Joel M Bradshaw

15“Cursed is anyone who makes an idol—a thing detestable to the Lord, the work of skilled hands—and sets it up in secret.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”–Deuteronomy 27

In context: Moses was giving warnings to the people about various sins just before they entered the Promised Land. Our verse pictures a person who claimed to trust Yahweh, and probably did so in a public manner, but secretly was trusting an idol he either made or bought.

For us: Let’s define the true idol, yourself. To follow Jesus is to deny yourself and selfishness. Idols in your life are sins you cherish. They are things you might sin in order to protect. They are addictions and habits that you rationalize when confronted regarding. Publicly claiming to follow Christ yet privately holding onto these idols is hypocrisy.

This used to be me. Everybody knew me as a follower of Jesus, but I held onto sinful habitual choices and addictions. It wasn’t until I faced myself, owned what I could about my situation, and then got help with accountability that my path would change. To what secret idols to you cling?–JMB