MARCH 10, Galatians 4:8

Some people believe there are multiple gods. Some think there are two gods, others believe there could be four, some of them think there are even a hundred gods, or more. There are even people who believe that the sun and the moon are gods, so they bow down and pray to the sun and the moon.

What about us? Should we pray to created things, no matter how lovely and powerful they may seem to be? What about angels – surely they are powerful and beautiful? Should we pray to angels? Are they gods too? No! They are not gods. Angels are created heavenly beings who serve and worship God. Angels love God and some are in heaven praising God and some are here on earth helping us. When anything other than God is worshipped, that thing is considered an idol.

There are many accounts of idols in the Bible. Paul went to Athens and saw the city filled with idols. It was said that there were more gods than people in Athens.

In the Old Testament, there were accounts of people having other gods. Moses was on Mount Sinai for forty days and the people had become impatient.They still had the fire and cloud to assure them of God’s presence, but that was not enough. They wanted another visible representation of God to encourage them. They built the golden calf and worshipped it.

How about us? Of course, most of you would not have a physical idol or statue in the form of some god that you worship. However, many of us have idols in the form of things we admire or love more than we love God. It could be sleep. For some of us are too lazy to read God’s word and do Quiet Time, claiming we are “tired”. Or it could be studies – that we’d rather put studies before our need to spend some time with God or to go to Sunday School.

God is angry with those who have idols. He is also angry with anyone who loves anything more than they love Him. We must love God even more than our parents and the nice things that we like.

Thought: What idols do you have?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, how can I love anything more than You after You have given Jesus to die on the cross for my sins? Help me get rid of the idols in my life and love You above all. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.