How can Ezekiel 20:26 guide us in avoiding modern-day idolatry? A Call from Ezekiel 20:26 “I pronounced them unclean through their gifts in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, so that I might devastate them and make them desolate, that they might know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 20:26) Seeing the Heart of the Verse • Israel turned God-given blessings (“their firstborn”) into offerings for false gods. • The Lord let them taste the fruit of their choices so they would recognize His sole right to their worship. • The issue wasn’t merely a ritual; it was the allegiance of the heart. Modern Faces of the Same Old Idol • Career or status that demands every waking moment. • Technology that quietly consumes affections meant for the Lord. • Entertainment that shapes values more than Scripture does. • Relationships we fear losing more than we fear grieving God. • Wealth and possessions pursued as the source of security. Lessons for Today 1. God’s blessings must never replace God Himself. – “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). When a gift eclipses the Giver, it becomes an idol. 2. Idolatry defiles what should be holy. – Romans 12:1 calls us to present our bodies “as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” Offering ourselves to lesser loves corrupts that sacrifice. 3. God may allow idols to disappoint us so we return to Him. – Psalm 106:15: “So He gave them what they asked, but sent a wasting disease among them”. 4. True knowledge of the Lord often comes through the collapse of false gods. – Jonah 2:8: “Those who cling to worthless idols forsake faithful love”. Keeping Christ First – Practical Steps • Begin each day in Scripture before screens. • Tithe time as well as money—serve, worship, rest in Him. • Regularly evaluate: “Would losing this thing shake my trust in God?” • Confess quickly when affections drift (1 John 1:9). • Surround yourself with believers who will speak truth in love (Hebrews 10:24-25). Verses to Memorize for Safeguarding the Heart • 1 John 5:21 – “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” • Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters.” • Colossians 3:5 – “Put to death, therefore, the components of your earthly nature… and greed, which is idolatry.” • Psalm 16:2 – “I say to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.’” Living It Out Ezekiel 20:26 warns that even precious gifts can become snares if they displace the Lord. By treasuring the Giver above every gift, testing our hearts, and turning quickly from anything that rivals His place, we walk in freedom and keep modern-day idolatry at bay. |
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