Idolatry God

Every sin boils down to one thing: Idolatry.

Idolatry is worshiping something other than Jesus as god (worshiping the creation rather than the Creator). God sums this up in the first commandment: "You shall have no other God before me."

Every commandment after that is an idolatry issue:
2. Don't take God's name in vain: (don't worship yourself)
3. Honor the sabbath and keep it holy: (don't worship work)
4. Honor your father and mother: (don't worship authority)
5. Don't murder: (don't worship pride/anger/bitterness - aka: entitlement)
6. Don't have sex outside of marriage: (don't worship sex)
7. Don't steal: (don't worship possessions)
8. Don't bear false witness (don't worship status or people pleasing)
9. Don't covet (don't worship people, possessions, or material objects)

As a person created in God's image, you are designed as a worshiper. You are ALWAYS in a state of worship, but what is it that you worship? Money? Sex? Music? Grades? Status? Friends? Drugs? Attention? Feelings? Romance? Yourself?

Sin is the worship of something other than Jesus. This doesn't mean that you are standing in front of your iPod bowing down to it and singing songs to it (although that would be sin), but it means giving something more power, priority, or authority than Jesus.

Just yesterday I was having a conversation with my best friend (my wife) and I wanted to know what I could do to be a better leader in our house. So she asked me if I could lead our family by learning how to manage more of our house maintenance things (warranties, rebates, yearly checks, etc...). This was a very reasonable request... but I got upset.

Imediately what ran through my head was: "I do so much maintenance around the house already." "I am too busy to do that." "When will I ever have a chance to relax." "You're the one who should be doing that." "I don't want to have to figure all of these things out."

Praise God that he shows me grace and teaches me by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. "Brian, you're worshiping your time, you're worshiping your pride, you're worshiping your authority, and you're worshiping your emotions... stop it, and start worshiping me."

What are your idols? What or who are you worshiping other than God?

Jesus, forgive me for putting __________ before you...

Not Butter? You're Kidding Right?

Toast is big part of many mornings for me.  Growing up in a bakery family, we always had good bread growing up and I have tried to maintain this for my family.  And, because my mother was 100% Sweedish, butter had a Paula Dean type presence at every meal--including breakfast where it soaked toast in goodness.

As I have aged I find that I can't defeat the effects of butter like I used to--I need a "less risky" option.  So Can't Believe It's Not Butter is a part of my morning breakfast ritual.  All the great taste without all the fat.

I sometimes think that we want God to be the same way in our lives--all the good without any correction.  The current Sunday message series is on Family and this last week we looked to our "Heavenly Father" as a model for earthly parenting.  God's love comes both in the form of goodness and correction.  Jesus loved his disciples but corrected them when they were straying off course.

How do we receive God's correction in our lives with the same heart that we receive His love?  We do this by recognizing that they are the same thing.