Rich Maffeo on Nostr: SERMON January 12, 2025 Turn to Me 21st-century Man makes a tragic error to think ...
SERMON
January 12, 2025
Turn to Me
21st-century Man makes a tragic error to think idolatry and its inevitable judgment from God is a thing of the past. It is not. One does not have to bow before wood or marble statues to be an idolater. The dictionary defines idolatry not only as the worship of man-made idols, but includes “excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.”
In other words, anything that diverts our full devotion to the one true God is an idol. Anything that dilutes from true worship and obedience to Almighty God is also, by definition, an idol. Listen to St John’s exhortation: (1 John 2:15-17) “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
And while we in the West might not bow down to sculpted wood and marble, we often DO bow before non-tangible things such as power, greed and possessions. And how many bow before Science, or Government, or Philosophy – and even religion?
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2025/01/sermon-jan-12-draft.html
January 12, 2025
Turn to Me
21st-century Man makes a tragic error to think idolatry and its inevitable judgment from God is a thing of the past. It is not. One does not have to bow before wood or marble statues to be an idolater. The dictionary defines idolatry not only as the worship of man-made idols, but includes “excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.”
In other words, anything that diverts our full devotion to the one true God is an idol. Anything that dilutes from true worship and obedience to Almighty God is also, by definition, an idol. Listen to St John’s exhortation: (1 John 2:15-17) “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”
And while we in the West might not bow down to sculpted wood and marble, we often DO bow before non-tangible things such as power, greed and possessions. And how many bow before Science, or Government, or Philosophy – and even religion?
You can read the rest of this message on my blog: https://inhimonly.blogspot.com/2025/01/sermon-jan-12-draft.html