Worship God Only
JAMES 4:4-8

In people, jealousy is a negative trait. But for the Almighty, it’s a holy attribute. God wants to be our top priority—the love of our lives—and He is unhappy when we worship anyone besides Him. This is justified, as only the Lord deserves our praise.

When reading in the Old Testament, we might not understand why the people would bow down before idols they had made with their own hands. Surely, they did not think that these were living and powerful! But we make a similar mistake, placing too high a value on our own “idols,” like money, relationships, appearance, and power. Though not bad in themselves, these can become objects of worship if we let them have too much importance. That’s why God is jealous for our hearts.

There are two reasons that our Father doesn’t let His children’s devotion stay out of balance. First, He deserves the glory. And second, His love for us is so great that He wants what is best in our lives. Praising Him above all else is actually in our own best interest. Therefore, when our hearts do not belong solely to Christ, He disciplines us. Often, this means allowing challenges in our lives to mature our faith and remind us who is the one and only God. Hardships are not pleasant, but we can be encouraged that God is making us complete in Him.

This week, notice where you spend your time and money and what dominates your thoughts. Even if your pursuits seem good on the surface, ask the Lord to reveal whatever has become an idol in your life. Confess any misplaced affection, and ask for help in making God the object of your devotion

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Objects of Divine Satisfaction     –   He has blessed us in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:6

What a state of privilege! It includes our justification before God, but the term “blessed” in the Greek means more than that. It signifies that we are the objects of divine satisfaction, even of divine delight. How marvelous that we-worms, mortals, sinners-should be made the objects of divine love!

But it is only “in the Beloved.” Some Christians seem to be accepted in their own experience-at least that is their apprehension. When their spirit is lively and their hopes bright, they think God accepts them, for they feel so high, so heavenly-minded, so drawn above the earth! But when their souls cleave to the dust, they are the victims of the fear that they are no longer accepted. If they could only see that all their high joys do not exalt them, and all their low despondencies do not really depress them in their Father’s sight, but that they stand accepted in One who never alters. This One is always the beloved of God, always perfect, always without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. How much happier they would be, and how much more they would honor the Savior if they could grasp Him!

Rejoice then, believer, in this: You are blessed “in the Beloved.” You look within, and you say, “There is nothing acceptable here!” But look at Christ, and see if everything is not acceptable there. Your sins trouble you; but God has cast your sins behind His back, and you are accepted and blessed in the Righteous One. You have to fight with corruption and wrestle with temptation, but you are already accepted in Him who has overcome the powers of evil. The devil tempts you, but be of good cheer-he cannot destroy you, for you are accepted in Him who has broken Satan’s head.

Know by full assurance your glorious standing. Even glorified souls are not more accepted than you are. They are only blessed in heaven “in the Beloved,” and you are even now blessed in Christ after the same manner.

The family reading plan for

September 23, 2011

2 Samuel 19 | 2 Corinthians 12