No Other Gods - Week 1 Day 5

Today's lesson took us to Proverbs 4:20-23

20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight,
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.

The command here is to pay attention... 

Pay attention to what?  Pay attention to the Word.

Why?  Because they are life.

Where are we suppose to keep the Word?  In our heart.

There is another command here...to guard your heart.

Why?  Remember that the Word is in it.  We are to guard it because everything we do flows from the heart.   Not some things. Not a few things. Everything we do comes from our heart.

The study concluded with this in the last paragraph..."As you root out the idols of your heart you'll be making room for God to dwell...write the words make room in the margin."

Seeing those words led me to the following song.  It is is technically a Christmas song, but it really captures exactly what we are trying to accomplish with this study.  I have copied the lyrics below so you can meditate on them.  Take a few minutes and listen to the song a couple of times.  What lyrics capture you the most?  

Make Room

Casting Crowns

Family hiding from the storm
Found no place at the keeper's door
It was for this a Child was born
To save a world so cold and hollow

The sleeping town did not know
That lying in a manger low
A Savior King who had no home
Has come to heal our sorrows

Is there room in your heart
Is there room in your heart
Is there room in your heart
For God to write His story
You can come as you are
But it may set you apart
When you make room in your heart
And trade your dreams for His glory
Make room in your heart
Make room in your heart

Shepherds counting sheep in the night
Do not fear the glory light
You are precious in His sight
God has come to raise the lowly

Is there room in your heart
Is there room in your heart
Is there room in your heart
For God to write His story
You can…

No Other Gods - Week 1 Day 4

Today's lesson focuses on deception.  When we create false idols we do so because we are deceived.

I also want to use this verse to illustrate my point.
2Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith, not by sight, (HCSB)

I often think of living a Christian life as a faith walk.  Our faith guides us to the path that God wants us to be on in our life.  When our faith is strong we are fully guided by Him and our path is straight and clear.  In fact, we do not need to even "see" the path, our faith takes over and we follow God in complete obedience.

However, when we stray from the path it is because our faith is faltering and we are misguided or deceived in some way.  Suddenly we need to "see" to be able to navigate on this new path we find ourselves on.  We need to see into the world because we are trying to find our own way.  But how do we get deceived in the first place?

It can start with being caught up in our own sin and perhaps wanting to fulfill our own desires.  We may also be deceived by false teachers and the enemy.  Either way, when we are deceived we are not focused on God and whatever we are focused on can quickly become an idol. 

So how do we get back on the right path?  That brings us to a verse from today's study...

Isaiah 44:20
He feeds on ashes.
His deceived mind has led him astray,
and he cannot deliver himself,
or say, “Isn’t there a lie in my right hand?” (HCSB)

This verse from the study clearly shows us that when we are deceived in any way we soon get lost from the path and we cannot get back to the path unless God guides us.  Only God can rescue us.  We need to cry out to Him, put our faith in Him and walk in obedience instead of trying to make our own way.  Our way only gets us into despair and destruction and that is certainly not the path I want to be on! 

No Other Gods - Week 1 Day 3

In today's study we were asked to recall the definition of a false god or idol.  The two points that were made in the book that stuck out to me were that an idol was something that takes the place of God in our heart, thoughts or life and that it is something that masters or rules over you.

In order to grow, we need to have a deeper understanding. As always I am curious about definitions of words so I looked up the definition of an idol. Because I want to look at this more closely, I have copied this section from Merriam-Webster:
Definition of idol

1: an object of extreme devotiona movie idolalso : IDEAL sense 2

2: a representation or symbol of an object of worshipbroadly : a false god

3a: a likeness of something

bobsolete : PRETENDER, IMPOSTOR

4: a false conception : FALLACY

What do you think of in your own life when you think of each of these?  Does one or more of these definitions apply to you?  It is very likely that you have idols in your life that you are not even aware of yet.  If you are not aware of what is an idol in your life you may need to look deep.  My prayer is that through this, God will reveal the idol that is ruling over you.

• What or who are you extremely devoted to? Perhaps you are in school and are so devoted to your studies that it has become your idol. Your devotion to something may actually become an obsession. What about your family?  Certainly we are all devoted to our family, especially our children. But did you ever consider that your devotion to your children could actually be an idol?   I believe that we can become so wrapped up in parenting our children that yes, it can be an idol.  
• Are you worshiping someone that is not God?  Here is another opportunity for a definition, again from Merriam Webster.  One of the definitions of worship is to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.  This can be in a negative way as well.  For example, there are many who are so against President Trump that it is actually a form of worship.  Is there someone you are placing up on a pedestal?  Perhaps a celebrity, a family member, or even your Pastor.  Who gets your utmost respect or devotion?  Does that level of worship exceed your level of respect and devotion to God?
• Are you devoted to an object?  This definition is the likeness of something, which I think of as being an idol that is a physical object.   I often think of the TV show Survivor when I think of physical idols.  Having the immunity idol in the show can consume them so greatly that it becomes a greater focus that even surviving the harsh conditions. This is the same as an object that can begin to completely consume us so greatly that we no longer are focused on God. Perhaps the object consuming us and our time is TV or Facebook, or maybe it is an addiction to drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, shopping, food etc.  
• What false conception might be an idol for you?  Maybe it is that making more money will make life easier so you work harder, becoming so consumed that your career becomes your idol.  It could be staying in an unhealthy relationship where the idol becomes your focus on trying to keep the peace. What about hanging onto bitterness and anger towards someone?  Is the unwillingness to forgive your idol?

