How can we guard against spiritual adultery in our lives today? The Painful Picture in Ezekiel 16:19 “The food I gave you—fine flour, olive oil and honey that I fed you—you set before them as a pleasing aroma. That is what happened, declares the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 16:19) God’s provision became the very tribute Israel laid before idols. The spouse He cherished spent His gifts on other lovers—an act Scripture calls adultery. The warning still lands today, because every good thing we enjoy can either deepen devotion or lure our hearts away. Why This Matters for Us Today • Every talent, paycheck, friendship, and moment of health comes straight from the Lord’s hand. • The same gifts can either become tools of worship or objects of worship. • Spiritual adultery begins quietly: affections drift, loyalties blur, gratitude fades. • Guarding our hearts is not a one-time choice; it is daily covenant maintenance. Spotting Modern-Day Idols • Comfort: when ease outranks obedience. • Career: when vocation defines worth or trumps worship. • Relationships: when pleasing people eclipses pleasing God. • Entertainment: when screens and hobbies swallow time reserved for Him. • Money and security: when giving feels risky and hoarding feels safe. • Even ministry: when serving replaces seeking the Lord of the work. Guarding the Covenant: Practical Steps • Daily gratitude inventory—verbally thank God for specific provisions before the day begins. • First-fruits giving—return a predetermined portion of income, time, and abilities to Him; it trains the heart to remember the Source. • Scripture saturation—read, memorize, and meditate; “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:11) • Exclusive worship—reserve the first day, first hour, and first love for Christ; schedule around Him, not Him around the schedule. • Accountability—invite a trusted believer to notice drift and speak up. • Regular repentance—confess quickly when anything competes for the throne. • Celebrate His gifts properly—enjoy them with thanksgiving instead of secrecy, excess, or pride. Scriptures That Reinforce Our Vigilance • “You shall have no other gods before Me.” (Exodus 20:3) • “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) • “Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4) • “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (1 John 5:21) • “Yet I have this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember then how far you have fallen; repent and do the works you did at first.” (Revelation 2:4-5) • “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) Living Faithfully This Week • Keep a running list of blessings and trace each one back to the Giver. • Set phone alarms titled “First Love Check” to pause and refocus on Christ. • Use entertainment only after the Word has had the first claim on attention. • Speak often of God’s goodness to friends and family, turning ordinary talk into worship. • Give something valuable away as an act of dethroning materialism. • End each evening with a brief heart audit: “Where did my affections lean today?”—then realign before sleep. The Bridegroom who rescued, clothed, and fed us is worthy of undivided love. Guarding against spiritual adultery simply means keeping every gift in its proper place and every affection under His lordship. |
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