Hey Ladies! Hope you are all well and I sure am looking forward to April 13th! This month seems to be going on forever and ever....
I need your help.....I am in the process of writing the next lesson for Ignite titled "No other gods" and it's dealing with idol worship. I would love your input on what you think idol worship might look like in the life of a Believer in Christ. Can't wait to hear from you!
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Hey Paulette, I know I already commented on the FB discussion, but I was thinking it over some more. I think our friendships with other women.. particularly a very godly friendship, can often become an idol without us realizing it. We want to discuss our struggles, decisions we need to make, and talk about issues regarding our husbands and children with a trusted friend. They are here in the FLESH and Jesus isn't. However, we need to make sure that we seek God FIRST in everything!! HE is our Savior. HE is our God. HE alone knows the plans and purposes that are JUST FOR ME and JUST FOR YOU, designed by HIM. I think most of us could exercise this discipline of seeking Him FIRST a bit more.
ReplyDeleteWhat about self preservation when it comes to the trials that God has put before us? When we consistently face one trial after another, we may become more apt to protect ourselves and our feelings, therefore cutting ourselves off from what we may need the most.
ReplyDeleteHi Paulette, I'm new to Ignite (I started attending in January) but I've really enjoyed each meeting. So, THANK YOU to you and all the women who make this program COME ALIVE for the rest of us. I honestly believe that God pulled me in this direction and brought me here. As far as idol worship in today's society, I think we would all agree that money is one. But, I think it goes beyond that...titles in your workplace, name brands on clothes, the car you drive, the house you live in. These are all "idolic" possesstions and the devil makes us believe that we need them, and we judge each other because of them. It might be a silent judgment like a look, or more obvious like treating someone differntly. But, we have to be careful, because seeking these "things" in life might mean that we love this world more than we love Jesus. Jesus said, "What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul" Matthew 16:26. Wow, could it be that we (women) do this?
ReplyDeleteMaybe, just maybe, it's not about how big our house, ministry, bank account are but more importantly the depth and bigness of THE HEART. If God is love , then all that we are to strive for is love. Love is not easy because the greatest wounds come from the hurts we experience in relationships. Ironically, our relationship with Jesus is the one who will never hurt or betray us. Others in this world will and when we seek to love like Jesus, embracing his unending grace, hope and love, then we can heal in our brokeness with one another. Let's be real and quit playing games with each other. It's defiles God and works to break down unity between one another.
ReplyDeleteHi Paulette. I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for or not, but I feel that we view society's opinion of our physical self as a form of an idol. There is a tendency to look at what is consider "beautiful" and we feel that we can only feel that way about ourselves if it fits into society's definition. Self-Worth=Performance + Other's Opinions. The problem with that is society is judgmental and harsh and has standards that can't be met. That is an unrealistic idol to have. The key is to realize that the only opinion that matters is God's opinion. Finding our significance in this world cannot be achieved by idolizing and wanting to be what society thinks we should be or look like. Our significance is found when we look to God, and we see ourselves through his eyes.
ReplyDelete1 John 5:21 ends with "Little children, keep yourselves from idols."
ReplyDeleteThis is from "Our Journey" Jan 5, 2009 (Bob Coy) - As he put his pen to parchment, John had the benefit of being well aged in his walk with God. He had witnessed the gamut of besetting sins and stumbling blocks that had caused many to depart from the faith over the years. As the tethers to these sins were traced, they had a common source - idolatry. It is the sin that nobody thinks they have, yet everybody does to some degree. John's admonition couldn't be more relevant.
In my journal I wrote: I think that sometimes, our idols are what help define us . . . make us who we are to others and to ourselves. For example . . . I like to bake and decorate cakes and that is something others know me for. I would hope my baking is for the enjoyment of others – but I do get a sense of satisfaction from it. I wonder if that is part of what Jesus meant when he said “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matt. 10:39
Perhaps we need to let go of the things we hold on to so we may experience the life of blessings God has for us, making Him #1 in our lives. Our identity lies in knowing Him. Like clay in His hands . . . I wonder what he would make of me!
That seems to go along with the rest of the “Our Journey’ writing for Jan. 5, 2009 . . .
The warning against idols is also an exhortation to make the Lord our primary pursuit. All that we think, say, or do should be screened through this filtering question: How does this impact my relationship with the Lord? The target that our lives must be aimed at is to KNOW HIM first and foremost. (Philippians 3:10) Anything that falls outside of knowing Him will spiritually sabotage us. Starting today, let’s make the daily commitment not only to keep ourselves from idols but also to dedicate every moment of our God-given lives to knowing Him better.
The suggested prayer is: Father, what are the idols I am pursuing rather than You alone? Guide me in ridding my life of them. Amen.
May I ramble on a little more?
I am fresh out of the Beth Moore class ‘Jesus – the One and Only’
During my final week of homework we read 1 John 3:2 where it says “and what we will be has not yet been made known.” That hit me in a different way. Such a longing was stirred within me – causing a dissatisfaction with my life! WOW! This was so strong – overwhelming –this desire to please Him!
Then later, in the final Beth Moore video @ the end of class, she said “Our calling can be found in Him. The Holy Spirit keeps us dissatisfied (until we find it)
I knew exactly what she was talking about!!!
1 Cor 1:9-10
However it is written;
“No eye has seen
No ear has heard,
No mind has conceived
What God has prepared for those who love him” –
But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Where it says . . .what God has prepared for those who love Him. Beth says to pray for this - and perhaps you’ll have a head-on collision with your calling!!
Thanks for letting me ramble. It’s good to see you following God’s direction for your life, Paulette. And the other leaders as well. Thanks!
Your sister in Christ,
Carla
Carla, that was really good. All of these are really good! I can completely relate to your quote from Beth also: “Our calling can be found in Him. The Holy Spirit keeps us dissatisfied (until we find it)". And I continually pray for God to reveal it.. but I know it's all in HIS TIME and He keeps (painfully) refining me until then. GLORY!!
ReplyDeleteLinda
Carla, Thank you so much for your encouraging words!
ReplyDeleteGirls, these are great insights! Thanks to all of you who have commented! Keep 'em coming!! :)