Faith Challenge (October 8 to October 22)

Hi everyone!

Here is your faith challenge for Oct. 8–Oct. 22. I’m calling it “No Idols.”

One of the most overlooked sins in a Christian’s life is idolatry. We think, “I worship the Lord, how could I possibly be guilty of idol worship?” But deep within our hearts, many of us have an altar erected to some false god. An idol is simply anything that comes between your relationship with God. I don’t know what is in your heart, but it’s very likely that there is something you are worshipping that isn’t the Lord.

The scariest part about idolatry is, sometimes we don’t even realize we are doing it.

When I was a bit younger, I had a problem with idolizing people, particularly pastors and spiritual leaders. I didn’t think I had made them into an idol, but without realizing it, I had elevated them to a place of honor that began to compete with my devotion to the Lord. I loved listening to them speak and teach, and I began to shape my faith around their teaching rather than the Word of God. Sometimes I still struggle with the tendency to lift people up, but thank God that He is still working on me! I’m so thankful that He brought my idols down. Like Dagon before the Ark of the Lord, many of these people I had come to trust in failed me. The deep hurt that I felt when these men proved to be just that–mere men–showed me how much I had wrongly put my trust in them. You’ll know it really was an idol if it hurts you to cut it down.

My mom often reminds us of this, and it has become a standard that I want to live by: “Follow Jesus. Everyone else is just man.” How true it is! Why would we put our trust in mankind who will disappoint us? We need to put our faith in Jesus, and follow Him alone. He is faithful, and He never disappoints.

Anyway…that is just one example of idolatry that I have had to fight against in my own life. Maybe you struggle with the same. It’s so worth it to cut down those idols and be free, truly able to worship Jesus alone!

So, the challenge.

• 1. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the idols in your heart. You might already know what they are, but sometimes He brings even more to light. And then, cut them down. Ask Him for the strength to break your sacred pillars, destroy the high places, tear down every Asherah and Baal. His grace is sufficient for you!
• 2. Flee idolatry. It’s not enough to cut them down if you’re just going to build them again. You must actively flee from this sin! I have found that the best way for me to flee idolatry is to replace the idols with something that brings me closer to the Lord. That could be spending more time in prayer or in His word, or even spending more time with your family. Idolatry is often most active in times of isolation. It is often a secret sin, done in private. So if that description seems to fit you, get out of isolation. Spend time with other people who are also seeking the Lord. Be selfless.

May the Lord give us the boldness and strength to say no to idolatry and utterly destroy our high places! He is faithful!

May God bless you as you earnestly seek Him!