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Cast Out Every Idol, November 12
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written,
Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Matthew 4:10
.
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (
Exodus 20:3
).... It is not
alone in denying the existence of God or in bowing down to idols of wood
and stone that this first commandment is broken. By many who profess to
be followers of Christ, its principles are infringed, but the Lord of heaven
does not acknowledge those as His children who are cherishing in their
hearts anything that takes the place which God alone should hold. With
many the gratification of appetite holds sway, while with others dress and
love of the world are given the first place in the heart....
God has given us many things in this life upon which to bestow our
affections, but when we carry to excess that which in itself is lawful we
become idolaters.... Anything that separates our affections from God and
lessens our interest in eternal things is an idol. Those who use the precious
time given them by God—time that has been purchased at an infinite cost—
in embellishing their homes for display, in following the fashions and
customs of the world, are not only robbing their own souls of spiritual food,
but are failing to give God His due. The time thus spent in the gratification
of selfish desires might be employed in obtaining a knowledge of the Word
of God, in cultivating our talents, that we might render intelligent service
to our Creator.... God will not share a divided heart. If the world absorbs
our attention, He cannot reign supreme. If this diminishes our devotion for
God, it is idolatry in His eyes....
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit
and in truth” (
John 4:24
). When our hearts are tuned to praise our Maker,
not only in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs but also in our lives, we
shall live in communion with Heaven.... There will be gratitude in the heart
and in the home, in private as well as in public devotion. This constitutes
the true worship of God
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15
The Youth’s Instructor, December 31, 1896.
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