Uggg, I need some relief after all that.  The good news is that every single thing I listed above, and the hundreds of things that I didn't, does not have to continue to be an idol ruling over our life.  We can be rescued from it.

We are rescued when we cry out to God to save us from the mess we have ourselves in. Once you understand what the idol is in your life you can defeat it.  Through the mercy of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and the love of Jesus you can be free from the idols in your life.

Here is a tip that may help you.  Find a scripture verse that you can keep close and meditate on to help you keep your focus.  It can be any verse that works for you.  The current verse I have taped up on my computer is:
Proverbs 4:25
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.

This verse was what I used to keep focused on my most recent work project and not be distracted by spending too much time scrolling on Facebook.  That project is complete and I was about to take it down, but I really need to keep my focus on this study right now so I think I will leave it up awhile longer.  I encourage you to find a verse that works for you.

No Other Gods - Week 1 Day 2

Day 2 of this study takes us to
2Kings 17:41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

The study uses the first part of the verse about how we can worship God at the same time that we are serving our idols.  But when I read the whole verse I saw the part about how their children continued on that path.  I want to correct this in my life so that my children do not have to follow the same path.  This is my purpose, my mission is to train my children to know God.  Suddenly this whole study has a new light shining on it, doesn't it?!  Let's keep going....

In 2Kings 17 verses 14 and 15 there was something that I pulled out to relate to how I see many Christians today.

v14 But they would not listen... (to the prophets warning them not to have idols)
v15 ...They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

There are so many people who claim to be Christians, they may even regularly attend church. But in fact they are still very much caught up in the world.  They are hearing the Word but they are not listening to it and are not walking out their faith.  Instead, they are caught up in the world, following or imitating what the world is doing rather than truly following Christ. 

Read verse 15 again...It is saying that anytime we are not following Christ we are following the world or in the Bible's words, we are pursuing worthless idols and are therefore worthless.  Ouch!  Well that certainly is a big stomp on my toes.  How about you?  Does that give you a big ol'kick to get your attention?  Let's keep digging...and growing!

Next we look at what we do when we are focusing on an idol.
2Kings 17:35-36
35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices.

There are 4 "do not's" in these verses
Do not worship
Do not bow down
Do not serve
Do not sacrifice

These are all "churchy" words.  What does this really mean though?  What does it look like if we are doing these?  The study asked if there was a progression building in these actions.  Here is what I think....

Worship - this what we are paying attention to, something that has captured our attention and when we worship we are starting to really focus in on it.  Worship is adoration, it is special to us.

Bow down - Now our focus has really shifted, we are truly focusing our thoughts on it to the point that other things are no longer important or we have lost our focus on those other things

Serve - here we see a shift from maybe a focus of our thoughts to a focus of our time and efforts.  Whatever we are focused on is now also consuming our time and efforts.

Sacrifice - beyond just our thoughts and time, when we sacrifice it costs us something.  You are giving up something valuable, a piece of yourself, your resources, etc.


Where our focus is, that should be where we serve and where we sacrifice.  So where is your focus?  This should be a first clue to where you may have an idol.

No Other Gods - Week 1 Day 1

It's been awhile since I used this blog as a Bible study tool.  Long story short...I am in a new season of commitment to deeper study as well as in a new season of accountability not only to my core group of BFF's but also to the ladies that are in my Bible Study group.  Using this platform is my effort to meet that commitment.  Ok enough of that...let's get to Bible Study.  Time to Grow :-)

We are starting the study by Kelly Minter "No Other Gods" and I need to first start by giving all the credit for these posts to Kelly Minter because these posts will be driven from and guided by where her Bible study leads us over the next several weeks.  I have no idea yet how I will even develop these posts or what format they will take.  I am simply diving in.  If you are joining me in these posts.  Welcome!  I need you to know that I am really doing this more for myself as a way to keep me on track, but my prayer is that you will find something in these posts or in Kelly's study to help you grow in your relationship with God too.

This study is based on the verse
Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other Gods before me.

This of course, is the first of the 10 commandments and seems pretty clear.  We should only have one God in our lives and through our relationship with Jesus we have a clear path to a relationship with God.  Right.  Seems simple enough, and it really is.  Until we get involved and start messing it up.

