Tuesday, 10 November 2015

Don't Compromise (7)

Post 7 of a series in Deuteronomy (Don't Compromise/Don't Covet)

Deuteronomy 7:25 "You shall burn the graven images of their gods with fire. You shall not desire the silver or gold on them, nor take it for yourself, so that you may not be snared in it. For it is an abomination to the LORD your God".

Sometimes it is very hard to resist the temptations that the devil sets in our paths. More often than not it is to do with money, sex, or security. God wants to free us from such things. We have a part to play, if we do not stand up for what is right then many more suffer and fall into the trap of compromise.

There are many times that God warns the children of Israel not to compromise or covet. Telling them not to take what is not theirs. This begs the question what is ours as followers of Jesus? I suppose the answer lies somewhere in knowing where our security lies. If our lives are governed and our commitment is to God then we will be governed by the basics of right and wrong worked out by the power of the Holy Spirit that God has worked in us through His shed blood at Calvary. Even with the knowledge of, and outworking of salvation in our lives we sometimes are still tempted to just take what is on show, whether that be material things or physical. God says NO and we have to listen for our own good. We have to stand up for what is right and not be so bound up with sin that so easily ensnares us. Hebrews 12:1.


It is really difficult not to compromise in a world that says you can have what you want, when you want. In this passage we have two specific commands 
  1. "burn the graven images of their gods", their idols.
  2. "do not desire their silver or gold" . 

God wants us to burn our idols, the things in our lives and in those around us, that we worship, the things that we put before God himself. God also wants us not to covet, that is desire anything that belongs to someone else. We need to learn to be content with what we have. What I know is that God is able to deliver us from "this sin that ensnares us", sin being anything that hinders me from worshipping God as He would have us worship Him. Let us continue to trust almighty God and be content and complete in Him and His plan for us.


Help us Lord to recognise that you are our salvation and our fortress. You alone oh God are the only one who is able to sustain us and lift us out of despair and place our feet on a rock, on solid ground so that we through your Grace can live a life that glorifies you. Amen

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