Psalm 16:1-5 comes to mind when we think of “other gods”; thus, immediately the different aspects of serving “idols” comes to mind, for if we remember back when the “Nike” brand of shoes were so popular, expensive, and every kid wanted “Nike” shoes, and we heard (whether true or not) that “Nike” was a Greek god of swift speed; thus, the name “Nike” was a shoe of speed. 1 Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to You for refuge. 2 I said to the Lord, “You are my Master!
Every good thing I have comes from You.” 3 The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them! 4 Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods. 5 Lord, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.
Each pair of these shoes we bought for our kids, we publicly shouted the name of the Greek god of speed, and we do this with the clothes we wear with whatever name is on it, so be very careful what or whose image, god, or idol we present publicly or private, for “our God is a jealous God”, as we know from Exodus 34:14, 14 You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is the God who is jealous about His relationship with you.
God loved each of us enough to create us, die for us, forgive all our sins, make us His children, and provide for our welfare and protection, has a right to be jealous of our relationship with Him.
Why, then, destroy our Christian testimony by wearing clothing or attending events that serve the satanic community in contrast to the God every Christian “claims” to serve exclusively?
Jesus’ disciples were beaten and imprisoned for serving the God who created and owned them, and in Acts 16:16-34, when Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned for commanding a demon spirit to come out of a lady who made her masters rich by fortune-telling, but during the night as they sang praises and thanks to God, God sent an earthquake to open the prison doors, set everyone free, simply because God wanted to perform this miracle to forgive the prisoners and grant salvation to the keeper of the prison and his family.
God already knows every detail of every need we have, and in Philippians 4:19, promises to supply them, so stop praying about our needs, and begin praising, thanking, and worshiping God for the miracles He has already planned for us, with the detailed purpose for our trials and His miracles, and for His exact timing for everything to begin and end; thus, praise, thanks, and worship are far more important to God than our selfish prayers, and they form a very special bond between God and us, His children.
Most Christians think giving God thanks in and for every detail of life as it happens and continues to happen, is a personal choice, but Ephesians 5:15-21, says in verse 20, it is a command, as does 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, say in verse 18, that giving God thanks for and in all things, is a command, for it is God’s will for His children; therefore, do not promote another god or idol by the clothes or shoes we wear, or by the words we speak, or the events and places we attend, for God, whose name is “Jealous”, refuses to share the holy, pure, sweet, peaceful relationship He has with His children, Christians, members of Christ’s body, the worldwide church.
We may proclaim our Christianity daily, but the true us is revealed by our words, actions, how we dress, and where and on what we spend most of our time and money; these are our idols.
Jim, Kim, Tim Nabors
