ESOCS Devotional 9 January 2023
TEXT: LEVITICUS 26:1-13
MEMORY VERSE: “I, the Lord, your God, brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves. I broke the power that held you down and I let you walk with your head held high.” Leviticus 26:13 GNB
From the day of the great fall (Genesis 3:6-13), God’s major concern with mankind has remained the problem of disobedience. Disobedience to God includes all manners of sinful acts. However, in our text, God the Father was particular about idolatry and disrespect to His sanctuary.
In this context, what is implied is that to be obedient to the Laws of God, a believer must not create in his or her mind a concept of an imaginary God. This will amount to idol worship, which brings one under the influence of idolatry. This spirit of idolatry is a spirit that rules in the hearts of those who seek to rebel against the perfect Will of God Almighty.
It follows therefore that idol worship originates from one’s thoughts in the heart. That is to say, once somebody has conceived a god in his heart, he then goes ahead to form an image to enable him recognize his imagination. This helps to add concrete existence to his god.
Idolatry always leads one away from God. This is the reason God has always warned against this practice (Exodus 23:20-33; Deuteronomy 28:1-68). Idol worship creates enmity between God and mankind. It brings about many troubles and sorrow – including curses, sicknesses, lack of blessings, as well as all manners of calamity. Through idol worship, one voluntarily submits his neck to the yoke of the devil.
By the promises of God Almighty, those who desist from idol worship will have the yoke of the devil broken, and they will become free. In this case, the true child of God will no more be a slave to Satan and all his agents. They will become free and walk with their shoulders high, without fear of any interference from the devil. Little wonder Jesus in Matthew 11:29-30 warns that we should learn of Him, and take up His own yoke. He insists that His yoke is light and easy to bear. Then the child of God will find rest for his soul, even as all other demonic yokes are broken. Child of God, it’s time to voluntarily yield totally to Jesus Christ, so all satanic yokes shall be broken.
- Jesus said, “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Do you believe it?
- Lord Jesus, help me to cast away all forms of idolatry, so every demonic influence over me shall be broken.
FURTHER READING: Song of Songs 7:10-8:4; Matthew 6:14-23; Ephesians 6:1-9
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
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ESOCS Devotional 9 January 2023
