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1 John 5:21 - KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS.

1 John 5:21 (NKJV) Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

1 John 5:21 (NLT) Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts.

INTRODUCTION

Many things can take God's place in our lives. This includes anything that substitutes for the true faith, anything that denies Christ's full deity and humanity, any human idea that claims to be more authoritative than the Bible, any loyalty that replaces God at the center of our life. [Life Application SB]

John presents a clear picture of Christ. What we think about Jesus Christ is central to our teaching, preaching, and living. Jesus is the God-man, fully God and fully human at the same time. He came to earth to die in our place for our sins. Through faith in him, we are given eternal life and the power to do his will. What is your answer to the most important question you could ever ask: Who is Jesus Christ? [Life Application SB]

COMMENTARY PEARL

Rival Affections
   We tend to imagine idol worship as lying prostrate before a carved image. And clearly that would be idolatry. But idolatry can take many forms. And no doubt it's a problem that even believers living in the twenty-first century will face.
   The Bible tells us that during the Tribulation, idol worship will be rampant. Revelation 9:20 says, "But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood - idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk!" (NLT).
   Idols can be many things. But essentially an idol is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in our lives. A lot of things can qualify as an idol in our lives. And it is a true but terrifying fact that a person can attend church every week and still be a full-fledged idolater.
   In the Ten Commandments, God tells us that we should have Him as our God and have no other gods before Him.
   He said, "You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods" (Exodus 20:4-5 NLT).
   Jesus echoed this when He said, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38 NLT).
   Essentially Jesus was saying that if you love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, it will dramatically impact the way that you live.
   If we love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, then nothing else can take God's place in our lives. We won't be interested in another god any more than someone who just had a delicious dinner of filet mignon would be attracted to roadkill. Our hunger has been met. We're satisfied.
   But when we're not cultivating a close relationship with God, then it is only a matter of time until someone or something takes His place.
   When Moses left the Israelites to receive the commandments from God on Mount Sinai, the people went to Aaron and asked him to make them an idol, something physical to worship. The result was a calf made of gold.
   But that wasn't their first idol. Moses was. Because not long after he left their camp, they looked for something to take his place.
   This can happen to us as well. We can allow something to crowd God out of our hearts. And when we look at the history of the Christian church, we'll see that it was after people abandoned God as their first love that they turned to idols to take His place. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com]

COMMENTARY

Any Idols Here?
   Every true child of God will be sifted as wheat, and in the sifting process every cherished pleasure which diverts the mind from God must be sacrificed. In many families the mantel shelves, stands, and tables are filled with ornaments and pictures.... Thus the thoughts, which should be upon God and heavenly interests, are brought down to common things. Is not this a species of idolatry? Should not the money thus spent have been used to bless humanity, to relieve the suffering, to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry? Should it not be placed in the Lord's treasury to advance His cause and build up His kingdom in the earth?
   This matter is of great importance, and it is urged upon you to save you from the sin of idolatry. Blessing would come to your souls if you would obey the word spoken by the Holy One of Israel, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Many are creating unnecessary cares and anxieties for themselves by devoting time and thought to the unnecessary ornaments with which their houses are filled. The power of God is needed to arouse them from this devotion; for to all intents and purposes it is idolatry.
   He who searches the heart, desires to win His people from every species of idolatry. Let the Word of God, the blessed book of life, occupy the tables now filled with useless ornaments. Spend your money in buying books that will be the means of enlightening the mind in regard to present truth.... Grasp the Word of the Lord as the treasure of infinite wisdom and love; this is the Guidebook that points out the path to heaven....
   O that you would search the Scriptures with prayerful hearts, and a spirit of surrender to God! O that you would search your hearts as with a lighted candle, and discover and break the finest thread that binds you to worldly habits, which divert the mind from God! Plead with God to show you every practice that draws your thoughts and affections from Him. GOD HAS GIVEN HIS HOLY LAW TO MAN AS HIS MEASURE OF CHARACTER. By this law you may see and overcome every defect in your character. You may sever yourself from every idol, and link yourself to the throne of God by the golden chain of grace and truth, MAR48

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

1 John 5:21 - KEEP YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS.
https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220605-1052.html

1 John 2:15-17 - Our Relationship With God And The World.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190528-0958.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2013/20131202-1315.html

1 John 2:15-17 - The Lustful World & The Will of God.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2006/20060605-0740.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2001/20010716-0000.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/