What steps can we take to avoid the idolatry seen in Ezekiel 7:21? The Warning in Ezekiel 7:21 “I will hand these things over as plunder to foreigners and as loot to the wicked of the earth, and they will profane them.” Israel’s treasures became idols; the Lord removed both the idols and the security they thought those idols guaranteed. We never want to repeat their mistake, so here are clear, practical steps for keeping our hearts free of idolatry today. Step 1 – Settle God’s Exclusive Claim on Your Worship • Remember the first commandment: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) • Make it personal: continually affirm, “Lord, You alone have my allegiance.” Step 2 – Identify Modern-Day Idols • Greed, status, leisure, relationships, even ministry roles can slide onto the throne of the heart. • Scripture exposes them: “Put to death… greed, which is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5) • Ask: What do I fear losing more than I fear displeasing God? Step 3 – Stay Saturated in Scripture • “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • Daily reading, memorizing, and meditating keep truth circulating and false gods out. Step 4 – Practice Ongoing Repentance and Confession • Idols lose power when dragged into the light: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive.” (1 John 1:9) • Keep short accounts with God; don’t let small compromises harden into altars. Step 5 – Steward Possessions for God’s Glory • “Honor the LORD with your wealth.” (Proverbs 3:9) • Budget, give, and spend in ways that say, “Everything I have is Yours.” Step 6 – Cultivate Holy Fear • “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) • Reverence guards the heart; casual attitudes toward sin open the door to idols. Step 7 – Live in Authentic Accountability • “Let us consider how to spur one another on… not neglecting meeting together.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) • Invite trusted believers to ask hard questions about priorities and affections. Step 8 – Separate From Idolatrous Influences • “Come out from among them and be separate.” (2 Corinthians 6:17) • Limit media, relationships, or environments that normalize what God forbids. Step 9 – Worship in Spirit and Truth • “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) • Whole-hearted, biblically grounded worship crowds out counterfeit gods. Step 10 – Walk Continually in the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • A Spirit-led life is a guarded life; the Helper redirects attention to Christ whenever another love tries to intrude. A Final Reminder “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) The charge is simple, the stakes eternal, and by God’s grace these ten steps keep us joyfully loyal to the One who deserves every heartbeat. |
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