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1 Corinthians 10:14-17
In 1 Corinthians 10:14-17 the Apostle Paul states the obvious; we have been given the lessons of disobedience to God in the examples of the Israelites as they wandered in the desert as Moses led them in the ways of God in which they continued to abandon. Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV), “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” In the sins of the Israelites, the one thing that was the leading cause of all their sins was idolatry – they continued to put other gods before the one true God of heaven who continually showed Himself to them in saving them from their adversaries, and gave them nourishment and water when there was none. Yet the Israelites continued to put their faith in other gods.
This is a command to flee the ways of the sinful nature.
“My beloved, flee from idolatry” as the Apostle Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 10:14. Idolatry may seem like a word that is only relevant in the Old Testament, but the truth is that anything that we give more attention to than God is an idol. What idols do you have that you need to flee from? Satan is always trying to get us to put earthly things before God in our lives. We must always be on alert as the devil is sly and will go unnoticed sometimes as he slides something in our lives that we may put before God. Flee from these things! They may not always be sinful things that Satan uses against our relationship with God. If he can get us to put our gifts before God and begin to believe that the gifts that God has given us are our own gifts, then we have slid into believing in ourselves instead of God. Beware, as the Apostle Peter states in 1 Peter 5:6-9, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” It is through our faith in God that we resist the devil as we know and believe that our Savior Jesus has defeated Satan once for all. Our Proctor, our Savior, our God, Almighty and victorious. When temptation strikes; when idolatry creeps into your life, call on the name of Jesus our Savior – it is He who sets us free from sin!
Dear LORD,
We ask for Your help today in two specific ways: (1) Please help us to recognize the idols that we may have in our lives. (2) Please help us to flee from them and put You first in our lives. Please let it be so LORD. In Jesus name I pray, amen.