Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek
24 January 2028
Reading From Genesis 35-37
“God said to Jacob, “Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau.” So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone.”
—Genesis 35:1-3
Idolatry has always been a primary issue between mankind and God since the fall in the Garden of Eden. The decision to do life on our terms and in our own way rather than follow God is idolatry of self. It is the thought that we as individuals know what is best for us, that we know better than God.
There are many gods and goddesses. There is no true God apart from God Himself. People worship false gods who have demons behind them. In this way, there are real spiritual forces behind other religions, but none that I want anything to do with. I would much rather worship the one true and living God.
There are some who have been misled into thinking that the original religion of the Israelites was Baal and Asherah. This is simply not true and we have the monotheistic narrative of the Hebrew Bible to prove that. Any worship apart from the Triune God is and always has been idolatry. Israel always struggled with worshipping foreign gods, as do the Lord’s people today. We idolize sports, celebrities, money, sex, status symbols, politicians, government, creation, ourselves, you name it and someone has somewhere along the line made it into an idol. God wants us to give Him our undivided attention and affection.
“Lord Jesus, forgive us for our idolatrous ways. Help us to focus on You. In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen.”
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord.
—Deuteronomy 6:4
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
Leave a comment