“You shall have no other gods before me...For I the LORD your God am a jealous God." Exodus 20:3,5
"Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry."
1 Corinthians 10:14
We see it all the time and in almost every facet of life. Idolatry in it's sneakiest form comes by way of seemingly good things that become idols of the heart, and adoption is one of them.
The way I tend to test my heart for any impending rivalry with my devotion to God is to ask myself what I think of first when I wake in the morning. Do I greet God with, "Good Morning, Lord! I can't wait to see what you have in store for me today...?" or is my mind racing with thoughts of other things and agendas of my own? The first thoughts of my heart in the morning are a sure sign of where my treasure lies and how my priorities are ordered.
Do I turn to my Bible and prayer first in the morning and return throughout the day or do I get distracted by the inevitable tasks of life? Do I read books or talk to people before I read God's Word and talk to Him? What portion of my day is spent at His feet, seeking His council, and praying to the only One who has the power to influence every circumstance?
Do we really think we can (with permanence) accomplish anything in our own strength? If we do, we are sadly mistaken and destined for disappointment at some point down the line because the only true source of sustenance is God alone. Nothing good, even adoption, even successful human relationships, can fill our longing for purpose. That position is God's.
"For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place."
1 Chronicles 16:25-27
Our sinful nature lures us into temptations of all kinds everyday, idolatry being one, but just like any other sin we are accountable to God for how we respond. Thankfully, we're forgiven when we turn from our sin in repentance. And gratefully, we are restored when we put God back in His rightful place in our hearts. He should be number one...everything else follows.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33
It takes some redirecting and a dose of intentionality, but once we have established that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength comes first, He reciprocates by directing our path straight according to His best design. We yield and He leads. It's as simple as that. May the first thoughts of our morning be:
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
Psalm 143:8
When it comes to our adoption, I am frequently asked about the waiting and the longing and the efforts involved in the process. So I ask myself as well, how am I doing with all of that? My honest reply is that I'm doing my best to ask God to continually keep me focused on Him, believing that He will accomplish the rest. I'm thinking about Him, knowing that He is with our children and more capable of caring for them than me.
I believe with all my heart that if my focus remains the Lord, then He will fulfill all my other needs and desires. He will orchestrate the dealings of our adoption according to His flawless plan and I will, with childlike faith, follow His lead as He does.
So, my perpetual prayer is that we may resist the temptation to idolize seemingly good things (including our adoption). And, by God's grace, that we may remember He alone is worthy of our wholehearted devotion. When we get this underlying truth straight and permanently foundational in our lives, the rest of the details resolve, we find ourselves at peace, joy overflows, and rest invades our souls.
Thank you, Lord for showing us clearly in your Word what we should and should not idolize. Thank you for adoption and for also reminding us that it is you alone we worship. We need the intercession of Christ to pray as we should and keep our hearts ordered as you desire. Thank you for loving us in spite of our failures. Thank you for the cross, where we lay our sins down in repentance and gratitude for your mercy and grace. May you alone be glorified through adoption as we remain at your feet in spite of all the other things we can busy ourselves thinking about and doing. And may you alone be the reason why we love others with your love to the praise of your great name. Amen.
"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, 'Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.' But the Lord answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'" Luke 10:38-42
{What can we learn from Mary?}
