Time for a Heart Check - Tuesday March 03, 2015
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 1 John 5:21 NIV
I first noticed it as I passed the corner on Main Street. There it stood, a sparkling, mirror-tiled mosaic statue of the Iowa State Cyclones' mascot, "Cy," the cardinal. This was not the only Cy around town. There are actually close to thirty similar statues of various colors and designs, strategically placed in hopes of stirring up the fan base in our university community.
As much as I appreciate the university and all that it contributes to our city, I couldn't help but react. I mean really...thirty statues? I honestly was reminded of the apostle Paul in Acts 17 as he walked about the city of Athens, observing their idols of worship. (Remember the word fan comes from the Latin root fanaticus, meaning "of a temple, hence enthusiastic or inspired.")
It's not wrong to root for a team or be enthusiastic over their success, but these statues did stir me to ask myself a deeper question: "Are there idols in your heart, Dawn?"
I like to think of idols as anything that consumes my time, energy, attention, or money in a way that captures my heart-my "first love" or "go to." Social media, sports, exercise, eating, relationships, cars, clothes, shopping, or family can all be good things, but when I would rather spend time with them than with my Lord. Hmmm. Maybe it's time for a heart check!
God's admonitions to "have no other gods before me. ... You shall not make for yourself an idol" (Exodus 20:3-4) all stem from His heart of love and deep longing for fellowship with His creation. May I respond with like passion and crown Him the supreme love of my heart!
Submitted by:
Dawn Bovenmyer
Stonebrook Community Church
Ames, Iowa
One-Year Reading Plan:
Leviticus 27:14-34;Numbers 1:1-54
Mark 11:1-26
Psalms 46:1-11
Proverbs 10:23
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SCRIPTURE REFERENCB-ES: Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible B) The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are from the Holy, Bible, New International Version, copyright B) 1973, 1978, 1984 by InternaB-tional Bible Society; (NKJV) are from New King James Version B) 1982 by Thomas Nelson; (NLT) are from the New Living Translation, B) 1996, Tyndale House Publishers; (ESV) are from English Standard VersionB., B) 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; (TM) are from The Message B) 1993 by NavPress Publishers.