Idols of the heart.

I have been confronted with how little we know about the god that we worship. Now I use the god with a lower case g, and not the name God on purpose. We all serve some god, for that is how we are created as people, to worship. What is apparent to me however is that we just don't always realize who exactly is the god that we are serving at any particular time.

If Col 3:23, and 1 Cor 10:31 are true than we should be doing all to the glory of God. All! Waking up, putting clothes on, school work, career work, witnessing, serving, loving, sports practice. I think we get the point. ALL! So if we are doing something that does not glorify God, who does it glorify? Where do those actions that are not glorifying come from and who are they intended to serve?

I would suggest, and not I, but many smart people that have come and gone before me, that we often have put ourselves in the place of God and therefore have built ourselves up as god of our own life. When I am awakened by my alarm clock at 6:00 am. and do not want to get up because I am tired, rather than rolling out of bed so that I have time to spend with the Lord God before the day begins, I am choosing to worship myself. When I am treated unfair at home by my family and I choose to retaliate or be as equally unfair, I have decided that I am the one that deserves justice, not the very God that gave His innocent life for mine. I am then worshiping myself and my desire to be treated right.

You see we all are worshipers of someone. I just think that many of us serve the god self, rather than the One True God, and Lord of all Jesus the Christ. It is easy for us to look back on the life of bible characters like David and see when he was serving and worshiping his self. However we see that David knew of his wickedness and tendency to place himself first. Psalm 58:3, and 51:5 are clear reminders that we all are wicked and seek after our own. Are we able to see this in our own lives?

I find that for myself I have to take the time and see what idols are truly in my heart. Sometimes I don't know what to call them but the bible called them things like, fear of man, conformity to the world, evil desires, lust and pride. These all play on individual pleasure and desire, rather than the ultimate glory of God.

So tonight when you are alone with the T.V., think about whom you are serving. Tomorrow when your alarm goes off, who will be the God of that moment? The next time someone is rude to you, who will deserve justice? I hope and pray that we will all serve the Lord and God of all Jesus the Christ.