Idols

Certain elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the LORD came to me: Mortal, these men have taken their idols into their hearts, and placed their iniquity as a stumbling block before them; shall I let myself be consulted by them? Therefore speak to them, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Any of those of the house of Israel who take their idols into their hearts and place their iniquity as a stumbling block before them, and yet come to the prophet – I the LORD will answer those who come with the multitude of their idols, in order that I may take hold of the hearts of the house of Israel, all of whom as estranged from me through their idols.

Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For any of those of the house of Israel, or of the aliens who reside in Israel, who separate themselves from me, taking their idols into their hearts and placing their iniquity as a stumbling block before them, and yet come to a prophet to inquire of me by him, I the LORD will answer them myself. I will set my face against them; I will make them a sign and a byword and cut them off from the midst of my people; and you shall know that I am the LORD.

Ezekiel 14:1-8

God’s has shown us any number of times that we are to be happy with what we are given. When we get to craving things other people have, we are creating idols that draw us away from God.

God’s Spirit can open your eyes with a disturbing insight: Materialism isn’t necessarily having things; it can also be craving. Let that craving go. Let it go, and let God come back into your life. Let God recapture your heart.

In Ezekiel’s day, God dealt thoroughly with this kind of secret idolatry. His throne on earth has always been in the hearts of His people. That’s why we must rid our heart of anything that destroys our contentment with Him.

An idol is anything that takes the place of God.

Our Daily Bread – March 5, 2009