My dear brothers and sisters, shun idolatry (1Cor. 10:14)
In Old Testament times, idolatry was easily recognizable - the dance around a golden calf, the prostration of the image of Baal. Even when the Apostle Paul wrote his letter to Christ's followers in Corinth in the first century, pagan idolatry was openly practiced. He warned them to stay away from everything connected with it (1 Corinthians 10:14).
Idolatry is still a danger to God’s people, even though its activities are not always open or visible. Idols are usually more veiled and difficult to recognize, because they fill the hidden places in our hearts.
If we want to expose the idols in our hearts, pay attention to the dominating thoughts, for what we often think about may have become idols. What's the last thing we think about before going to sleep, what's the first thing we think about when we wake up, what we fantasize about throughout the day, all of which have to do with things or things we care about and believe in. Every object or person we hope to satisfy, every goal or desire we have that has become more important than God, are all "gods" who snatch our allegiance and secretly control our lives.
Only God can satisfy the deepest needs of our hearts and make us truly alive. That is why we need to heed the loving counsel of the Apostle Paul, "My beloved brethren, abstain from idolatry" --David Roper
IDOLS ARE EVERYTHING
THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF GOD
THAT TAKES THE PLACE OF GOD
*) Take from Daily Meditation