Steven A. Bush - July 31, 2016
What Stands Between You and God?
God knows the obstacles between you and Him. He knows your idols. Wealth and its companions were the rich young ruler's idols but anything can be an idol. Usually our idols are good things, gifts from God, but we end up placing them above Him. Sports, fitness, fashion, food, sex, music, hobbies, education, patriotism, politics, jobs, ministry--all these things can nudge their way to highest place in our hearts. (Some of the good kings of Judah never got around to tearing down those high places of idol worship.) Even our family can be placed above God! What if Jesus said, "One thing you lack, put Me first and your career second and come and follow Me." or "Put Me first and your recreation second and come and follow Me." or "Put Me first and your family second and come and follow Me." Would you be astonished if He said that? Would you walk away sad because deep down you knew you valued those things more than God? In Luke 14:33 Jesus lays it out heavy: "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be My disciple." (ESV) May the Holy Spirit provoke you!