Word for the Day April 23
By:
Evang. Cascille Hammack
"Put to death, therefore, whatever
belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming." Col. 3:5,6
Idolatry is anything
that displaces reliance on and faith in God. For this reason, God calls greed idolatry. Ephesians 5:5 makes it
plain, "For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person- such a man is an idolater -has any inheritance
in the kingdom of God." Ephesians 5:6,7 instructs to not be deceived into believing what some teach that immoral
and impure or greedy persons do have an inheritance in God's kingdom. Ephesians 5:6,7 declares, "Let no one
deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore,
do not be partners with them." Ephesians 5:11 instructs, "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them."
God will not tolerate any form of idolatry. Greed is idolatry.
Paul explains in 1 Cor. 10:21, 22 "You cannot drink the cups of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a
part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger
than He?" 1 John 5:21 instructs, "Dear children, keep your selves from idols." Jesus welcomes the
righteous but warns those who engage in idolatry (He groups them with those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral
and murderers and liars) that they will be outside His kingdom in Rev. 22:14,15, "Blessed are those who wash
their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are
the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices
falsehood."
