what kind of a culture one lives in, there will always be the inner pull to place one’s trust in what one can see and touch. Even if we profess to be “Christians,” we can be tempted into subtle forms of “idolatry.” Years ago, as a horrific typhoon ripped through the Philippines, a photographer captured on film an image that illustrates perfectly what some people try to do: “save their idols.” Four men, drenched with a mud-soaked rain, were heroically trying to prevent the destruction of a statue of Buddha, made of stone. In fact, this was the caption: “saving Buddha.” This a true, but sad story. But before we scoff at their foolishness, how many of our own idols have we tried to save? Idols? Us? Is that even possible? Whenever we place our trust in something or someone else besides the Lord, we have stepped into the slippery slope of idolatry. Why would we want to seek to save something that cannot even save itself?
9 How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. 10 Who but a fool would make his own god— an idol that cannot help him one bit? 11 All who worship idols will be disgraced along with all these craftsmen—mere humans— who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame. Isaiah 44:9-11 (NLT)
May the Lord save us from the idols of our own making.
Principle #38 & Personal Application: The quality disciple does not worship anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ.
• There are some who brag about what they have and wind up worshiping it
• There are some who brag about who they know and wind up worshiping them
• But there are some, those who are followers of Jesus Christ, who brag in the name of the One who is the Lord our God and wind up worshiping Him
The temptation to compromise and cheat our worship of God is constantly pounding upon the human heart. We have been taught by the world that it is all about us. We expect to have things the way we want them to be. We are frequently being pulled down as we seek to satisfy the cries of our fleshly desires. What are we—those who have been called to worship the Lord our God and serve Him only—to do? We are to have a consuming passion for Him.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. Matthew 16:24-25
Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
Have I allowed anything (my job, my material possessions, my time, my favorite hobby) to occupy the throne of my heart and replace the Kingship of Jesus?
Have I allowed anyone (my spouse, my family, my friends, my spiritual leader, my favorite sports star, my favorite musician, myself) to occupy the throne of my heart and replace the Kingship of Jesus?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, on more than one occasion, I have allowed my heart to become overcome in a spiritual coup d'état. Forgive me when I put things and people above You. I would much rather put my abiding trust in the name of the Lord my God.
The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism
Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2010 All rights reserved.
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