As soon as we have something else in our hearts and minds that replaces God we suddenly have an idol in our lives and therefore we have a god besides God.

The verse that jumped out at me in the study was
Psalm 119:33 Guide my steps by your word,
    so I will not be overcome by evil.

In the study guide the term that is used was "that masters and rules us".  And for me it really puts a different light on what an idol really is. When you think of an idol, our imagination very quickly takes us to an idol being something similar to that golden calf which the Israelites bowed down to.   I certainly don't have anything like that in my life.  I also thought of an idol as anything that was distracting me from being in the Word.  But in my heart I knew it was more than that. 

It is the focus....what in my life is mastering me or ruling me.  What is it in my life that is allowing me to be "overcome by evil"?  What is drawing me into sin?  Are there sins (and idols) that I don't even know about yet?   Whatever these are in my life, then that is the idol I have and therefore that is the god I am putting before my God.   Yikes!  Are you ready to dig into this study?  I know I am!!!

Titus 1:2

Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— ² in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

In the first verse we learn how Paul identifies himself, what his purpose is, and what the result is - godliness.  This thought continues in verse 2...when we live godly lives we are doing so because of our hope of eternal life promised by God.

The definition of eternal is without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be.

We know from this verse that there is eternal life with God, but what is the alternative?  The Greek word eternal is used twice in this verse...
Matthew 25:46  “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

There are no other options - there is only eternal punishment or eternal life.  So how can we be assured of eternal life?  There is a reason why this is one of the most quoted verses.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Let's look at this a little deeper, we cannot grow spiritually unless we understand this.  When we believe in Jesus we have eternal life.  Jesus is life.  This is simple and basic truth.  Jesus conquered death on the cross and as a result we have eternal life.

Here are some verses, just from the gospel of John that Jesus said about eternal life.  It is so powerful to see them all listed together, isn't it?!



John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
 
John 6:35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 11:25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  

John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.




 

Titus 1:1 ...still

Yikes, never even got through half of Titus 1:1 yesterday.  At this rate it could take decades to study the Bible in this way.  Although as long as someone is learning and growing spiritually through studying God's Word it really doesn't matter how quickly or how slowly we go through, right.  So let's grow....

Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ 

Paul identifies himself as a servant of God, which we looked at yesterday, but he goes further and also identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.  What is an apostle?

The definition is a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.  The apostles were sent forth to spread the gospel.  This is different than a disciple, which is defined as a learner, pupil.   In the Gospels, the twelve were called disciples first.  They were learning with Jesus as their teacher. 

Here is something that is very fascinating to me.  Pull out your KJV concordances (I am using the online version at BlueLetterBible.org) and check this out.  The word disciple is found only in the Gospels and in Acts.  The word apostle is found throughout the New Testament.  It would seem then, that we are be disciples and learn (we simply need to learn the basics of what the gospel is before we can share it), but it is far more important to be apostles and go out to spread the gospel. 

The verse that comes to mind that combines these two is called the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

In this verse Jesus gives them a command and instantly makes them apostles by sending them out to make people into students or disciples of Jesus.  Once a person becomes a believer and learns about Jesus, they also then become apostles as they share and spread the gospel.




Okay, I think we now know how Paul identifies himself.  Next he tells us what his purpose is.

Titus 1:1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth

 Paul states that his purpose is to do two things:
1. to further the faith of God's elect
2. to further their knowledge of the truth

The first purpose is to increase the faith of Christians.  Here is another verse that uses the same Greek word for elect, which also means chosen.

1Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

How precious it is to be chosen by God.  And what do we do because we are chosen?  We declare...we make it known by praising and proclaiming and celebrating.  It is so glorious to be chosen that we become apostles and praise him by sharing his gospel.

Paul's second purpose is to increase knowledge of the truth.  Here is another verse that uses the same Greek word for truth.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

Wow! That is powerful, we have access to "all truth" through the Holy Spirit at work in us.  Are we getting in the way of the Holy Spirit guiding us?  Ouch, I stepped on my own toes there!

What do we receive when we have knowledge of the truth?  Well, as we finally get to the end of the first verse of Titus we find out...

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness 

We receive godliness.  As I searched for the answer to "what is godliness" I came across a great article entitled "What is Godliness?"  Pretty sure we will find the answer ;-) and a clue is already found in the subtitle Something More Than Christian Character.  Reading the article I found one paragraph that really explains the meaning of godliness.

"The New Testament word for godliness, in its original meaning, conveys the idea of it, a personal attitude toward God that results in actions that are pleasing to him. This personal attitude toward God is what we call devotion to God."

Did you think we were going to step into the faith/works debate?  Me either, but whammo, all of a sudden here it is, so beautifully explained.

We are saved by faith, not by works.
Ephesians 2:8-9   For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.

But grow with me... as our faith and knowledge of the truth increases, our devotion to God also increases which results in our desire to please him through our actions or our works - in other words, godliness.

James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.