May 19 2016

Greetings My Friend, When I read the Bible I come across how people worship idols often. The idols I see are made of wood, lined in gold or other metals and then bowed down to and worshiped. It is easy for me to think that we do not do this today, make idols but slowly I see that we do worship idols today. Many of our idols are not physical objects we set up and bow down to but they are idols we adhere to. Some worship drugs, alcohol, sex and money to name a few. There are a few who check their horoscopes to see what the day will bring while others rely on palm readers, card readers even tea leaves readers. I know that I used to check my horoscope out from time to time not really believing it but I thought it was quirky which I am sure many of the other things can be done in the same way. While reading in the OT recently I heard God describing the worship of idols as useless. He mentions that an idol being made of wood, lined in metal. One part of the wood is burned to warm the people, cook the food and the other becomes an idol. He then goes on to mention that the idol is placed on the back of an animal and carried. The idol has no life in it but it is worshiped. He then states He is God and there is no other. None other will save only Him. To me it is straight forward and direct that God is the only God to worship. It makes sense and then we don't listen. He continually teaches that Israel is His chosen people. They are to grow in Him and inspire the world to want to follow Him and no one else. When Jesus came He died once for all. We now are asked to enter into relationship with Jesus who cleanses us. I learn I can not earn my way to heaven the only way is to allow Jesus to open my heart and to teach me through the Holy Spirit to grow and to reach out to others offering them the love of Christ. God's love is gentle and compassionate. He warns us, corrects us and if we choose the correction and change our ways God will save us. In this world in this lifetime we will face many hardships. God won't take them away but He will walk with us and guide our steps if we let Him. For me this is how I have grown and will continue to grow spiritually. In the end times people will want to hear teachings that sound good but has no sound doctrine. People will not want to face the fact that they are sinners so they will make up their own version of what God's Word truly says. While reading God's Word I have begun to grasp why I need to read it with all my heart and ask the Holy Spirit to teach me. Our minister in Michigan taught us constantly to listen to the teachings others have on God's Word but don't take it fully in until you have lined God's Word up with the teaching. Do they match? If not then the lesson was not from God. I learn that God loves us all. He also teaches me that when we accept His Son we will obey all His teachings including some very unpopular teachings today we find everywhere. God will lovingly direct us and guide us but if we reject His Word He will eventually give you over to your hardened heart. To me God does love the adulterer, the homosexual, the thief etc. He will also take us from the point of our confession of sin and grow us out of that sin. Many teach that we live in the NT life and that the OT has passed so we don't have to pay attention to those teachings. I say that Jesus came to fulfill the law and died to cover us from the law. I also say that we as believers need to be guided by the Holy Spirit to learn to live the law. We will fall and but the Holy Spirit will guide us back to the law. I find that God did not like adultery in the OT and the NT. He is still against thieving, lust, greed envy too along with homosexuality. God abhorred child sacrifices in the OT and Jesus taught the value of the child in the NT. He accepted the children and was gentle with them. In everything I see that God is a God of the living not the dead. Because of this I believe God does not value our lives over the inconvience of destroying a child's life before it is born. Again I see God's Word being rearranged to fit what we want God to be and not who He is. God will discipline us and the longer we hold onto our worship of who we want Him to be the more He will discipline us. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet