May 17, 2013 Who's On Your Altar?

Read Hosea 9-10 Who’s On Your Altar? Hosea 10:1 But the richer the people get, the more pagan altars they build. AS people consider the decline of Christianity in America today, the general mindset is that our nation’s mind is set on things. We have much stuff. And people with much stuff worship the stuff while stuffing God into the “garage sale” closet. Guess what. That’s the way it was in the last days of Israel. That’s the way it has been since Adam and Eve in effect said to God, “You didn’t give us enough stuff.” The devil stirred up discontent in the Garden, and mankind’s mind has been beset with the mindset: More stuff wins! Hosea warned Israel that their richness was turning them from God. Their wealth became pagan altars, separating them from God. What might be the “pagan altars” in your life? Could it be the house that costs a “little” more than you can easily pay for...the extra car for your convenience…those super cool shoes you must have…a desire to give your kids everything they want…simply “things” to have things? Things that block you from pursuing God and his truths for your life are pagan altars. Things become your focus. You have no time and no desire for God’s riches. You become poor in spirit, longing to fill the empty space where God wants to be. Check your schedule. What’s on it? Why are you doing what you do? Are you pursuing things, or are you pursuing God? Stop and know this: God wants you to put Him first—that’s at the top—to be on your altar of worship. If he is anywhere else, He will leave you to the destruction of your “pagan altars”. That’s why He destroyed Israel. It’s True! Anything between you and God is a pagan idol.