Idolatry is Common

A Word of Truth #108  

Idolatry is the act of giving the honor, love, and trust which God deserves to a false god. Anyone who worships and honors a god other than the Triune God is guilty of idolatry. Anyone who does not worship and honor Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior, is guilty of idolatry.

The most common idolatry is not the open worship of a false god, but rather the secret idolatry of the heart. Martin Luther once said: “That upon which you set your heart and put your trust is in reality your god.” Jesus warns against loving family members more than Him (cf. Matthew 10:37). God frequently warns against putting trust in money and loving the world and its entertainment and its possessions more than Him (cf. 1 John 2:15 et. al).

May God work in our hearts a great love for Him so that we do not follow idols, but serve Him alone and in Christ find forgiveness for all our sins including those of idolatry.

The Name of God

A Word of Truth #109  

My name is “Paul.” That name makes no sense for me, for “Paul” means “small,” and I am six feet, four inches tall. The names God chooses to use for Himself, however, all make sense, for they describe accurately who He is and what He has done. The name God, for instance, implies almighty power, while the name Jehovah, or LORD, suggests infinite grace. Jesus means “Savior,” for He saved us from our sins, while Christ means “the Anointed One”—that One whom God appointed and then anointed with His Holy Spirit to be our Savior! The Bible also identifies Jesus as the “Good Shepherd,&8221; the “Bread of Life,” the “Light of the World,” and the “Living Water.” These names all describe Jesus’ importance and meaning for us. In the Bible God reveals Himself and His work through His names.